Upper Falls

Upper Falls is another large waterfall that visitors can see on the Yellowstone River. Although it is significantly smaller than the falls below and does not sink as deep in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, this impressive 110-foot-tall waterfall retains its own charm, especially when it comes to its flow power.

In fact, there is an entire state park or reserve dedicated to this waterfall as it is located exclusively outside the boundaries of Yellowstone National Park. Visitors coming here will be able to go down below the waterfall to observe as well as access the trails leading to the waterfall.

Just a few meters from Uncle Tom Trail's parking area, tourists can get a classic view of Upper Falls from the viewpoint next to Uncle Tom Trailhead and Lookout (also known as Uncle Tom's Point). After parking, walk to the west end of the property where you will find a trail that leads further west and offers a clear view of Upper Falls. From this vantage point, one can see the river above the falls where they twist through the black rock before sliding over the ledge into the large pool below.

While Uncle Tom’s Point mentioned above offers a classic view of Upper Falls, the Southern Rim Trail is 0.3 miles upstream of the Yellowstone River is a place that gets little attention. In this walk, the entire path is paved along the river, although the view is obscured by trees. Compared to the main observatory at Uncle Tom's Point, this is actually much quieter because most people don't care to explore the Southern Rim Trail in this direction. But it is also not completely unknown.

To conclude, Upper Falls:

• Located in the Canyons Area of Yellowstone National Park, Upper Falls is the first of two large falls in Yellowstone's Grand Canyon.
• We can access the fall by Uncle Tom's Point and the Southern Rim Trail.