The first images that come to mind when thinking of Yellowstone National Park likely involve its famous kaleidoscopic hot springs and geysers. These have been geologic marvels for centuries and definitely helped Yellowstone become the first-ever national park in the United States. But further inside the park’s borders, you’ll find the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. This 1,000-foot-deep formation is also an essential thing to see even if you only have one day in Yellowstone. If that doesn’t have you convinced, U.S. News and World Report declared it as the No. 1 thing to do in the park.
Instead of the red rock desert surroundings of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone shows off the natural features of the American Northwest. From all of the viewpoints, you’ll see tons of pine trees and vibrant, rushing water. However, the highlights of this canyon are its two huge waterfalls, simply named Upper Falls and Lower Falls. While it seems that Yellowstone National Park is on everyone’s bucket list, there are plenty of canyon and waterfall experiences to go around with varying levels of difficulty.
Brink of the Lower Falls immerses you in the canyon
Drive or hike to Artist Point to get more canyon views
To see the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone with the 109-foot Upper Falls, take South Rim Drive to Upper Falls View. As with stops at the Lower Falls, Upper Falls View also has a parking lot. For a bit of woodsy walking incorporated into your Upper Falls visit, park and walk to Brink of the Upper Falls, a short but sweet hike that’s just a quarter of a mile round trip. The loud river rushing just feet away when you reach the end of this short trail makes for quite a memorable sensory experience.
The parking lot for Upper Falls View meets with the Ribbon Lake Trail. This hiking trail takes three to four hours to complete, but features lakes, towering pine trees, and a more untouched look at Yellowstone’s grandeur near the canyon, and Ribbon Lake serves as the grand finale. You can return along the same route or take the route that features more canyon views at Artist Point and Point Sublime. However, if you’re crunched for time or not keen on taking a long hike, the often-photographed Artist Point is accessible by car as well.
