Photo of Yellowstone Falls from Lookout Point, Yellowstone National Park

By September 16, 2005December 19th, 2023National Parks, Wyoming, Yellowstone

Road Trip: Day 6

Yellowstone Falls marks the point at which the Yellowstone River plunges 308 feet into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. It is a spectacular waterfall, one of the highlights Yellowstone National Park. (Actually, there are two falls, Upper Yellowstone Falls and Lower Yellowstone Falls, within a short distance of one another. Lower Yellowstone Falls is the one pictured here.) Fortunately, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (aka “Canyon”) offers several excellent vantage points to view the Lower Yellowstone Falls — Artist Point, Lookout Point, Red Rock Point, Uncle Tom’s Trail and the Brink of Lower Falls. In July I photographed the Yellowstone Falls with its morning rainbow, one day from Lookout Point and another day from Artist Point. In mid-July, 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 Lookout Point around 10:15am. The rainbow appears at Artist Point at almost the same time. Since Artist Point in on the other side of the canyon, you will be hard-pressed to witness the rainbow from both Lookout Point and Artist Point on the same day, unless you have a rocket-sled with which to jump the gorge.

A rainbow appears in the mist of the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River. At 308 feet, the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River is the tallest fall in the park. This view is from Lookout Point on the North side of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. When conditions are perfect in midsummer, a midmorning rainbow briefly appears in the falls, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

A rainbow appears in the mist of the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River. At 308 feet, the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River is the tallest fall in the park. This view is from Lookout Point on the North side of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. When conditions are perfect in midsummer, a midmorning rainbow briefly appears in the falls.
Image ID: 13327
Location: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA

Keywords: 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!