Journey Through Yellowstone, Day 3: The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Our third day of exploring Yellowstone National Park began with the sublime sounds of hubby’s iPhone alarm. We had to get up early, and make our way to Artist Point and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, where the kids were to attend a ranger-led program. This was just another one of the fun requirements they had to complete in order to receive their super-cool Yellowstone junior ranger badges.

After spending the previous day exploring Lower and Midway Geyser Basins, Upper Geyser Basin, and West Thumb, we were looking forward to visiting this new-to-us area of the park.

Getting to Artist Point

We quickly ate some continental breakfast delights at our hotel, The Lodge at Big Sky, and headed towards Artist Point. It was located at the end of South Rim Road off of the main Grand Loop Road. Hubby and I had already visited there briefly the previous day, and had an idea of how absolutely stunning this place was. We were very excited to share it with my parents and the kids. To our dismay, as soon as we hit the road, it started raining pretty heavily. We drove in the rain the entire way there and thought the ranger program we were trying to get to would be canceled.

Fortunately, just as we arrived and parked near Artist Point, the rain suddenly stopped and the sky brightened. We jumped out of the car merrily, and walked over to where a park ranger was standing under an umbrella. She was waiting for all the knowledge-thirsty visitors to gather around before starting her presentation about the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Our kids were well aware that they had to pay attention, and even try to remember a few things if they wanted to get their Yellowstone junior ranger badges.

Ranger Talk

Half way through the presentation, while the park ranger was passing some materials, I checked with the kids to see if they retained anything. They boastfully informed me that Yellowstone was the oldest national park in America. Also, they loudly clamored that the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is named after the Yellowstone River, which carved it and continues to flow “down there.” OK, I thought, this is a good start!

The Iconic View

After the presentation was over, we decided to stick around for a bit longer and enjoy what is perhaps one of the most iconic views in all of Yellowstone. It was not a place one could part with easily. From Artist Point, we could see the Yellowstone River and its Lower Falls, rushing down into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. It was a sight of remarkable proportions, and every person around us was completely taken by it.

Finding Uncle Tom’s Trail

When we finally managed to unglue our eyes from the view, we left Artist Point and started driving back on South Rim Road. Our next planned stop was Uncle Tom’s Trail, a short and exciting hike with more incredible views of Lower Falls and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. The trailhead for the hike was located near a spacious parking area not far from Artist Point. From there, one could see Upper Falls in the distance, but the incredible views of Lower Falls were reserved only for those willing to put in the effort and do the hike.

Start of the Trail

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Uncle Tom’s Trail: MODERATE hike, gravel forest path followed by 328 stairs, 0.6 miles round trip. You will descend about 500 feet into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and see awe-inspiring views of Lower Falls.

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After a quick bathroom stop, all of us were eager to start walking and get to the amazing panoramas that I had heard so much about. We followed a nice and gentle path through the forest, which quickly lead us to the edge of the canyon. We continued walking near heart-stopping drop offs that were only mere feet away. As you can imagine, the views that opened up were absolutely breathtaking.

South Rim Trail Instead

Before long, we came to a point where the path split. One side was the actual Uncle Tom’s Trail with stairs leading into the canyon. The other one was South Rim Trail, which continued following the rim of the canyon. For some reason, we kept on walking along the rim instead of taking the stairs. We were national park newbies at the time, and without realizing it, we just missed our turn. Fortunately, the views from South Rim Trail were absolutely gorgeous!

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TIP: When you first start your hike at the parking area, you will be walking for a short while on South Rim Trail before reaching the Uncle Tom’s Trail. Be sure to read all signs carefully, and take the stairs if you want to descend into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

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Onto the North Rim

Now that we had spent some time exploring the South Rim, it was time to get to know the North Rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. We drove back on South Rim Road to Grand Loop Road and proceeded towards our next stop: Upper Falls. We had already seen it several times from the other side, but now, we were going to get up close and personal by hiking to its brink.

