Travel Guide
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Everything you need to know — hours, tickets, tips, and how to make the most of your visit.
Overview
About Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
A 20-mile canyon of yellow, pink and orange rock carved by the Yellowstone River, with the 308-foot Lower Falls as its centerpiece. Viewpoints along the North and South rim drives, including Artist Point, Lookout Point and the Brink of the Lower Falls, give the park's most dramatic waterfall views.
Yellowstone-and-grand-teton
Insider Knowledge
Travel Tips
Go to Artist Point in the morning for the classic view of Lower Falls with the sun behind you.
Walk the Brink of the Lower Falls trail, steep but short, to stand right at the lip of the falls.
Uncle Tom's Trail and some rim trails have had long closures for repairs, so check current status.
Combine it with Hayden Valley, which begins just south of Canyon Village.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
About 308 feet, nearly twice the height of Niagara Falls.
Opening Hours
Canyon areaOpen 24 hours; roads open approx. late April to early November
Canyon Visitor Education CenterApprox. 8 AM - 6 PM in summer
Rainbows often form in the Lower Falls spray on sunny mornings.
Ticket Prices
Private vehicle (7 days)USD 35
Motorcycle (7 days)USD 30
Per person on foot or bike (7 days)USD 20
One Yellowstone fee covers every area of the park; an America the Beautiful pass also works, and non-US residents may pay more, so check nps.gov.
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Must See Attractions
yellowstone-and-grand-tetonGrand Canyon of the Yellowstone
A 20-mile canyon of yellow, pink and orange rock carved by the Yellowstone River, with the 308-foot Lower Falls as its centerpiece. Viewpoints along the North and South rim drives, including Artist Point, Lookout Point and the Brink of the Lower Falls, give the park's most dramatic waterfall views.
View Details
yellowstone-and-grand-tetonGrand Prismatic Spring
The largest hot spring in the United States, about 370 feet across, ringed by bands of orange, yellow and green bacteria around a deep blue center. See it up close from the Midway Geyser Basin boardwalk and from above at the Fairy Falls Trail overlook.
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yellowstone-and-grand-tetonGrand Teton National Park
Just south of Yellowstone, the Teton Range rises sharply above Jackson Hole, with glacial lakes like Jackson Lake and Jenny Lake at its feet. Highlights include sunsets over Jackson Lake, the boat shuttle across Jenny Lake to Hidden Falls, Oxbow Bend and the barns of Mormon Row.
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yellowstone-and-grand-tetonHayden Valley
A broad, grassy valley along the Yellowstone River between Canyon and Yellowstone Lake, famous for large bison herds that often cross or walk along the road. Elk, bald eagles, pelicans and sometimes grizzly bears and wolves are seen here too, especially at dawn and dusk.
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yellowstone-and-grand-tetonLamar Valley
A remote valley in Yellowstone's northeast corner often called the Serengeti of North America, with big herds of bison and elk, pronghorn and the park's best chance of spotting wolves. Wildlife watchers with spotting scopes gather at pullouts at first light.
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yellowstone-and-grand-tetonOld Faithful
The world's most famous geyser, erupting roughly every 60 to 110 minutes to heights of 100-180 feet in Yellowstone's Upper Geyser Basin. Rangers predict each eruption, and the surrounding boardwalks hold the largest concentration of geysers on Earth.
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