This trail still exists, except it stops where the steps once existed. So it's a very steep trail,…read morea lot of switchbacks, leading to the top of the falls. Even without the stairs, it's quite a significant climb back to the parking lot so if you're not in good condition, don't attempt!

August 2022 Update: when my fiancé and I went, two rangers informed us that they are officially…read morePERMANENTLY closing this trail. They went down to take out the sign and will not be allowing anyone to go through the stairs. They said it is too expensive to fix and costs millions of dollars with the rescues, especially with the amount of money they are spending to fix the roads from the flooding. Obviously really sad but Uncle Tom's trail is no more :(

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 happened upon this overlook up the mountain. It was a nice panoramic view . We didnt do the…read morehike .. just drove and got out to look around on our way out of the park.

Mt. Washburn is one of the most popular hikes in Yellowstone National Park at 10,219 feet. It…read moreoffers panoramic views 20-50 miles in all direction -- really nice views of the Washburn range from up top. You climb about 1,393 feet. There is a Mt. Washburn sign at the top with the elevation and a fire lookout that has a small exhibit inside. Since it is pretty popular, I recommend hiking in the morning before 10am to avoid the crowds and get a parking spot! There are two ways to hike up to Mt.Washburn: 1) Chittenden Road: 5 miles roundtrip, roughly 2.5- 4 hours. The trail starts at the parking lot and is the shortest route up Mt. Washburn. The road provides a wide trail and a gradual steady incline. 2) Dunraven Pass: 6 miles roundtrip, roughly 3-6 hours. I heard this trail is steeper and more wooded and forest-like. Great views as you're ascending Washburn though. I personally hiked Washburn up the Chittenden Road and saw lots of ewes and lambs. It was a pretty easy hike since the incline was gradual. Beautiful views at the top! Make sure you stay on the trail for both paths to avoid destroying fragile alpine vegetation. There is a possibility to see grizzlies especially late summer and fall so remember to carry bear spray and make lots of noise! Stay 100 yards away from bears and wolves and 25 yards away from other animals in the park.

Amazing! The rumors were true. + Bison nonchalantly…read morecrossing the road, slowing down lines of cars. My 3rd animal crossing this vacation! - The western entrance to Lamar Valley at Tower Junction (Tower/Roosevelt Service Station) was way backed up. Many cars, slow line. * Even with many families waiting behind you, savor the moments. Not often in your life you get to witness Bovidae walking right in front of you. . Tip: better replenish at the Sinclair gas station. Will be a long drive ahead. # Warning: Don't feed them, and certainly don't touch them. Ancestrally, bison had to view us hunters as predators. And mothers recognize their calves by scent. If you touch a calf, your human predator scent will alienate the mother; she may not even recognize her young anymore, and it won't be able to rejoin the herd Dx Disastrous fate for the calf afterwards... So yeah, stay in your car. Or exit at one of the pullouts, but keep your distance. Welcome to America's Serengeti!

I had no real expectation of the Lamar Valley, but had heard that this was a good spot to see…read morewildlife. And did we see wildlife. Pronghorn, a rare native fish, BISON EVERYWHERE, deer. We even got stuck in a kind of scary bison jam for about 20 mins. Huge bison were right next to our car and it very much reminded me of the scene of Jurassic Park when the t-rex got out and the passengers were freezing so it wouldn't see you. We found 1 particular spot to get out and hike. It was called Trout Lake. It was a beautiful, moderate (but mostly flat and easy) walk that my kids could do easily. The scenery was really pretty too. We turned the car around at Trout Lake to head toward Tower Fall, but I've heard it's still pretty when you continue on. A definitely while do. I think we spent about 4 hours in the Lamar Valley with the drive and the hike stop.

+ Fun fact: Norris Geyser Basin is Yellowstone's oldest and hottest basin…read more + Fun fact: the green comes from a combo of 2 colors: blue and yellow. The blue comes from the water absorbing all other colors and thus reflecting blue, while the yellow-orange is the thermophilic bacteria and algae, or rather the yellow sulfur. Our eyes interpret the blue-yellow mix as blellow. jk, green. - Steamboat Geyser here is the world's tallest active geyser (300') but with unpredictable, infrequent major eruptions. Last major eruption was 2/27/2026. I wouldn't get my hopes up on your next visit. -- Crowded and very slooow parking. Sat outside for 20-30min waiting for the line to move. + Good amount of restrooms.

We had entered the park from Gardiner, and it wasn't a very long drive to the Norris geyser. There…read moreis a welcome center, but we went straight out to the boardwalk and started walking around. The one Geyser smokes fairly consistently - there isn't the big eruption like at Old Faithful. The boardwalks take you through quite a variety of basins and geysers - some as small as just bubbling water, but it was all very interesting to see. We spent quite a lot of time here - even though the parking lot was packed, because the boardwalk is so spread out you didn't really feel like you were in a crowd. You could take your time and really look at everything. I would definitely recommend this as a stop.

Really liked renting during our trip to Yellowstone. 3-7 day rental was super affordable as was day…read moreto day. The owner of the kiosk was super helpful and her video she has about what to do in bear attacks was alot more useful than rangers just telling us to carry spray. Planning another trip next year and going to rent again!