Brink of Upper Falls

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Brink of Upper Falls Trail: EASY path, 0.4 miles round trip; leads to the brink of 109-foot tall Upper Falls.

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We parked near the short trail, and started walking along a path that descended gently. Before we knew it, we were looking at the abundant, rushing water of the Yellowstone River, which disappeared rapidly over the brink of Upper Falls. It crashed and splashed at the bottom releasing cool, refreshing mist, which created a subtle rainbow under the bright sunlight. It was yet another glorious sight, one of so many along the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone!

After enjoying this view for sometime, we got back to the car and continued our explorations. From Grand Loop Road, we got onto North Rim Road and made our way to the next much anticipated spot, the trail that would take us to the brink of Lower Falls. It was, after all Yellowstone’s most iconic waterfall.

Brink of Lower Falls

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Brink of Lower Falls Trail: EASY path, 0.8 miles round trip, descends along a series of switchbacks; leads to the brink of 308-foot tall Lower Falls.

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We began following the trail along with many other visitors who were looking forward to this experience. The path kept descending for what seemed awhile, taking us through series of switchbacks. Finally, we spotted the Yellowstone River shimmering beyond the trees, and before much longer, all of us were standing on a platform above Lower Falls with our jaws wide open.

All along, I expected to see a marvelous view, but what emerged before our eyes was truly beyond imagination. We found ourselves gazing right into the gap of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. As if this wasn’t magnificent enough, Mother Nature had decorated it with a glorious rainbow. The large amounts of mist from the waterfall combined with the beautiful sunlight to make this surreal sight possible.

We ended up staying at the brink of Lower Falls for a good while, simply because we couldn’t leave. The place was like a magnificent magnet whose pull we couldn’t and didn’t want to resist!

The Other Gems of North Rim Road

When all of us finally managed to pry ourselves away from this magical panorama, we returned back to the parking area. From there, our journey continued further along North Rim Road where more incredible hikes and sights awaited. Admittedly, we didn’t have time to see and stop at all of them, as it was already getting later in the day. However, if you can get there earlier, by all means, stop by and explore each one of these special gems.

Lookout Point and Red Rock Point Trail

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Lookout Point & Red Rock Point Trail: EASY path that features some boardwalks and stairs, 0.6-mile round trip; leads to beautiful views of Lower Falls.

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This is perhaps the trail I regret not taking the most. We did see it from the other side while hiking on South Rim Trail, and it looked like a really fun hike. It leads to more magnificent vistas of Lower Falls and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone seen from yet another glorious perspective. Do yourself a favor and check it out! This may very well be the best view you will get of Lower Falls.

Grand View Point

Grand View Point was another worthwhile stop along North Rim Road, and we did manage to take a peek from here. Once again, we were greeted with panoramas of the canyon and the Yellowstone River that were indeed “grand!”

Glacial Boulder and Inspiration Point

You can find Glacial Boulder and Inspiration Point along a short side road off of North Rim Road. Just like the names suggest, here you will see a large glacial boulder positioned among several trees. Then at the end of the road, you will be inspired yet again by the incredible proportions and colors of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

The Upper Loop

After we saw what we could along North Rim Road, we circled back to the main Grand Loop Road and headed north. The plan was to dedicate the rest of the day to exploring the sights and sounds of Yellowstone’s upper loop – an area we hadn’t visited yet.

Dunraven Pass & Mt. Washburn

After driving for a bit, we made a quick stop at Dunraven Pass. From here, we could see the gap of the the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone in the distance.

Nearby was the start of the trail to Mt. Washburn, one of the more popular hikes in the park. I had hoped we would be able to hike it and take a peek from the top, but I knew it would probably be unrealistic to fit it in with everything else we wanted to see. It is a long but beautiful trail, and if you have plenty of time, don’t hesitate, just go for it!

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Dunraven Pass to Mt. Washburn Trail: STRENUOUS path, 6 miles round trip; leads to the top of Mt. Washburn and beautiful views of the area.

