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 :(

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 is one of the most breathtaking sights in all of…read moreYellowstone National Park, and honestly, one of the most impressive waterfalls in the United States. Dropping over 300 feet, it's nearly twice the height of Niagara Falls, and the sheer power and beauty of the water crashing down into the canyon is unforgettable. What makes it even more spectacular is the colorful canyon itself. The walls are streaked with yellows, reds, and oranges--caused by hydrothermal activity altering the rock over thousands of years--which is where Yellowstone gets its name. Pair that rainbow of rock with the thundering white water of the Lower Falls, and you've got a view that feels like it belongs on a postcard. There are multiple overlooks to see the falls, but Artist Point is the most famous and gives you that iconic panoramic view. Uncle Tom's Trail also takes you closer to the action but be ready for a steep climb back up--it's worth it for the experience. The Lower Falls and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone are absolute must-sees. No trip to Yellowstone is complete without standing here and taking in this awe-inspiring natural wonder. https://linktr.ee/reessroots

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!

We entered Yellowstone from the northeast entrance so that we could deliberately drive through the…read moreLamar Valley. We didn't start our drive until early afternoon, so we didn't see a great deal of wildlife, but we did manage to see several herds of bison. The views were very scenic, and we found ourselves pulling over quite frequently. Definitely take your time driving through this area and enjoy the sights!

Definitely a must see in Yellowstone. The Porcelain Basin area is by far the most scenic in the…read morearea. Expect to walk downhill and then back uphill a good amount to reach the boardwalks. There's a small museum and park souvenir store at the trailhead. Once parking fills (which happens early) plan to park on the side of the highway and walk in. See my photos for a trail map posted on site.

+ 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.

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.

Five stars - It's Yellowstone, how could I give it anything less?…read more I'll keep this simple. There are moments in this park that you will feel like you are on another planet. The geysers and the hot springs are surreal. My favorites spots were the Grand Prismatic Spring, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Fountain and Artist Paint Pots. I saw elks, bison, grizzly bears, and a wolf. My recommendations are: visit during off season (if you can), book a guided tour if it is your first time in the park, and get the America the Beautiful Pass.

Worth it. I enjoyed way more than I expected. Ethereal…read moreencounters. Like, what was that beast?? Not a deer, not a moose. I thought it was an alien. Didn't expect to happen upon snakes fighting. Or snakes at all for that matter. And yay for eternal geysers. I mean, OF is spectacular, but there's uncertainty with those timed eruptions. But the perpetuity of Clepsydra and Black Growler covered that for me. Also didn't expect for this anteater to be tasting rainbows or to be greeted with the-Earth-is-boiling-up scenery. And of course, bison passing within several feet of my car already sold the deal for me. One of the best national parks I've ever been to. Thank you Ulysses Grant for the precedent! Downsides: - long drives between popular attractions. - super crowded. - long, slow moving lines of cars. - crowded restrooms in some places. Need more.

What a magical place. So fortunate that had the chance the visit and I can't wait to go back…read more I don't think I can add more to what's been said but I think these tips would help The first time visitor. 1. Yellowstone is a massive park and you'll need to be strategic before you visit as to what you want to experience 2. You will need Bear mace. Get it ahead of time. 3. Give yourself more time than you think. Distances are long, roads are slow, and wildlife jams are common. 4. Arrive early or stay late. Midday (10am-4pm) is busiest. Early mornings and evenings are quieter and best for wildlife You would think this is a no-brainer but I can't even put a number as to how many times international visitors ignored the placards and signs. This is why visitors fall into pools and don't come back. 5. Stay on boardwalks and trails. The ground can be dangerously thin and hot. 6. Never touch thermal features. Water can be near boiling and acidic. 7. Supervise kids closely. Injuries here are serious and often fatal. 8. Leave the animals alone. Keep a safe distance. The animals are not pets. The buffalos and deers let only bears can do serious damage to your vehicle. Imagine what they can do to you. Be respectful and leave them alone. General guidelines Bison, elk, deer: at least 25 yards (23 m) Bears & wolves: at least 100 yards (91 m) Bison are NOT docile. They injure more people than bears. Lastly, keep a plastic bag for your trash in your car and dump properly. Yellowstone has this rule about trash Pack it in, pack it out If you bring it, you take it with you. This includes food scraps, peels, wrappers, and tissues. I learned a lot and left my heart there. Can't wait to go back.

- Sooo crowded. Tue 7am already a long slow line into Yellowstone's west entrance, particularly…read moretheir single paid pass lane. (America the Beautiful annual pass is $80.) . Two non-prepaid entrance lanes. . After passing the entrance booth, it's a 40min (25mi) drive to the nearest flagship destination, Grand Prismatic Spring. + On the bright side, on your way in you spot a cluster of fumaroles spewing steam high into the sky. It's like the Earth became a steaming hothead haha -- Even worse was the drive out. Tue ~8pm it's a looong slow line exiting Yellowstone's west side. Think I spent 40-60min sitting in that line. . In the morning, why not have 2-3 paid entrance lanes, and 2-3 exit lanes in the evening? Wanna go through here on a holiday or weekend? I don't even wanna imagine.