Natural Attraction
Upper Falls View
White water plunges 109 feet, spraying mist across the overlook. The canyon bears witness to the river’s ongoing erosion and the hydrothermal weakening of the rock. The brink sits where hard rhyolite meets weaker lava, a boundary forged by time and flow.
Access & viewing
- GPS Coordinates
- 44°42′46″N 110°29′59″W
- Accessibility
- Upper Falls Viewpoint is accessible; Brink is stairs; not fully accessible
Conditions & safety
- Permits Required
- 0
Planning advice
- Nearby Attractions
- Crystal Falls; Artist Point; Lookout Point; North Rim overlooks
- Nearby Facilities
- Canyon Village; Upper Falls Viewpoint restrooms
- Best Time To Visit
- Late May through September; early morning light yields cleaner photos and lighter crowds. Spring snowmelt brings the most dramatic flow; September offers cooler weather with fewer people.
- Tips Advice
- Brink of the Upper Falls trail involves stairs; not wheelchair accessible.
- Parking can become very crowded in peak season.
- Wear sturdy footwear; mist makes surfaces slick.
- Upper Falls Viewpoint has accessible walkways; stay behind barriers.
- Insider Tips
- Brink vantage is close to the spray, but stairs demand effort.
- Morning light improves color and reduces crowds.
- Expect mist—protect cameras and shoes.
More details
- Park Area
- Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Yellowstone National Park
- Family Friendly Notes
- Edge hazards; hold children’s hands near the brink; stay on designated paths
- Attraction Type
- Waterfall
- Elevation Feet
- 7618
- Distance From Entrance
- Parking at Upper Falls Viewpoint off South Rim Drive; Brink of the Upper Falls is ~0.4 miles round-trip from the viewpoint
- Accessibility Level
- Upper Falls Viewpoint: accessible walkways and parking; Brink of the Upper Falls trail includes stairs and is not wheelchair accessible
- How To Get There
- Drive to Canyon Village, then take South Rim Drive to the Upper Falls Viewpoint parking. From there, use the accessible overlook or take the Brink of the Upper Falls stairs for a close view; Uncle Tom's Point/Overlook is nearby for a classic vantage.
- Parking Availability
- Parking can become very crowded, especially during peak season.
- Road Type
- Paved roads with short, paved paths to overlooks
- Seasonal Access
- Late May–September; spring snowmelt offers the most dramatic flow
- Entry Fees
- Varies
- Main Features
- 109-foot waterfall; canyon carved by the Yellowstone River; brink marks contact between hard rhyolite and weaker lava; hydrothermal weakening influences rock strength
- What Youll See
- Upper Falls Viewpoint overlooks the 109-foot plunge; Brink of the Upper Falls and Uncle Tom's Point/Overlook offer varied angles; Crystal Falls is visible from some nearby overlooks.
