Lower Yellowstone River Falls
Lower Yellowstone River Falls
Lower Yellowstone River Falls
5
About
A spectacular waterfall located in Canyon Country.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Lower Yellowstone River Falls
Are you currently on your trip?
Help us find experiences available for you.
The area
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
2 within 3 miles
Attractions
22 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
1,441 reviews
Excellent
1,224
Very good
200
Average
16
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Nyormirror
Bay City, MI2,109 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
In my opinion, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is the most beautiful place in the park. It expresses the park's complex geologic history in dramatic colors and shapes. Puffs of steam mark hydrothermal features in the canyon's walls. The Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River add to the grandeur of the unique natural treasure.
We viewed it from the North and South Rim and from lookout, inspiration and artists points. Unfortunately the brink to the lower falls was closed during our visit but I would have loved to get a workout and get that close look.
We went about 8:30 am to beat the crowds and spent about 2 hours total in the falls area. Make sure you take a lot of pictures and videos but it does not do it justice when you come home and look at them. Enjoy.
We viewed it from the North and South Rim and from lookout, inspiration and artists points. Unfortunately the brink to the lower falls was closed during our visit but I would have loved to get a workout and get that close look.
We went about 8:30 am to beat the crowds and spent about 2 hours total in the falls area. Make sure you take a lot of pictures and videos but it does not do it justice when you come home and look at them. Enjoy.
Written September 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas&Tammy
Hammond, LA114 contributions
Oct 2022
There are multiple places to see these falls, and I encourage everyone to do so. The falls change drastically as you continue along to upper falls. These falls are quite large and impressive with the volume of water rushing down them!
Written October 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mindy
Louisville, KY191 contributions
Jun 2023 • Solo
I hiked down to the brink of the lower falls and it was amazing!!! I felt so close to the rushing water and the volume going past was impressive. I’m sure it’s nice from an overlook, but if you want the full effect, take the trail down. The trail is EXTREMELY steep so it’s switchback after switchback after switchback. I wouldn’t recommend doing it unless you’re physically in decent shape. I continued on the North Rim trail and hiked up past Crystal Falls and on to the Upper Falls. I didn’t encounter one single person and the views were spectacular, but when I got to the overlooks, they were packed
Written December 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kayla K
Naples, FL80 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
The hike was a little tougher than I expected. But so worth the view. If you see a big crowd coming I suggest waiting at a turn for them to pass. It got congested and some people didn’t have common courtesy to walk single file when passing other people and there are no railings. It was pretty scary since the trail is narrow.
Written July 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gypsyuno
Albuquerque, NM1,063 contributions
Sep 2019
One of the ‘must see’ highlights of a visit to Yellowstone National Park are the Lower Falls on the Yellowstone River and the gorge below. The falls themselves are beautiful, but the whole scene is awesome, with the deeply cut gorge and trademark ‘yellow’ canyon walls on either side. Good views are easily accessible from Artist Point on the south side of the river. I’m not posting photos because others have already done so many times, but this is an attraction no photographer would want to miss.
Written March 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kdawg282
Doylestown, PA1,587 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
Fantastic viewing area of the falls is the lower falls! Just a reminder that it’s all downhill to view them, which means a pretty stiff walk back up that you will need to be ready for. The views are totally worth it, but some members of your family might find it difficult. Also recommend sturdy shoes because it can be a bit slippery on the way down due to the terrain. Overall highly recommend!
Written June 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kathy L
Prior Lake, MN497 contributions
Sep 2020
Uncle Tom's Point was less crowded than Artists point and an easy walk to view the falls. But both are worth the stop. We enjoyed the trails by Tom's point to walk to the side of the falls.
Written September 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ItchyFeet
Camarillo, CA12,027 contributions
Oct 2022 • Friends
We were here late October when the park was mostly closed for the summer months. There is both a north and south rim roads which give you different viewpoints. You could easily spend a day driving to both sides of the Yellowstone Grand Canyon and hiking down to the viewpoints of both the Lower Falls and the Upper Falls. Great place to explore.
Written October 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Grace Carr L
SF Bay Area355 contributions
Sep 2021
WOW! This is a short (1/2 mile) walk down from the parking area to the viewing area of the falls, but it is extremely steep and has many switchbacks. I was amazed at how many people we saw wearing inappropriate footwear, like platform flip-flops. Be sure to wear comfy hiking shoes or sneakers!! And be aware that the steep climb down means you'll have a steep climb back up. There are plenty of places to stop and rest if you need to, but it is a climb.
