Hiking the Southern Rim of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone National Park
Wyoming
…As I took in the scene, I realized my own littleness, my helplessness, my dread exposure to destruction, my inability to cope with or even comprehend the mighty architecture of nature…
~ Nathaniel P Landford, 1870
Last summer, we got to enjoy Yellowstone National Park along with our daughter, son-in-law, and grandson. We had rented an Airbnb located just outside West Yellowstone and spent days exploring the world’s first national park. Dating back to March 1872, President Ulysses S Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act into law preventing private development within the 2.2 million acres stretching across mostly Wyoming but also parts of Montana and Idaho. Sitting on the world’s largest active volcanoes, the park provides awe inspiring beauty from the thousands of years of erosion.
We started the day early and were ready for adventure. With picnic lunch in tow, we entered the park through the West Entrance. We followed Hwy 191 heading to the south and planned to hit some of the most popular hot spots in the park. We stopped at the nation’s largest geyser, the Grand Prismatic; watched Yellowstone’s star attraction, Old Faithful; crossed the continental divide; walked along boardwalks that led passed boiling hot mud at the Mud Volcanos; and observed herds of bison feeding in the Hayden Valley (All to be covered in a separate post).
As we continued along Grand Loop Road, we ended our day hiking the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone National Park. The 20-mile-long canyon is a treasure trove of dramatic colors, puffs of steam, two plunging waterfalls, miles of trails, and abundant views and grandeur. Measuring 800-1200 ft deep and 1500-4000 ft wide, the 14,000-year-old canyon has a resemblance to the Grand Canyon we all know. The Yellowstone River emerges from the Yellowstone Lake in Hayden Valley, flows through the canyon over two waterfalls, travels 600 miles to North Dakota, and empties into the Missouri River which is the longest undammed river in the continental United States. We couldn’t wait for the adventure to begin.
With views, trails, and drives along the North and South rims, the Yellowstone Grand Canyon offers so many ways to explore this historic science project. We parked near the Upper Falls on the south rim. Since we could take in views of the Upper and Lower Falls, we decided to hike the 2.5-mile out-and-back Canyon South Rim Trail. Another popular option would have been the Uncle Tom’s Trail which offers access to the bottom of the canyon…if you are willing to do the 300 steps back up. The South Rim Trail was an easy grade that makes its way to Artist Point which overlooks the Lower Falls. It did not disappoint. It went through wooded areas and opened to breathtaking views of the canyon. Volcanic lava rock in shades of yellow, pink, and red forms the canyon walls, and the green and blue river rushing below was a showstopper. Once we arrived at Artist Point, mingling tourists, scenic artists, and nature lovers were congregating at one of the most beautiful views I have ever seen.
With 630,000 years of huge volcanic eruption, glacier deposits, hydrothermal activity, and water erosion, the Yellowstone Grand Canyon is always evolving. Don’t miss your chance to explore this natural gift of nature.
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