Artist Point has an amazing canyon view of a 308-ft waterfall. Easy to get to…read more We heard that Artist Point, near Canyon Village, was one of the best sights in Yellowstone National Park. The drive from the West Entrance was essentially west to east, with a jog to the north halfway-there. The elevation was increasing most of the way, getting as high as 8244-ft. We found the turns on the drive to be visually confusing, because the curving roads turned our sense of direction. At the Madison stop sign, though the turn seemed odd, we turned left onto Grand Loop Road. That was northeast. It's correct. Passing Norris Geyser, it looked odd but we turned right (east) onto Norris Canyon Rd. Coming up to the east branch of the Loop Road, we turned right (south). The entrance to South Rim Drive was then a left. It's even more confusing on the way back, because they never seemed to put a sign saying "to West Entrance" until a mile past the turns :-). Pro tip: Keep a map in front of you at those turns! Once we turned onto South Rim Drive, we drove the winding way for less than 2-miles to the end. There was a large parking lot with plenty of open spaces, plus outhouses. It was a high elevation there, about 7700-ft, and some of us felt it. Conveniently, we could drop off those who walk less comfortably at the furthest end of the parking lot, about 250-feet from the best vista. We walked to the overlook on the left. t. The 1-mile view to the west along the Yellowstone River was stupendous, with the huge crashing misting Lower Falls waterfall dropping 308-feet. We were awed by the midday view. In fact, three of our group had gone their separate way by now, and when they saw our photos, they drove here on their own the next day! They say that sunrise often creates a rainbow in the mist, but we could not manage to pass through the west entrance early enough for the at-least 90-min (usually longer) drive. From what I read, you need a low sun-angle (less than 45°) to get a rainbow in the mist. Based on a (very-)very-nerdy NOAA Solar Calculator webpage, using the Lat-Lon and time, we might have been able to see a rainbow as late as 8:50am in July. (2026). I won't say who in our group figured that out, because I'd also have to say it was After our trip :-)

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone -- Lower Falls Do it in…read morethis order. Trust me. If Yellowstone had a crown jewel, this is it. We hit the Lower Falls from two different angles, and the order we did it made all the difference. Start at Artist Point. From here, you get the full picture -- the entire canyon stretching out in front of you, walls layered in pink, red, orange, and white from thousands of years of iron-stained rock. The waterfall sits in the distance like something out of a painting, and the river winds through the bottom of a canyon that drops 800 to 1,200 feet deep. It gives you the context to appreciate everything else you're about to see. Blue sky, puffy clouds, massive scale -- this view alone is worth the drive. Then hike down to the Brink of the Lower Falls. This is where it gets real. You're standing right at the top of a 308-foot drop, watching the full force of the Yellowstone River launch off the edge. In early May, snowmelt had it absolutely roaring -- thick mist rising up, patches of snow still clinging to the rocks below, and if the sun hits right, a rainbow forms right at the base. See the canyon first. Then feel the power up close. That's the move. Absolutely mandatory stop in Yellowstone -- don't skip either viewpoint.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

We ended our first day in Yellowstone at Inspiration Point, and honestly, it was the perfect way to…read moreclose out an unforgettable day. After hours of exploring the park, nothing could have prepared us for what was waiting at the end of that drive. The view of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone from Inspiration Point is absolutely stunning -- one of those rare moments where you stop talking and just stare. The canyon drops away dramatically below you, the yellow and orange walls glowing warm in the late afternoon light, and the sheer scale of it all hits you all at once. It's breathtaking in the truest sense of the word. We came with family, including a young child, and even they were in awe. The viewing area is accessible and easy to navigate, which made it even better. No difficult hiking required -- just drive up, walk a short path, and let nature do the rest. Inspiration Point earns its name completely. This isn't just a scenic overlook -- it's a moment you'll carry with you long after you leave Yellowstone. Absolutely worth the drive. Don't miss it.

100% worth hiking past hidden falls. Saw a bunch of wildlife and the boat ride over was great. I…read morewill say that the wait to get back on the boat ride was about an hour. Veterans and active service members get a discount--you must ask.

