South Rim Trail

The South Rim Trail is a 3.6-mile out-and-back from the signed trailhead at Chittenden Bridge to Artist Point and back. It follows the Yellowstone River toward Upper Falls, then winds through woods along the canyon rim before opening at Artist Point above Lower Falls. Allow about two hours with stops; the short climb near Discovery Overlook and the viewpoints take longer than the mileage suggests. Walk the full route for changing perspectives. If you only want the Lower Falls view, drive to Artist Point and take its short approach.

Park at the Wapiti Lake / Chittenden Bridge Picnic Area on South Rim Drive and follow the short paved access to the signed trail. The trailhead area has a kiosk and vault toilets. For the first quarter mile, the Yellowstone runs beside you, with rock outcrops breaking up the current and the old bridge behind them. After the river bends toward Upper Falls, the trail climbs sharply but briefly to Discovery Overlook. Take the paved spur for an early canyon view.

The route passes Upper Falls View, then heads east through pines. Upper Falls comes close; after that, canyon and waterfall views return in short openings among the woods, small rises, and rough patches. This is not a continuous rim walk. At the old Uncle Tom’s junction, stay on the South Rim route; two viewpoints follow to the east. Use the established overlooks and give the exposed edge plenty of room.

Four short switchbacks lead to the developed Artist Point access. The overlook frames Lower Falls between the canyon walls, with the river winding toward you through the gorge. This is the payoff and can be busy in summer. If you only have time for one view, the drive-up Artist Point access is faster. Walk from Chittenden Bridge if you also want Upper Falls and the changing views along the rim.

Hydrothermal activity altered and weakened the rhyolite; the Yellowstone River then cut deeper into it. The oldest canyon is thought to date to about 160,000–140,000 years ago. That process helps explain the orange, pink, yellow, and brown walls, with active steam vents in places. Lower Falls drops 308 feet; Upper Falls, farther upstream, drops 109 feet.

Photographer F. Jay Haynes named Artist Point in 1883. From here, Lower Falls sits high between the colored walls, while the river leads your eye down the canyon. Give the overlook a little time instead of treating it as a quick turnaround.

Osprey nest along the canyon near the developed Canyon Village area. Six to ten nests are usually occupied there; the adults arrive in spring and leave by early fall. Scan the cliffs and river for a bird carrying a fish or returning to a nest, but treat a sighting as a bonus.

This is a good modest-length walk if you want several canyon views, not just the famous overlook. Some viewpoints sit beside steep, exposed drops, and parts of the trail are uneven. Pets may stay in parking areas but are not allowed on this route. Some itineraries report longer mileage when they include parking access or the developed overlook approach; 3.6 miles here is from the signed trailhead to Artist Point and back.