Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone South Rim

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is located several miles south of Canyon Village where we are staying and the road to it from the North Rim leads through Canyon Village and then south across a bridge over the canyon to the 3.2 mile (5.1 km) South Rim Trail.

We first stop at Brink of the Upper Falls, just before the bridge to the South Rim, and view the 109 foot (33 meter) drop of the Upper Falls from the top of the falls.

Brink of the Upper Falls

Brink of the Upper Falls

We cross the bridge over the canyon and drive along the South Rim access road to Artist Point at the end of the road, one of the most beautiful vistas in the park, looking down the canyon toward the Lower Falls.

Artist Point was named in 1883 when it was believed that this was the location used in Thomas Moran's 1872 sketches of the falls.  It was later determined that the sketches were made from the North Rim, but the name Artist Point remained.

View down the canyon toward Lower Falls

We follow the trail from Artist Point along the South Rim to several Upper Falls viewpoints, popping in and out of the woods to spectacular sights as we hike along the 3.2 mile (5.1 km) path.

Views along the trail

Spectacular views of the canyon

More views of  the Upper Falls as we approach

Looking across the canyon, we see on the other side the North Rim trail that we took yesterday to the viewpoint overlooking the top of the Lower Falls.

North Rim trail to Upper Falls viewpoint

As we approach the Upper Falls, rainbows appear in the falling water as it splashes into the plunge pool at the base of the waterfall.

Waterfall rainbows

After last looks back at Upper Falls, we follow the trail back along the South Rim and through the forest to Artist Point where we are parked.

Last views of Upper Falls

South Rim trail

 Returning to Artist Point

The trail along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone has given us a completely different perspective of the canyon and the falls from that of the North Rim yesterday.  The two together are complementary and spectacular.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone North Rim

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is a spectacular, steep-walled canyon in Yellowstone National Park, roughly 24 miles (39 km) long and 800 to 1,200 feet (244 to 366 meters) deep, featuring brilliant yellow, orange, and red rock walls between the massive waterfalls:  Upper Falls at 109 feet (33 meters) and Lower Falls at 308 feet (94 meters), nearly twice as high as Niagra Falls.

We start our exploration at the North Rim, first following a path from the parking area down to the top of the Lower Falls.

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Lower Falls

Hiking to the top of the falls

Looking downriver

We return to the path along the rim and stop at several viewpoints along the trail to discover and enjoy more incredible views of the canyon, the river, and the colorful rock walls enclosing it all.

Views along the trail

Near the end of the North Rim Trail, after hiking to several canyon viewpoints from each of the stops at  Brink of Lower Falls, Red Rock Trail, Lookout Point, Grand View, and Inspiration Point, we get our final views of the canyon from Inspiration Point and wrap up our North Rim experience.

Stops along the North Rim Trail

Final views from the North Rim

It's time to find our way across the canyon and enjoy the views from the South Rim.