Our family of 4 (parents and two 20-something's) booked an end-of-season trip to Yellowstone, and…read moreincluded an overnight rafting trip, and a horseback ride through the Flying Pig - we had a blast! Horsebackriding was fun up at Hells'-a-Roaring Ranch above Gardiner. The horses were all steady and kind, and the views were incredible. Our guide Mariette, was fun and had lots of experience and information about the area. The crew there is all friendly and helpful, and we picked a great day to do it for weather and visibility. It was walking (no trotting) only, but there was a large group, so it was understandable. The next day we embarked on our River camping trip. Jaxon from Flying Pig was our rafting guide, and incredible cook- he really knows the river and it was just the 4 of us, so we felt really spoiled having him all to ourselves. He was a wealth of knowledge about the park, the birds and the river itself. We even stopped to look for petrified wood at the inlet of a river while we ate our lunches. The overnight on the river was fun and rustic, a lovely campfire, hot showers (outdoor!), clean regular bathrooms, and large tent-cabins. The company provides cotton sleeping bag liners, but just a tip: Had i known that, i would have brought my own silk one! We played Corn-hole on the beach while Jax fired up the really amazing steak dinner. After breakfast the next morning, we had a leisurely float back, and saw quite a few eagles along the way. We really enjoyed our vacation to Yellowstone and The Flying Pig was a big part of that. Very helpful and great communication with the staff. Highly recommended.

Our group of 6 were all new to rafting. We had the best time ever!! Preston (our guide) set the bar…read morecrazy high for any future rafting trips, he was so fun and knowledgeable (he taught us all about rivers, wildlife, and other local attractions)! If we had more time we would have booked another full day trip and requested Preston just so we could hang out with him again. This experience turned us all into rafting aficionados! As an added bonus, we got to see a bald eagle take flight from a tree so that was cool too. Preston and our raft day made our entire Yellowstone Trip! You should ask your raft guide "Can pigs fly?" and see what happens! The only thing I wish I would've known (which I could've if I had called probably lol) is there is a bit of a tough walk down to get into the boats- but honestly 5 mins into the trip we forgot all about the trek because we were having such a great time. I'd recommend wearing all swim material clothes so that you dry quickly because even on a warm day the water can be chilly and the wind nippy. Having shorts/pants that aren't swim material will keep you cold and wet (dry fit doesn't work the same as swim material lol). If you don't have water shoes they have them available for you to borrow and they also had neoprene/wet suits but we didn't use them.

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone -- Lower Falls Do it in…read morethis order. Trust me. If Yellowstone had a crown jewel, this is it. We hit the Lower Falls from two different angles, and the order we did it made all the difference. Start at Artist Point. From here, you get the full picture -- the entire canyon stretching out in front of you, walls layered in pink, red, orange, and white from thousands of years of iron-stained rock. The waterfall sits in the distance like something out of a painting, and the river winds through the bottom of a canyon that drops 800 to 1,200 feet deep. It gives you the context to appreciate everything else you're about to see. Blue sky, puffy clouds, massive scale -- this view alone is worth the drive. Then hike down to the Brink of the Lower Falls. This is where it gets real. You're standing right at the top of a 308-foot drop, watching the full force of the Yellowstone River launch off the edge. In early May, snowmelt had it absolutely roaring -- thick mist rising up, patches of snow still clinging to the rocks below, and if the sun hits right, a rainbow forms right at the base. See the canyon first. Then feel the power up close. That's the move. Absolutely mandatory stop in Yellowstone -- don't skip either viewpoint.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone -- Lower Falls Do it in this order. Trust me. If Yellowstone had a crown jewel, this is it. We hit the Lower Falls from two different angles, and the order we did it made all the difference. Start at Artist Point. From here, you get the full picture -- the entire canyon stretching out in front of you, walls layered in pink, red, orange, and white from thousands of years of iron-stained rock. The waterfall sits in the distance like something out of a painting, and the river winds through the bottom of a canyon that drops 800 to 1,200 feet deep. It gives you the context to appreciate everything else you're about to see. Blue sky, puffy clouds, massive scale -- this view alone is worth the drive. Then hike down to the Brink of the Lower Falls. This is where it gets real. You're standing right at the top of a 308-foot drop, watching the full force of the Yellowstone River launch off the edge. In early May, snowmelt had it absolutely roaring -- thick mist rising up, patches of snow still clinging to the rocks below, and if the sun hits right, a rainbow forms right at the base. See the canyon first. Then feel the power up close. That's the move. Absolutely mandatory stop in Yellowstone -- don't skip either viewpoint.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Absolutely breathtaking place! The area is very green, peaceful, and full of natural beauty. There…read morewas lots of flowing water, and the sound of the falls made the whole experience even more relaxing. The canyon views are just WOW -- the massive rock formations surrounding the waterfall make it feel unreal. Pictures really don't do it justice. The hike is a little challenging in some areas, but it's totally worth it once you reach the falls and see the views. The trail itself is beautiful, with amazing scenery all around. Definitely one of the most beautiful spots in Yosemite National Park!

