The Other Grand Canyon!
When I planned our trip to Yellowstone National Park, I was focused on geysers and wildlife. I had not heard about the Grand Canyon and having been to the Grand Canyon the previous year, I didn’t think it was top of my list. Based on reviews and other travelers, I added this to my itinerary. We spent about a half day exploring this area and it turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip. I promise you will thank me if you add this to your plan.
What Makes it So Special
The Yellowstone river has created such an amazing landscape that offers great views of waterfalls, a colorful canyon, steam vents that still change the landscape and a lot of photo opportunities. One of the things that we loved the most was that you could have a great view of the waterfall, but could also walk to the brink of the waterfalls and feel the power first hand.
Plan for viewing the Grand Canyon: You will want to spend time at both the South Rim and North Rim which are both accessible by car and close together. If you are short on time, you can drive and park at the key areas. We started with the South Rim and chose to do all of the viewpoints.
Yellowstone Canyon, 1872 by Thomas Moran, Public Domain
South Rim
You can drive to both viewpoints and park or you can walk the 2.5 mile (one-way) South Rim Trail if you have time
- Upper Falls Viewpoint – An up close view of the Upper Falls from the Uncle Tom’s Point parking area
- Uncle Tom’s Trail – This is not so much a hiking trail as a set of 328 steps down to the base of the Lower Falls. While the trip back is a little challenging, being at the bottom of this tremendous waterfall is a real experience. If you are lucky, you can find a rainbow in the waterfall stream.
- Artist Point – This is a lookout named by Frank Jay Haynes as the spot where the Thomas Moran painting was created. The painting was actually inspired from the North Rim viewpoint, but the name still remains. This is a great stop for pictures and also allows you to really see the colors and landscape.
North Rim:
North Rim road is a one way road, so grab parking where you can. You don’t want to miss a viewpoint finding the best spot. If you are up for a great walk. Try walking a portion of the North Rim Trail to some of the viewpoints. You could easily walk Lookout Point to Inspiration Point and back
- Brink of the Upper Falls – This lookout is before the turn off for North Rim Road. Easy parking and walk to a few viewing areas to get an amazing look at the top of the Upper Falls. Pictures can’t capture this experience. It is about hearing and feeling the power of the waterfall up close.
- Brink of the Lower Falls – Easy parking and 3/4 mile roundtrip hike that is a little steep, but absolutely worth it. The Lower Falls is the larger of the two and being up close to the falls is a breathtaking experience.
- Red Rock Point – A steep 0.7 mile trail down to a great lookout. We skipped this one as we had overdone it on a few others.
- Lookout Point – Easy parking and viewpoint of the canyon and Lower Falls
Inspiration Point – Another great viewpoint that gives you the actual view from the Thomas Moran painting. Great spot for breathtaking photos
The one way trail takes you into Canyon Village. Time for lunch or at least an ice cream.
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