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blue Red Rock Point Trail

  4.7 ( 13 ) Favorite
  1. Areas
  2. WY
  3. …Northwestern Wyoming
  4. …Yellowstone National Park
  5. Canyon Village
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Trail

0.3 mile 0.5 kilometer point to point
Paved Path
Intermediate

Elevation

Ascent: 7' 2 m
Descent: -247' -75 m
High: 7,722' 2,354 m
Low: 7,475' 2,278 m

Grade

Avg Grade: 15% (9°)
Max Grade: 43% (23°)

Dogs

Unknown
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Trail shared by Tom Carter

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“This trail descends deep into the canyon for one of the closest and finest views of Lower Falls!”

— Tom Carter
GPX File

Features River/Creek · Views · Waterfall

This trail contains steep drop-offs that may be dangerous for children. Stay on the trail, wandering off-trail in the canyon is strictly forbidden.

Description

The Red Rock Point Trail uses a combination of paved paths and wooden stairs to descend 260 feet into the spectacular Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. It affords hikers with one of the closest and finest views of the 308-foot Lower Falls.

The 0.3-mile trail to Red Rock Point begins along the short walkway to Lookout Point. It descends gradually at first, then more steeply as it enters a series of stairs. Near the bottom, notice how Red Rock Point is connected to the canyon wall by an earthen hinge. Geologists have determined that the small depression between Red Rock Point and the north canyon wall was once occupied by an ancestral channel of the Yellowstone River. During the Pleistocene epoch, glaciers flowed across the top of the canyon, dropping ice into the canyon and damming the river's course. As the ice melted, the resurrected river followed a new course on the opposite side of Red Rock Point and continued cutting another 400 feet deep into the canyon floor.

The red color of Red Rock Point is a result of thermally-altered rhyolite and exposed iron oxides. Well-known artist Albert Bierstadt painted a famous canvas from this point in 1881. Chances are you'll paint beautiful memories on a hike to Red Rock Point!

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

Local Club: Yellowstone Forever

Jun 10, 2019: Yellowstone Forever Announces New President and CEO John Walda

Jun 2, 2019: All Yellowstone Forever Institute Field Seminars 30-40% off!

May 31, 2019: Yellowstone Hiking 101

Land Manager: National Park Service - Yellowstone National Park

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Check-Ins

Jun 7, 2019
Ryan Gillikin
14h 20m
Jun 2, 2019
Mark Hanlon
Sep 5, 2018
J W
Sep 4, 2018
Lisa VdBergh
Sep 1, 2018
Miranda Yee
Sep 1, 2018
Rongfeng Yuan
Aug 26, 2018
Paul Hoffmann
Aug 11, 2018
Joseph Alexander

Stewarded By

Stewarded by Yellowstone Forever
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.7 from 13 votes

#2

in Canyon Village

#199

Overall
  4.7 from 13 votes
5 Star
77%
4 Star
15%
3 Star
8%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Rankings

#2

in Canyon Village

#5

in Wyoming

#199

Overall
232 Views Last Month
4,016 Since Sep 10, 2015
Intermediate Intermediate
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Photos

Red Rock Point Trail descends into the canyon for an awesome view of Lower Falls!
Red Rock Point Trail descends into the canyon f…
 6
Yellowstone Falls
Yellowstone Falls
 5
Lower Falls of the Yellowstone.
Lower Falls of the Yellowstone.
 2
View of Lower Yellowstone Falls.
View of Lower Yellowstone Falls.
 2
Red Rock Point Trail.
Red Rock Point Trail.
 4
Yellowstone Canyon: A top view of the river from a lookout with a breathtaking view
Yellowstone Canyon: A top view of the river fro…
 3

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