- Unique Characteristics
- Brink marks the contact between hard rhyolite lava and weaker rock; canyon formation dated to roughly 160,000–140,000 years ago; hydrothermal activity influenced erosion and rock strength
- Safety Considerations
- Gravity: steep drop-offs; mist makes surfaces slick; barriers exist but stay back from the brink; sturdy footwear required
- Best Viewpoints
- Upper Falls Viewpoint; Brink of the Upper Falls; Uncle Tom's Point/Overlook; Lookout Point (North Rim)
- Photo Opportunities
- Golden hour at dawn; misty spray against canyon walls; sunrise light on east-facing falls
- Photography Spots
- Upper Falls Viewpoint; Brink of the Upper Falls; Uncle Tom's Point; Lookout Point
- Sunrise Sunset Quality
- East-facing; good sunrise light and potential alpenglow
- Visitor Center Present
- 1
- Restrooms Available
- 1
- Restroom Type
- Accessible restrooms
- Picnic Areas
- 0
- Interpretive Signs
- 0
- Cell Service
- Limited
- Water Available
- 0
- Guided Tours Available
- 0
- Trailheads Here
- Brink of the Upper Falls trail; Upper Falls Viewpoint loop; Uncle Tom's Point/Overlook
- Connecting Trails
- Brink of the Upper Falls Trail; Artist Point Trail; Lookout Point loops
- Nearby Services
- Canyon Village (~1.8 miles north); Upper Falls Viewpoint restrooms
- Common Wildlife
- Elk, bison, bears, and various birds
- Best Wildlife Times
- Dawn and dusk
- Geological Formation Type
- Rhyolite brink contact; canyon carved by river erosion; base rock is resistant rhyolite
- Scientific Interest
- Rock boundary at brink; hydrothermal weakening; ongoing canyon erosion
- Road Opening Dates
- Late May–September
- Snow Lingering
- Spring snowmelt dominates; lingering into May
- Winter Access
- Limited; winter travel not recommended
- Best Visit Times
- Early morning for light and fewer crowds; late spring to early fall for best flows
- Best Season
- Late May–September
- Weather Patterns
- Spring snowmelt; potential mid-day glare; afternoon showers are possible; microclimates around the canyon
- Peak Fill Times
- Busiest in peak season; parking fills early
- Busiest Season
- Summer
- Waterfall Height
- 109
- Waterfall Flow Rate
- Varies with snowmelt; most dramatic in spring
- Fishing Nearby
- 0
- Swimming Allowed
- 0
- Boating Allowed
- 0
- Climbing Areas
- 0
- Review Summary
- Visitors consistently rate the Upper Falls Viewpoint highly for the dramatic plunge and the accessibility of the main overlook; the Brink offers a thrilling close-up, though the stairs limit mobility for some; parking can be crowded in peak season.
Location
Photos
Frequently asked questions
Do I really need to arrive before 7am to get parking?
Parking can become very crowded, especially during peak season. Plan to arrive early or expect overflow areas near the Upper Falls Viewpoint.
Is it worth the 0.4 mile walk to Brink of the Upper Falls?
Yes—the close-up vantage delivers a dramatic perspective of the plunge; the main Upper Falls Viewpoint affords an accessible alternative.
Can my elderly relative walk to the viewpoint?
Upper Falls Viewpoint has accessible walkways; the Brink of the Upper Falls involves stairs and is not wheelchair accessible.
Is Crystal Falls visible from here?
Crystal Falls is visible from some overlooks near Upper Falls, offering additional canyon scenery from nearby angles.
Is the water actually blue, or is that just in photos?
Water color varies with light and spray; the scene at the falls is impressionistic in photos and real-life light, not a single uniform shade.
More at Yellowstone National Park
Fort Yellowstone Overlook
Travertine terraces from Mammoth Hot Springs; calcium carbonate deposition in action.
Firehole River
Rhyolite canyon walls frame a geothermal-warmed Firehole River, with Firehole Falls dropping 40 feet.
Slough Creek
Meadow stream, VIP Pool at Lamar confluence; shaped by fluvial erosion and glacial deposition.
Imperial Geyser
Imperial Geyser erupts from a 75×100 ft pool; silica-lined conduits feed vivid runoff mats.
Inspiration Point
Promontory overlooking the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone; rhyolite walls reveal millions of years of erosion.
Grand Prismatic Spring
Rainbow rim of a hot spring; colors arise from thermophiles in Yellowstone's volcanic system.
Recommended gear for Yellowstone National Park
Sources
- flylineimages.com
- 51centadventures.com
- 10adventures.com
- yellowstoneparknet.com
- yellowstonevacations.com
- expedia.com
- oreateai.com
- yiftahshahar.com
- nps.gov
- oldfaithfulandfriends.com
- waterfallz.com
- wikipedia.org
- world-of-waterfalls.com
- turpinmeadowranch.com
- roadsidesecrets.com
- gettyimages.com
- andersondesigngroupstore.com
- National Park Service
- Google Reviews
- YourNPGuide Editorial
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Last updated January 2026. Report an issue.