Nevertheless, this is certainly worth the effort! The views are spectacular all along the trail, and especially at the end. Highly, highly recommended. (We did the upper falls hike immediately afterward - it's much less steep and equally impressive. You can also drive to it.)
Nevertheless, this is certainly worth the effort! The views are spectacular all along the trail, and especially at the end. Highly, highly recommended. (We did the upper falls hike immediately afterward - it's much less steep and equally impressive. You can also drive to it.)
Written September 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kristin T
85 contributions
Jan 2020
Gorgeous, and happy to see in January. Wishing it was without our guide (CHRIS), ugh.. but the falls were stunning! a must do! (bring ear plug or buds to drown out a guide that is self-serving and drones on about himself).
Written January 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How long does it take to "take your time" coming back up the 300 steps?
Written August 18, 2018
I am gonna be travelling with my dog to Yellowstone, will I be able to take her most places?
Written August 12, 2018
Yellowstone has a web site that includes a page about pets visiting the park. I would include a link but HTML and links are prohibited in answers. They suggest leaving your dog at home because there are a lot of restrictions on what you can do with and where you can take your dog. These include limited travel, never leaving your dog unattended outside, and not being allowed in any hotels within Yellowstone. Oh, and pets are not allowed on boardwalks, trails or in the backcountry.
Written August 15, 2018
Planning a visit to Yellowstone in August. Just beginning, know nothing. Like to hike some easy to moderate trails with scenery not to be missed. Waterfalls are a favorite. If we had 6 days or less in the Yellowstone area where should we start and what should we see? Do you have to take a tour or easy on your own?
Written July 11, 2018
Easy on your own. Sounds like you will have time where you could spend a day in each major location.
Base your visits on weather. If it is cold and rainy, you may not want to be playing in Lake Yellowstone
Depending where you are coming from, you can always head to the farthest location first and make your way back “home” for the night.
Places to hit very early or early evening is grand prismatic. The place will be very busy other times. Norris is popular due to steamboat geyser. People have spent hours waiting to be lucky enough to see it go off. The area can get crowded but worth walking around the boardwalks to see things.
Old faithful area is busy nearly all the time, especially around the predicted eruptions. Plan to spend time there just to walk and see other geysers. The old lodge will have a board with estimate times the next eruption of some geysers go off
Lamar Valley. Dusk time. Lots of wildlife.
Places to avoid: drive north from Norris to Manmoth. If it’s not convienent, just give extra time for anything at either location as there is construction that route (June 2018). The NPS website can provide more info
There are lots of small hikes in areas. It depends on how strenuous you want to do. Each has its own treasures (views, wildlife, etc)
Written July 12, 2018
We are going to YS the first week in Oct. Can you give me any pointers? I see you hiked to the top of the falls, can you tell me how you were able to get there, where to park and which trails. We are staying on the east side of the park. THANKS
Written August 30, 2017
Hi Kearneytown - You will love Yellowstone. I assume you are talking about the Upper Falls and the Lower Falls. There are a ton of waterfalls in Yellowstone, but these two are the best. Ironically, you hike down to the top of the falls. They are super popular and it is very easy to find the parking lots for each of them. Sometimes the parking lots can be crowded, but in October you should be fine.
Both falls are located in Canyon Village, which is kind of in the middle of Yellowstone, but maybe a little North and East of the exact middle. The parking lot for Upper Falls is just south of the main road intersection. You drive east just a bit off the main road to the parking lot. The hike is very short - maybe 1/8 mile each way and not too steep. There is a landing and with a rail that lets you look over the edge to see the falls.
To get to Lower Falls, you have to get back in your car and drive north to the next parking area. I think it is called North Rim or maybe Lower Falls. Easy to find. There is a trail to hike between the two, but it is closed halfway up the trail and you would have to turn around. This is a bigger parking lot and has several different areas to park. The first parking area is the closest one to Lower Falls. There are signs to the overlook, but this trail is longer and steeper - I think it said 3/8 mile. Going down is not too bad, but coming back you will definitely be breathing hard - especially if you are not used to the altitute. But don't let that disuade you. It is the best view in the whole park. Standing at the edge of all that water is awesome.
Another view that is also good is called Artist Point. It is on the South Rim so you would drive south of both of the parking lots and turn left by the bridge. You cross the river before the water goes over both falls and drive about 1/4 mile to the parking lot. This gives you a beautiful scene of the Lower Falls looking up the canyon and it is also spectacular.
I hope this helped. Have a great trip!
Written August 30, 2017
Showing results 1-6 of 6
Related Stories
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing