Best Hikes & Waterfalls in Yellowstone, By Area
Yellowstone has around 40 named waterfalls and hundreds more unnamed ones. Here are the ones worth building your day around, organized by the area you’ll already be in.
Quick Facts Before You Go
- Best time for waterfalls: late May through early July, during peak snowmelt. Flows thin out by late summer, so plan waterfall chasing earlier in your trip if you can.
- Tallest in the park: Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, at 308 feet — nearly twice the height of Niagara Falls.
- Pairs with: our 4-Day Yellowstone Itinerary by Area and 5-Day Yellowstone & Grand Teton itinerary — most of these are already right along your route.
- Trail conditions change seasonally — always confirm current access at a visitor center or nps.gov/yell before you hike.
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone gets all the postcards, but the best waterfall we found all trip was a quiet one most visitors drive right past.”
— Steal The ItineraryThe Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
The park’s largest waterfalls, and the reason for its name.
Lower Falls — Artist Point & Brink of the Lower Falls
The park’s tallest and most iconic waterfall. Artist Point is a short paved walk with the classic postcard view; the Brink of the Lower Falls trail is a steeper 0.7-mile round trip that gets you eye-level with the spray. (The old Uncle Tom’s stairway into the canyon has been permanently closed since 2019.)
Upper Falls — Brink of the Upper Falls Trail
A 0.75-mile round trip that drops you right to the edge where the river thunders over. Less crowded than the Lower Falls overlooks, and just as dramatic.
Fairy Falls & Mystic Falls
Waterfall hikes that double as geyser-basin photo missions.
Fairy Falls
One of the tallest hike-in waterfalls in the park. The trail passes right by the Grand Prismatic Spring overlook on the way, making this a two-for-one with the park’s most photographed hot spring.
Mystic Falls
Starts from the Biscuit Basin boardwalk and climbs through forest and meadow, with steam drifting from nearby thermal features for an extra otherworldly touch.
Gibbon Falls
A perfect stretch-your-legs stop between junctions.
Gibbon Falls
A roadside cascade fed by the Gibbon River, with a short out-and-back trail from the picnic area for a closer look at the base. One of the easiest waterfalls in the park to work into a driving day.
Firehole Falls
Reached via the one-way Firehole Canyon Drive near Madison — the scenic drive alone is worth it, with several pullouts to watch the river drop through the canyon.
Tower Fall, Undine Falls, Beaver Ponds Loop & Mount Washburn
The north end of the park pairs waterfalls with the best wildlife-watching trails.
Tower Fall
A short, paved walk from the parking area to an overlook framed by the volcanic rock spires the fall is named for. One of the most photogenic, easiest stops in the park.
Undine Falls
A three-tiered waterfall visible right from a roadside pullout about 4 miles east of Mammoth — no hike required, and a good quick stop between Mammoth and Tower.
Beaver Ponds Loop Trail
A wildlife-focused hike near Mammoth through meadows and forest, with a real chance of spotting moose, elk, and black bears. No major waterfall, but one of the best all-around hikes in the north end of the park.
Mount Washburn
The best big-payoff hike in the park’s northern half. About 1,400 ft of elevation gain over 6 miles round trip leads to a 10,219-foot summit with panoramic views 20-50 miles in every direction and a staffed fire lookout tower. Trailheads at Dunraven Pass or Chittenden Road, both directly between Canyon and Tower. Bighorn sheep are a common sight on the upper slopes. Budget 3-5 hours.
Storm Point Trail
Fewer waterfalls here, but one of the best easy wildlife walks in the park.
Storm Point Trail
An easy loop right along Yellowstone Lake with strong odds of spotting bison, elk, and birdlife across the meadow. Best at dawn or dusk.
Save this guide before you lose signal in the park. Follow @stealtheitinerary on TikTok for the full carousel version, waterfall by waterfall.
Planning Notes
- Most of these hikes and waterfalls fall right along the route of our 4-Day Yellowstone Itinerary by Area — you won’t need to go far out of your way for any of them.
- Parking lots at Fairy Falls, Artist Point, and Mystic Falls/Biscuit Basin fill early in peak summer — arrive before 9am or after 4pm for the easiest access.
- Waterfall flow peaks with spring snowmelt (late May–early July) and thins noticeably by August and September.
- Always carry bear spray on any trail away from the boardwalks, including Beaver Ponds Loop and Storm Point.
FAQ
What’s the tallest waterfall in Yellowstone?
The Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, at 308 feet — nearly twice the height of Niagara Falls. It’s best viewed from Artist Point or the Brink of the Lower Falls trail in the Canyon area.
Which waterfalls can I see without hiking?
Tower Fall, Undine Falls, and Gibbon Falls are all visible from a short walk or directly from the road. Lower and Upper Falls have easy overlooks too, though a longer trail gets you closer.
When is the best time to see Yellowstone’s waterfalls at their fullest?
Late May through early July, when spring snowmelt is at its peak. By late summer, flows are noticeably lower.
What’s the best big hike in Yellowstone’s northern loop?
Mount Washburn, hands down. It’s a moderately strenuous 6-mile round trip with about 1,400 ft of elevation gain, but it rewards you with a 10,219-foot summit, panoramic views for miles, and a staffed fire lookout tower.