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Tower Fall Overlook

Our next planned stop along the upper loop was at Tower Fall. Our kids were getting pretty tired by this point, but when they discovered there was a general store with drinks and snacks near the parking area, they were suddenly energized. After all of us raised our blood sugar with some refreshments and candy, we made our way to the actual Tower Fall Overlook. We walked for about 100 yards before we spotted its upper portion in the distance. It was a beautiful, narrow waterfall that disappeared between the trees that framed our view. Above its brink, we could see the most unique rock tower formations, which were obviously the reason for its name. After enjoying the view for a little bit, we returned to our cars, ready for more adventures.

Calcite Springs Overlook

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Calcite Springs Overlook Trail: EASY path, 0.4 miles round trip; leads to beautiful views of the Yellowstone River and unique rock formations.

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Just north of Tower Fall, we stopped at one of the most unexpectedly beautiful spots: Calcite Springs Overlook. Frankly, we hadn’t planned on spending any time there, but at the last minute, we decided to check it out. The view that we discovered was absolutely breathtaking, especially under the warm, late-afternoon sunlight. This was our last look at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and the Yellowstone River, and it was a memorable one. We could see a short butte on one side that descended down to the river bank. Its lower portion was made of light, bleached rocks, and if you look really closely, you can spot steaming geothermal springs near the river’s edge.

The rest of the view was just as interesting, featuring unique, volcanic rock pinnacles, perched along the walls of the canyon. Needless to say, we were absolutely thrilled we made this unplanned stop! Be sure not to miss it when exploring Yellowstone’s upper loop!

Undine Falls

Another short but worthwhile stop we made along the road was at Undine Falls. This was a lovely, 60-foot tall waterfall that came down in three cascades. It was a beautiful sight and one that didn’t take much time to check off our list.

Mammoth Hot Springs

We continued our drive around the upper loop, and eventually came to Mammoth Hot Springs – one of Yellowstone’s major geothermal areas. Since the day was nearly over, we only passed through briefly. We decided to begin our explorations there the following morning when we had more time. After all, we still had one more day in Yellowstone!

Sunset for the Road

As all of us headed towards the park’s exit near West Yellowstone, Mother Nature gave us one final, magnificent display: We were treated to the most vibrant, sunset-colored sky! Naturally, I had to ask hubby to make one final stop on the side of the road so I could capture it. My mom joined me with her camera while the others waited patiently in the cars, snacking on leftovers from the day.

After a good ten minutes of taking pictures, and checking the quality of our photos, we got back on the road. As darkness covered everything around us, I could finally focus my thoughts on the plan for our upcoming and final day in Yellowstone: We would start out in Mammoth Hot Springs, and from there…continue onto other epic adventures!

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Resources to Help Plan Your Trip to Yellowstone

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• The Official Website for the Park – The official Yellowstone website by the National Park Service. Here you can find everything you need to know about Yellowstone.
• MAP of Yellowstone National Park – A map of Yellowstone from the National Park Service cartography site.
• My Yellowstone Park – A nice website that offers great resources and information about Yellowstone National Park. You can even get a FREE Yellowstone Trip Planner.
• Yellowstone National Park Apps – Here is information about the FREE Yellowstone Apps you can download for your smart phone.

Lodging and Dining

• Yellowstone National Park Lodges – Visit this website to see all available lodging options within the park, and to make a reservation.
• RV Rental – Here is a great website where you can rent an RV near your home, or if you prefer, rent an RV near Yellowstone. This is sure to make for an exciting and unforgettable adventure!
• Where to Eat in Yellowstone – Stop by this web page from the National Park Service to see all the dining options inside the park. This would be especially useful if you aren’t planning to bring your own food.

Note: Unless otherwise indicated, the photos in this post were taken by Vessy with a Nikon D3100 camera. Please send us an e-mail (vessy@feelgoodandtravel.com) if you would like to use any of them. All images are subject to copyright laws.

This trip took place on August 14, 2015.

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