We took a break today from Wildlife Hunting and returned to the Grand Canyon area and took several of the hikes to the falls and above the canyon. It was a brighter day and the colors of the “yellow stone” lined canyon were vivid and beautiful.
Upper Falls is a very short walk to an overlook. It’s popular with the tour buses so it can get busy there.
Lower Falls:
Along the North Rim you can hike all the way to Inspiration Point and on the South Rim, be sure to hike from Uncle Toms Trail to Artist Point. Just breathtaking views.
The lower point is at the place we were after climbing all the way down the 328 steps and the many trail switchbacks. Quite a different perspective from the other side of the river.
It is estimated that a minimum of 5,000 gallons of water flow over the waterfall each second during the dry fall season, and over 60,000 gallons per second fly over the Lower Falls during peak spring runoff. The waterfall creates a dense mist as it crashes to the bottom of the canyon. Water droplets collect on the sides of the canyon, creating streams that run back into the river.
The trail to the top of the Falls (3/4 of a mile, but steep with many switchbacks) is a must, as the experience of standing atop the Falls is one of the most breath-taking experiences in the entire Park. The trip back up to the parking lot can also take your breath away!
At the Brink of Lower Falls, flows over 308 feet down to the river.
A spectacular view of the top of the falls after a hike down from the parking area
The Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is one of the biggest attractions in Yellowstone National Park. After the Yellowstone River plummets over the Upper Falls, it flows for only about a half a mile before taking the 308 ft. plunge over the Lower Falls.
Artist Point is at the end of a very short paved trail at the end of the South Rim Drive and offers a spectacular head on view of the Lower Falls with the towering yellow canyon walls on either side and the Yellowstone River flowing hundreds of feet below at the bottom of the canyon.
Artist Point
Sylvan Lake
A great deal of the park has shown that it has survived the 1988 Wildfires. More grasses for wildlife and new trees are growing up well in the ash of that terrible fire. There are a few areas, however, that seem to be slow at returning to what once was a lush forest. I noticed the area along the East Entrance Road adjacent to Yellowstone Lake just south of Mary Bay to be struggling to become green again. Still a beautiful area even with the death of thousands of trees in the forefront.
We are leaving Yellowstone in a day or so and it has been a great month stay in the various places. Henrys Lake, Bakers Hole, Rustic Wagon in West Yellowstone, and Fishing Bridge. Each of those locations has given us close proximity to all areas of Yellowstone with plenty of time to see it all. Although there is always more to see in these fantastic National Parks, we have many more to check out and not enough time in life to do so….. with that in mind we bid farewell to Yellowstone.
Mark turned 59 years old on Sept 1st and enjoyed his last two days here fly fishing on the Yellowstone.
Next Stop the Grand Teton National Park