From the owner: Bear spray rentals and hiking goods in Yellowstone National Park between May and September…read more Located adjacent to the Canyon Village Visitor Center in Yellowstone National Park, we offer bear spay rentals on a daily ($9.25) or weekly, 3 to 7 days ($28.00) basis. Learn how to hike safely in Yellowstone, avoid bear encounters, and protect yourself with the last line of defense in the event of a bear attack.

The park is new and still in. It's finishing stages. It is very nice with room lots, nice concrete…read morepad, picnic tables, and fantastic scenery. The manager, Todd, is amazing. He goes out of his way to make sure everyone has an enjoyable experience.

Quiet lunch by the lake. Didn't rent one but several people were on the paddle boats having fun.read more

On our second day in the park, we had visited the Grand Canyon area, and then we discovered the…read morelake. On that day, a storm must've been moving in because the wind was gusting and there were actually waves on the lake! We got out a couple times and explored the beachfront. I found a couple of bird feathers, which was exciting for me, and generally just amazing given the gusts of wind - I was surprised that they didn't blow away. On our third day in the park as we came back through from the fishing bridge headed towards Old Faithful, we went by the lake again, and we were stunned at the complete difference in personality that we were witnessing. The lake was completely and totally calm, quiet, and gentle. We had to stop and explore again, and it was such a different experience from the day before. This lakefront is amazing and it's definitely a place to be explored in the park.

I drove through Yellowstone Lake as I was going to West Thumb Geyser Basin on the eastern portion…read moreof the park. It's a HUGE lake and it took me a while to drive down the road with the lake by my side. There are a lot of pulloffs that you can soak in the views or even go down to the lake and play in the water. It'll take you a while to drive around the entire lake and there are multiple parts of it. West Thumb and Grant Visitor Center will be closest to the main sections of the park and closest to Grand Loop Road. Although the South and Southeast arms of the lake are further away I imagine they're less crowded so you can have more peace doing all your fun activities.

Definitely a must see! There is a new wonder around every turn. We entered from the Northeast using…read morethe Chief Joseph Scenic highway into the Lamar valley- beautiful grasslands where herds of Bison roam and even lay in the road in front of your car! We stayed at the Yellowstone lake inn and cabins which was an excellent location. The park has a loop road in a figure eight, very easy to navigate through the signage could use improvement. We were able to see a lot in 2 days but you need to be able to hike to some of the features. A lot can be seen from your car or a short walk. Be prepared to wait! We were there after Labor Day and it wasn't quite as busy as usual but you still had to wait for a parking place. I downloaded a narrated self tour from Viator that was downloaded to my phone. There is no cell service in all of the park but calls by satellite can be made from your phone in case of emergency. GPS does work well but is slow at times. The tour started from any entrance and picked up your location to continue. It also gave you good directions. With so many geysers and geothermal sites to see, pick what you really want the see as much as you can fit in! Almost 500 miles of roadway in the main loop. 1200 geysers, thousands of steam vents, mud pots, thermal pools- you can't possibly see it all! Enjoyed every minute!

Yellowstone National Park was well worth the visit. This park is MASSIVE. Due to its size there is…read morenever a shortage of things to do. Expect to drive hours each day as everything is far away. I underestimated how much driving there would be which was a little tough with small children. Make sure you GPS before you get into the park as there is no service. I highly recommend you fill up your gas tank and bring plenty of snacks! They do have food in the park but if you don't like hotdogs and ice cream I suggest you pack some food.

Town is convenient to this entrance/exit With multiple…read moreopportunities for lodging, dining, camping, hotels, motels, grocery shopping, bar hoping, and good family or singles fun. The park employees manning the gate are super friendly and they can get through the crowds very quickly. A sightseer paradise. Mountains, wildlife, stream, hiking, biking, photography, horse bike riding, driving and getting back to nature.

The West Entrance to Yellowstone National Park was efficient every time we went through. We never…read moreencountered a longer WEEKDAY-delay at the entrance than 15min, on different weekdays approximately 6:30am, 8am, 8:30am, 10:30am, and 11am. (Jul 2026). On the other hand, even when we entered at 6:30am, traffic built up by the time we got to popular locations to the south between the entrance and Old Faithful. Not terribly bad, but enough that we would have started earlier if we could have. Studying traffic apps, it looked like traffic was better entering before 5:30am or maybe even 6am. We never saw bad backups (besides wildlife sightings) going north, or going all the way west between the north and south loops. We never started early enough to see sunrise inside the park. At the entrance, the far right lane was for pre-paid passes. With three other lanes open, the prepaid lane wasnt even twice as fast as the others. It was around two-cars faster when the other lanes were 6 or 8 cars. Pretty efficient. And they give you a useful park map, though you can buy more detailed maps and guidebooks at the park's visitors centers and around town. We used the free ones :-) We felt that the NPS app had info that's easier to access than their website. And believe it when they say cell service is limited to the major sights and visitor centers. Even GPS was spotty. So, after our first couple hours in the park, we made a point to download maps and info before the next leg of the trip, and on the second time in, we downloaded the night before.