Sight · Yellowstone National Park
A broad cascade at the end of a long, rough gravel road.
Overview
Cave Falls is a broad, low waterfall on Fall River in Yellowstone's remote Bechler area. Once you're there, it is a short stop with two viewing angles; getting there is the commitment. I'd save it for a day in the park's southwest corner rather than tack it onto Grand Loop sightseeing.
Parkwolf’s verdictA waterfall worth a deliberate detourMap
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Yellowstone Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Yellowstone National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Yellowstone audio tourRecorded for this place
Cave Falls and Bechler Falls“Cave Falls is coming up, where Fall River spreads across a basalt ledge in a broad, low curtain.”
Plays as you drive up to Cave Falls in the Parkwolf Yellowstone Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“First time driving through a national park. We used the Yellowstone tour on grand loop Road and it’s just like having a tour guide in your car with you.”
Guide
Approach from Ashton, Idaho, on Cave Falls Road. A long section is gravel or dirt, so leave time for a slow drive. The falls are far from Yellowstone's central road loop; this is a deliberate trip into the southwest corner, not a quick spur between the main stops.
There are lower and upper viewing areas, with a short walk between them. The lower view brings you close to the front of the falls; from above, you can look toward the brink and downriver. If you've driven out, make time for both angles.
Fall River spills over a basalt ledge, spreading into a wide curtain instead of a tall, narrow plunge. From the upper view, look along the lip and at how the river opens out below it.
Wildlife
713 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
743 sightingsWolfMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
5,273 sightingsBisonMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
3,258 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
397 sightingsMooseMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
1,494 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Yellowstone. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
EasyBechler Falls Trail2.6 mi · 1.3 hr · 0.1 mi awayA forested river walk threads cascades to a low waterfall.
ChallengingColonnade Falls Trail18 mi · 9 hr · 2.4 mi awayA long, nearly level route to a two-tier backcountry waterfall.ChallengingBechler River Trail30 mi · 20 hr · 2.4 mi awayA remote river traverse threads meadows, waterfalls, and thermal ground.
ModerateDunanda Falls Trail16.9 mi · 8.5 hr · 2.4 mi awayA long, mostly level hike to a 110-foot waterfall.
ModerateBechler Meadows Trail10.6 mi · 6 hr · 2.4 mi awayA creek crossing opens onto Tetons views and wildflower meadows.
ModerateBoundary Creek Trail17.2 mi · 10 hr · 2.4 mi awayA remote crossing through open meadows and several waterfalls.
ModerateRobinson Creek Trail9.1 mi · 4.5 hr · 2.4 mi awayA Bechler backcountry route with Robinson Lake as a shorter turnaround.Parkwolf’s Yellowstone ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