Our tour was with Jim. We began around 6:15 am. There were 6 of us which included two inquisitive…read morechildren. He was fantastic. Great knowledge of the Upper Loop, He took us everywhere you could imagine and answered every question we had. He sought out animal sightings for us. He took us to breathtaking waterfalls and geysers. Every one of us thoroughly enjoyed the day. Absolutely phenomenal! Well worth it!

Yellowstone Wildlife Tours, Silver Gate, Montana…read more We had the opportunity to go on Yellowstone Wildlife Tours with Katelyn. She is very passionate and knowledgeable about Yellowstone and the wildlife that live there. She took us to a carcass that allowed us to see Wolves, Coyotes, Grizzly Bears, Pronghorn and more. She explained their interactions between the various animals and provided details beyond what we were observing. She had a scope with a camera that made it easy to really view the animals. She connected with another tour guide to share a lesson on scat, tracks and more. Katelyn would take the time to direct other tourist on where to look. She is exceptional at explaining where to focus to view wildlife with binoculars and cameras. When we asked Katelyn about the best routes to view other areas and must see/do of Yellowstone, she gave us wonderful directions and options. Including which turn offs and hikes that were appropriate for our skill level. We would recommend Katelyn, of Silver Gate Guides and Silver Gate Lodge for your next trip to Yellowstone. In fact we have already done that for several of our friends and family planning trips. Thank you for an Amazing Experience! Deb and Bob Kleinbrook

We spent two days with MacNeil this spring and had an incredible experience touring Yellowstone!…read more We learned about the park and the animals, we heard wonderful stories about MacNeil's experiences as a naturalist and guide, and we found all the animals we hoped to see -- and more! I hope to return to Yellowstone again one day and will certainly book another guided tour with MacNeil because he knows how to find animals and custom designs his tours based on what you want to see in the park! Thank you, MacNeil!

Our trip to Yellowstone was modified by the north entrance not opening. We were so excited to have…read moreMacNeil guide us as we had chatted for months via email. Since he could not guide us through the park he instead made sure our time in Gardiner was magnificent! He gave me all the local trails with detailed information, we followed his plan and that made our trip! I know his knowledge of the area is deep and vast. He's worth every penny! I highly recommend he be your first booking when headed to Yellowstone!!!!

Another must do when visiting the Canyon area of Yellowstone National Park. A very easy walk to…read morethe Brink of the Upper Falls for a great view of the falls. Also recommend the the Upper Falls View, Uncle Tom's Trail (when it is open again) and Artist Point on the South Rim and Brink of the Lower Falls, Lookout Point (take the additional walk down to the lower viewpoint) on the North Rim.

Brian was a phenomenal guide for our first visit to Yellowstone. We decided to book a private tour…read morewith him as we only had 1 full day, and we're so glad we did! He was a wealth of knowledge on the park, history, & wildlife. The ability to fully customize our experience to ensure we saw everything we wanted was well worth the money for us. I can't recommend him enough! And we can't wait to return.

Brian is a superb guide and will recommend him to everyone. He reached out right after the booking…read moreto see what we are looking for during the tour. From start to finish, the tour exceeded all of my expectations. Brian was incredibly knowledgeable about both photography and the park itself. He provided invaluable tips on capturing the perfect shots, whether it was the majestic geysers, serene lakes, or the abundant wildlife. Their passion for both photography and nature was truly infectious, making the tour educational and enjoyable. The tour was well-organized, with a thoughtfully planned itinerary that ensured we were in the right places at the right times for the best lighting and opportunities. We even managed to get to Old Faithful at THE perfect timing. I came away from this tour not only with amazing photographs but also with a deeper appreciation for the natural beauty of Yellowstone and improved photography skills. I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to capture the essence of Yellowstone through their lens. It was an experience of a lifetime!