Yellowstone National Park guide · 2 min read
Canyon Overlooks: Artist Point to the Brinks
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone runs roughly 20 miles, from the Upper Falls downstream to the Tower Fall area.
The Yellowstone River carved it over time, cutting deeper wherever the rock underneath was weaker and eroded more easily. Overlooks and walkways line both the north and south rims, and you can reach them by car or on foot. When the light is right, the walls glow a vivid yellow.
Artist Point delivers the classic view of the 308-foot Lower Falls framed by the canyon, with the river rushing far below. Lookout Point and Red Rock Point show the same waterfall from different angles, and so do several spots along the South Rim Trail.
For a closer look, the Brink of the Lower Falls Trail drops a few hundred feet below the rim to the very top of the falls in well under a mile round trip. Standing there, you take in the roar of the water and the mist rising off the edge. The walk back up climbs a series of switchbacks, and benches along the way let you rest as often as you need.
If that climb sounds like too much, the Brink of the Upper Falls lets you reach the top of the 109-foot Upper Falls on an easy, short walk. Between the two big waterfalls sits a third: Crystal Falls, where Cascade Creek spills down into the gorge. Look for it from the South Rim Trail a short way east of the Upper Falls Viewpoints.
Photographers tend to move between overlooks, because the scene shifts with the hour and the weather. When the sun is out, look into the mist at the base of the Lower Falls for a rainbow. Flow ranges from about 63,500 gallons per second at spring runoff to around 5,000 in autumn. Stay on marked paths, because off-trail travel is prohibited in the Canyon area.
