Robert C.
Yelp
1. We had come to Yellowstone in early June, as many of the roads were closed due to heavy snow until mid May.
2. The canyon stretches 22 miles through the heart of Yellowstone National Park, and is 1400 feet across, and 800 to 1200 feet deep. It is dwarfed by both the Grand Canyon and Yosemite Valley, but has the beauty and features of both those parks.
3. We got here early in the day, driving half an hour from our cabin at Yellowstone Lake Hotel, to join a ranger guided tour of Uncle Tom's trail.
4 We were early, so we drove the mile down to the end of the South Rim Drive to Artist Point, where we got our first look at the canyon. Iconic postcard view of 308' Lower Falls in the background, yellow stoned cliffs on both sides, surrounded by forests of pine trees on both sides, emptying into the rapids of Yellowstone river.
5. Rainbows form where the sunlight reflects off the mist where the falls hits the river, with snowbanks in the background.
6. Restrooms both at Artist Point and Uncle Tom's Trail, but the restrooms at the latter were closed due to renovations, and so we had to use the parking lot unisex restroom -you know it is a unisex restroom when both men and women are standing in line, instead of just the women!
7. The ranger lead guided tour is instructional. We learn not to go out on the outlooks beyond the designated pathways, as the cliffs are brittle, and break off easily -don't want to do a 1200 foot one way drop!
8 Heavy bear activity in the area, with bear claw marks on almost every pine tree. Bears stretching out, sharpening their claws, and tearing at the trees to eat the insects underneath the bark.
9 The scenic South Rim trail goes about a mile from Uncle Tom's trail to Artist Point, along the south rim of the canyon, with the Yellowstone river below.
10 View mainly of the yellow stone cliffs of the North Rim. I can hear the roar of the river, but can't see the river from the South Rim trail except at outlooks, due to the huge 800'-1200' drop from the rim to the river.
11 After we finish the south rim trail, we head on down Uncle Tom's trail. Tom Richardson (BTW a white guy!), a trail guide who in the early 1900s opened up a rope tow to haul people down and up from the depths of the canyon to the top.
12 Uncle Tom's trail is 328 steel stairs in long steep steel stair cases with hand railings and safety fences leading from the top of the rim, down to about 2/3rds of the way, with the 308' Lower Falls right in your face. There were still snow banks along the river, to add to the color among the heavy forests of pine trees.
13 Picture taking spots at the overlooks with thousands of cubic feet of water falling every second into the white water rapids below.
14 We climb the 382 stairs back to the top, and it is a killer at 7920' altitude. I'm panting like its my last breath, but turn around and admire the awesome view of the roaring Lower Falls plunging hundreds of feet into the dark green rapids below.
15 A the top, we walk the remainder of the South Rim trail though the pine forests rail, to Upper Falls' View. Upper Falls at 109' falls, is dwarfed by 308' Lower Falls, but just as dramatic, with thousands of cubic feet of water going over every second.
16. We walk on another half mile, with the South Rim trail ending, and encountering a highway pedestrian bridge going over the canyon.
17. The Brink of Upper Falls is the first outlook on the North Rim trail, where you can walk right down to the point where the falls plunges 109' below. Lots of mist, as you are right on top of the falls, just a few feet away.
18. The Brink of Lower Falls is the next outlook, and is a series of switchbacks going about 2/3rds of the way down into the canyon. Not as strenuous as Uncle Tom's trail, but a workout going back up.
19. The North Rim Trail continues for 3 miles, with lookouts at Lookout Point, Grand View, and Inspiration Point. These spots have great views of the shades of yellow colored canyon walls, with the river most visible. Lower Falls in the far distance up the river.
20. We were able to see an Osprey nest on one of the pinnacles in the Canyon a few dozen feet from the outlook.
21. There was an earthquake, and it cracked the foundations one of the viewpoints, so they roped it off. Of course some teenagers slipped under the safety ropes, and sat on the condemned section.
22. Walking the entire 11 mile round trip from the South Rim trail, Uncle Tom's Trail, the Brink of Lower Falls, to the North Rim trail and back is about 12 miles, and will take 6 hours, at 7920' .
23. The Canyon Lodge and Canyon Village is a mile from the North Rim Trail.
24 The Canyon continues for 22 miles northward, with panoramic viewing points along the curvy winding mountain road to Tower-Roosevelt, including Tower Falls.
