Spanning 3,500 square miles, Yellowstone National Park rests atop a hotbed of geothermal activity making its geysers and springs some of the park’s most popular attractions. But often overlooked are the park’s waterfalls. While some require a hike in, others can simply be seen from the road making it easy to discover our favorite waterfalls in Yellowstone National Park.
Spring into early summer is a great time to visit with melting snow and rain showers filling the falls. Many of the waterfalls in Yellowstone National Park are best accessed from the park’s entrance at West Yellowstone.
Tower Fall
Tower Fall is probably one of the most popular falls in the park. It is located roadside between Tower-Roosevelt and Canyon Village. It is easily accessible for all skill levels due to the parking area and a short 300-foot walk to view the falls. Tower Falls forms as Tower Creek drops a dramatic 130+ feet straight down before joining the Yellowstone River.
Lewis Falls
Located just south of Lewis Lake, along the Lewis River, Lewis Falls is a thirty-foot-high drop of plunging waters that can be seen from the road. Due to its location above a highway bridge crossing over the Lewis River. Because of its accessible location, it is one of the most visited and photographed waterfalls in Yellowstone National Park. It is located in the southern area of Yellowstone, roughly halfway between the South Entrance and Grant Village.
Undine Falls
Undine Falls was made famous by its appearance on the cover of National Geographic Magazine in July 1977. The multi-step waterfall of Lava Creek, spanning a height of 60 feet, consists of three plunges which can be seen from a viewpoint off the main road.
Fairy Falls
Get out and explore on your own two feet with the six-mile round trip hike to Fairy Falls. While the 200-foot waterfall is a sight to see, this trail’s newest feature, which makes this a favorite in our books, is the new Grand Prismatic Spring overlook accessed from the re-established spur trail to Fairy Falls. This addition was added in 2017 making it an even more popular route within the park.
Upper and Lower Yellowstone River Falls
The Upper and Lower Falls are the most stunning waterfalls in Yellowstone National Park. Impressive in size, you can see them at about 1.5 miles from Canyon Village, but seeing them up close requires a little extra effort.
The Lower Falls is the tallest waterfall in the park at 308 feet. The best time to see it in action is in the spring from either the platform at the Brink of the Lower Falls, Red Rock Point, Artist Point, Brink of the Lower Falls Trail, Uncle Tom’s Trail, and at various places along the South Rim Trail.
Upper Falls, just upstream of Lower Falls, cascades at a much smaller size of 109 feet into the canyon and can best be seen standing on the platform at the Brink of the Upper Falls.
Stay at Pony Express Motel
After visiting these waterfalls in Yellowstone National Park, rest and relax in your room at the Pony Express Motel in Jackson, WY! Our budget-friendly motel is located 58 miles from the south entrance to the park, making it the perfect day trip from Jackson.
Guests enjoy comfortable and clean rooms, budget-friendly rates, and friendly staff when staying at the Pony Express Motel. From our basic family room accommodations to the larger deluxe two-bedroom suite, we have something for all travelers!