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A short stroll that takes you to the most spectacular view of the Grand Canyon - hands down!


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Map Key

0.1

Miles

0.2

KM

Unknown

7,675' 2,339 m

High

7,662' 2,335 m

Low

0' 0 m

Up

13' 4 m

Down

3%

Avg Grade (2°)

3%

Max Grade (2°)

Dogs Unknown

Features River/Creek · Views · Waterfall

Family Friendly A very short stroll to one of the best views in the whole park.

Description

To reach Artist Point follow the hordes of people through the large parking area, down a few cement steps, and veer left out to the point. There is a reason this is the most popular spot in the canyon -- it has by far the best view! Here the canyon is approximately 900 feet deep and over 1,500 feet across. Up river, the mighty Yellowstone plunges 308 feet over Lower Falls, approximately twice as high as Niagara Falls.

Take a moment to contemplate how this magnificent canyon and falls were created. Hundreds of thousands of years before the canyon was formed there existed here an ancient thermal basin. The hot waters altered and weakened the hard rhyolite lava in the area, allowing the river to cut this deep canyon. This also produced the beautiful colors of the canyon. Lower Falls tumbles over a hard section of rhyolite unaltered by thermal waters.

Similar views from the opposite side of the canyon inspired Thomas Moran in 1871 to make sketches and take notes from which he later painted his famous oil of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Lower Falls. This and other paintings of Yellowstone caused Moran to become identified with his favorite subject. His friends called him "T. Yellowstone Moran" and he began signing his paintings with a colophon that incorporated a "Y" with his initials.

Thanks to guidebook author, Tom Carter, for sharing this trail description. To learn more about visiting Yellowstone, check out his book, Day Hiking Yellowstone.

Contacts

Shared By:

Tom Carter

Trail Ratings

  4.8 from 28 votes

#109

Overall
  4.8 from 28 votes
5 Star
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4 Star
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Trail Rankings

#6

in Wyoming

#109

Overall
6 Views Last Month
3,257 Since Feb 1, 2016
Easy Easy

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Photos

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
Sep 10, 2015 near Canyon…, WY
Artist Point
Aug 5, 2020 near Canyon…, WY
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone from Artist's Point.
May 18, 2016 near Canyon…, WY
Lower Yellowstone Falls from Artist's Point.
May 18, 2016 near Canyon…, WY
Double feature picture at Artist Point.
Sep 18, 2023 near Canyon…, WY
The Artist Point Trail offers gorgeous views into the canyon.
Jan 18, 2017 near Canyon…, WY

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