The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone: Artist Point, Brink of the Lower Falls & North vs South Rim

At the eastern junction of Yellowstone's Figure-8 loop (Canyon Village), the emerald Yellowstone River plunges over two massive waterfalls into a 38-kilometre-long, 300-metre-deep V-shaped gorge whose vertical walls glow in shades of lemon yellow, saffron, rust orange, crimson and chalk white: the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Contrary to popular belief, the rock is not yellow from sulphur; it is 600,000-year-old rhyolite lava rock hydrothermally bleached and cooked by underground steam vents and hot springs, oxidising iron in the rock into yellow and red rust.

1. South Rim Drive: Artist Point & Upper Falls Viewpoints (20 to 30 Mins)

Cross the historic Chittenden Bridge onto South Rim Drive and visit both stops:

• Stop 1, Upper Falls Viewpoints & Uncle Tom's Point: look straight across at the booming 33-metre (109-foot) Upper Falls as the river rockets over a hard basalt ledge.
• Stop 2, Artist Point (End of South Rim Drive, 2-Minute Flat Walk): jutting out on a sheer cliff promontory on the southern wall of the gorge, the two-tiered stone terrace of Artist Point frames the 94-metre (308-foot) Lower Falls at the head of a symmetrical cathedral of yellow and red walls. Visit in mid-morning when sunlight shines into the gorge and creates a rainbow at the base of the Lower Falls.

2. One-Way North Rim Drive: 'Brink of the Lower Falls', Lookout Point & Inspiration Point

After Artist Point, drive back across the river and enter one-way North Rim Drive to experience the waterfalls from the top down:

1. Brink of the Lower Falls Trail (2.4 km Round-Trip | 180m Drop | 45 to 60 Mins): follow a steep, paved 600-metre switchback trail down the canyon wall to a viewing deck built right on the rock lip where 240,000 litres of emerald water per second curl over the 94-metre precipice. For a gentler option, the Brink of the Upper Falls one stop earlier is a flat 3-minute walk from the car.
2. Lookout Point, Red Rock Point & Inspiration Point: stop at Lookout Point and walk 10 minutes down the stairs to sheltered Red Rock Point for a close frontal photo of the Lower Falls.