There are about 300 waterfalls in Yellowstone National Park. While you may not be able to see all of them during your trip to Yellowstone, you can see a select few. Here are the top ten Yellowstone waterfalls.
TOP TOUR: Book a Private Yellowstone tour now
TOP HOTEL PICK: Check availability now
FIND THE CHEAPEST CAR RENTAL: Search Discover Cars for the best deals
FIND THE CHEAPEST FLIGHTS: Search Skyscanner for the best deals
GET TRAVEL INSURANCE: Get insured with Travelex before you go
No time right now to read about the best waterfalls in Yellowstone National Park? Pin It and save it for later:
Please note this post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at zero cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see our full Disclosure for more information. If you have any questions, please contact me.
If you are planning a trip to Yellowstone and want to see some of these waterfalls, make your planning easy and stress free with a detailed itinerary. I have created 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-day itineraries for Yellowstone. You can choose your preferred activity level and take all the stress out of planning your trip.
The 10 Best Waterfalls In Yellowstone National Park
Subscribe to regular updates with tips for planning, travel inspiration and trip ideas and get instant access to the free PDF of the
Best Yellowstone Waterfalls
1. Mystic Falls
Height: 70 feet
Location: Upper Geyser Basin
Mystic Falls are on the Little Firehole River, as it tumbles over a series of ledges in a small canyon. They are some of the prettiest waterfalls Yellowstone National Park has, but you need to hike to see them.
The 2.4-mile trail leaves from Biscuit Basin and goes along a creek through a conifer forest before arriving at the falls. You can return the way you came, or add another 1.5 miles to your hike by continuing in a big loop back to the trailhead.
2. Lewis Falls
Height: 30 feet
Location: Half way between the South Entrance and Grant Village
These small but beautiful Yellowstone National Park waterfalls are on the Lewis River in the south region of the park.
If you are heading south, you’ll see them from the road easily. If you’re heading north, pull off after you cross the Lewis River Bridge, as they are on the other side of the road. A short walk gets you closer to the falls (where this photo was taken).
3. Undine Falls
Height: 60 feet
Location: 4 miles east of Mammoth Hot Springs
These beautiful waterfalls in Yellowstone Park are along Lava Creek as it drops over three tiers totaling 60 feet. They can be easily seen from an overlook next to a pullout on the side of the road (on the left if you’re headed east). You can also hike a short trail to the brink of the falls.
4. Osprey Falls
Height: 150 feet
Location: 5 miles south of Mammoth Hot Springs
Some of the most beautiful waterfalls at Yellowstone National Park, the falls on the Gardner River plunge over the edge of a lava flow.
They are reached by an 8-mile out-and-back hike. From the trailhead just south of Golden Gate, the trail crosses grassland before descending into one of the park’s deepest canyons, Sheepeater Canyon.
5. Fairy Falls
Height: 200 feet
Location: Midway Geyser Basin
These are some of the tallest falls in the park. They are a single drop on Fairy Creek. The falls are reached by hiking 5.4 miles round trip from Fairy Falls Trailhead past Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook and through a lodgepole pine forest.
They make a great spot for a picnic lunch. You can continue another half a mile to Imperial Geyser and Spray Geyser. An alternate route start/ ends at the end of Fountain Flat Drive.
6. Gibbon Falls
Height: 80 feet
Location: Halfway between Madison Junction and Norris Geyser Basin
Gibbon Falls are cascading falls on the Gibbon River and can be seen from a view platform next to the parking area. A short 0.5-mile round trip hike takes you to another viewpoint where you can see them from below.
Just off the side of the road, on the east side, they’re some of the most accessible falls Yellowstone has.
7. Firehole Falls
Height: 40 feet
Location: Firehole Canyon Drive
They may not be the tallest falls at Yellowstone National Park, but they make a great stop on the beautiful Firehole Canyon Scenic drive. They gush over a drop of hardened lava in the Firehole River, a short way upstream from the Firehole River swim area.
8. Union Falls
Height: 250 feet
Location: The Bechler region in the southwest (back country) corner of the park
Without a doubt some of the most breathtaking falls Yellowstone National Park has, Union Falls require some effort to get to.
The waterfalls are actually the second tallest falls in the park – and many people consider them the most beautiful – but you need to hike 15 miles round trip to get there. The hike includes fording the Fall River and has an elevation gain of about 1,000 feet.
The reward at the end is a unique tent-shaped waterfall formed by two branches of Mountain Ash Creek converging that will take your breath away.
9. Tower Fall
Height: 132 feet
Location: 3 miles south of Tower-Roosevelt Junction
Tower Creek plunges over a steep drop just before joining Yellowstone River. The narrow single drop fall is easily reached by a short trail from Tower Fall parking area/ grocery store/ picnic area. There are interesting rock columns at the top of the falls, formed by a lava flow.
