Photo of Artist Point, Yellowstone National Park

By September 23, 2005December 19th, 2023National Parks, Wyoming, Yellowstone

Road Trip: Day 7

Artist Point is a popular and dramatic spot to view Yellowstone Falls. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone lies before you with its steep cliffs and striking yellow-orange-pink colors, the result iron oxidation and sulfur in the soil. The Yellowstone River churns at the bottom of the canyon, having just fallen 308 feet down Lower Yellowstone Falls, on its way to Tower Falls another 15 miles away. In midsummer, if the wind in the canyon and the spray from the falls cooperate, a rainbow will appear to the right of Lower Yellowstone Falls when viewed from Artist Point around 10:00am. If you are spending the day (or more) in the Canyon area of Yellowstone National Park and are into waterfalls, canyons and hiking, you owe it to yourself to hike both Uncle Tom’s Trail on the north side of the canyon, which offers a dramatic and close view of the falls near their base, and the trail to Red Rock Point on the south side of the canyon, below Lookout Point. They are steep but my kids (3 and 7 years) did both with me in one day.

A rainbow appears in the mist of the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River. A long exposure blurs the fast-flowing water. At 308 feet, the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River is the tallest fall in the park. This view is from the famous and popular Artist Point on the south side of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. When conditions are perfect in midsummer, a morning rainbow briefly appears in the falls, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

A rainbow appears in the mist of the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River. A long exposure blurs the fast-flowing water. At 308 feet, the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River is the tallest fall in the park. This view is from the famous and popular Artist Point on the south side of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. When conditions are perfect in midsummer, a morning rainbow briefly appears in the falls.
Image ID: 13331
Location: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA

Keywords: artist point, lower yellowstone falls, waterfall, grand canyon of the yellowstone, yellowstone river, yellowstone national park.

About Phil Colla

I am a natural history photographer. I enjoy making compelling images in the ocean, on land, and in the air. I have maintained the Natural History Photography blog since 2005 and my searchable Natural History Photography Library since 1997. Here are some tear sheets and behind the scenes views. Thanks for looking!