Tower Fall is near the start of the Lamar Valley scenic drive.
10. Upper Falls of the Yellowstone River
This post is about the 10 best waterfalls of Yellowstone National Park, but the Falls of the Yellowstone River are divided into the Upper and Lower Falls, so technically there are 11. They are separated by a bend in a river, so can’t actually be seen together.
Height: 109 feet
Location: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
The falls aren’t as tall as the larger Lower Falls, but are still spectacular, and are more accessible. A very short walk from the Uncle Tom’s Point parking lot takes you to the classic view of the falls, with the Chittenden Bridge in the background.
It’s also possible to walk to the Brink of the Upper Falls on a short 450-foot path from the north rim of the canyon.
11. Lower Yellowstone Falls
Height: 308 feet
Location: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
The largest and most spectacular falls in Yellowstone, they are almost twice the height of Niagara Falls.
There are several classic viewpoints. Perhaps the most famous is Artist Point, where you have a panoramic view of the colorful canyon with the falls at the end.
Time your visit just right to see a rainbow at the bottom of the falls. If you follow my detailed Yellowstone Itinerary, you will be there at exactly the right moment to see the rainbow!
Other classic views include from Red Rock Point, below the rim of the canyon, and the Brink of the Lower Falls, another challenging steep hike below the north rim.
Read about these hikes – and others – in my post about the Best Hikes in Yellowstone.
Subscribe to regular updates with tips for planning, travel inspiration and trip ideas and get instant access to the free PDF of the
Best Yellowstone Waterfalls
Yellowstone Waterfalls Map
Click on the Waterfalls in Yellowstone map to open an interactive version so you can see where all of these waterfalls are.
Yellowstone Waterfalls FAQs
Where are the two largest waterfalls in Yellowstone?
The largest waterfalls in Yellowstone National Park are the Lower Yellowstone Falls. Although many people mistakenly think that the second tallest waterfalls in the park are the Upper Yellowstone Falls, they are actually Union Falls.
How many waterfalls are in Yellowstone?
There are almost 300 waterfalls in Yellowstone National Park. We have just looked at the best 11 here.
Where is the big waterfall in Yellowstone?
The biggest waterfall is in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, near Canyon Village.
How far is the hike to Lower Falls, Yellowstone?
The hike to the Brink of the Lower Falls is just 0.8 miles roundtrip, but is very steep. Read about this and other Yellowstone Hikes for more details.
Do Yellowstone Falls freeze?
Yes, they do. You can see these falls in winter, but it does take some planning. Check out my Guide to Visiting Yellowstone in Winter for more information.
Travel Insurance for Yellowstone
Be sure you have travel insurance to cover your waterfall watching adventures in Yellowstone. If you slip and need medical attention – or need to be medevacked out – you will want to have coverage to pay for it.
A great insurance option is Travelex. It has coverage for all you’ll need. You can swap this link for either compare Travel Insurance plans here or get a quote right now:
Subscribe to regular updates with tips for planning, travel inspiration and trip ideas and get instant access to the free PDF of the
Best Yellowstone Waterfalls
Enjoy chasing waterfalls 🙂
Do you have any other favorite falls in Yellowstone National Park? I’d love to hear about them. Join my private Facebook group National Parks Collectors and comment and let me know (you can also pick up extra planning tips, share your photos and stories with other national park lovers and more).
If you liked this post, please share the love and Pin It to your Yellowstone National Park board!
Are you just starting to think about taking a national parks trip? Get Inspiration
Are you starting to plan a trip to Yellowstone National Park? Read my Guide to Yellowstone National Park
Do you want a ready-made super detailed plan for your trip to Yellowstone? Get a detailed 1 – 4-day Yellowstone National Park Itinerary
Are you looking for a place to stay in or near Yellowstone National Park? Find a vacation rental near Yellowstone National Park or Find a campground inside Yellowstone National Park
Are you ready to book your trip? Use these Planning and Booking Resources
Do you want to read a book about Yellowstone National Park? Check out my Recommended Reading List for Yellowstone National Park
If you are also planning to visit the Grand Tetons, read my Guide to Grand Teton National Park and get a detailed Grand Teton itinerary.
About the Author
James Ian is a national park, camping and hiking expert.
He has dedicated his life to travel, visiting more than 80 countries, all 7 continents and all of the main national parks in the United States. With over 35 years experience in the travel industry, James has worked on cruise ships, at resorts and hotels, and as a travel planner who’s helped hundreds of people plan successful trips to US national parks.
Based on his experience visiting our national parks multiple times, in-depth research and expertise as a travel planner, James has published detailed itineraries for most of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, comprehensive camping and hiking gear reviews and buying guides, and helpful packing lists and gift guides will help you have your own incredible trip to US national parks without stress and hassle.
As a national park expert, James has contributed to many publications, including Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.
Parks Collecting is a participant in the Amazon.com Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
