We Could Spend Hours Marveling At The Incredible Yellowstone Lower Falls In Wyoming

The Cowboy State has no shortage of natural beauty. With several Rocky Mountain ranges - including the Bighorns, Wind Rivers, and Tetons - large expanses of unspoiled forest and two premier national parks, you will find plenty to soothe your adventurous soul in Wyoming. I, personally, am a big fan of waterfalls, and one of the most incredible cascades I've ever seen is Yellowstone Lower Falls, Wyoming, located within the river's namesake National Park. Not only is it the largest waterfall in Wyoming (by volume), it's the highest-volume waterfall in all of the Rocky Mountains. And every time I visit Yellowstone to see Lower Falls, I am blown away - it's simply breathtaking.

Ready to explore more waterfalls beyond the state border? From jaw-dropping cascades to swimmable emerald ponds, there are countless magnificent waterfalls found across the United States to explore.

Go Chasing Waterfalls

Yellowstone was the first national park in the United States – and by most accounts, the world's first, as well – and for good reason.

Yellowstone National Park preserves a combination of landscapes, animals, and cultural heritage that is arguably unparalleled anywhere else.

On my many visits there, I didn't even have to do a deep dive to discover many of the park's most amazing aspects.

Often, you share the road with the park's wildlife.

Every grizzly bear I've seen in the park, and I've seen a few, I've had the great luck of observing from inside my car.

And that's just scratching the surface of the abundance of amazing species you can see here.

Yellowstone is also home to the largest concentration of geothermal features on Earth, including the Grand Prismatic Spring and, of course, the Old Faithful Geyser.

One of the most striking features in the park, though, is the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

This gorge, carved by the mighty Yellowstone River, ranges from 800 to 1,200 feet deep and 1,500 to 4,000 feet across.

With its striking color and dramatic setting, it's really quite something to behold in real life.

Yet, there's more to the canyon than simply an impressive gouge in the earth.

Several waterfalls are found along this stretch of the river, including the 1,200-foot Silver Cord Cascade (not pictured), where Surface Creek plunges over the south rim of the canyon into the Yellowstone River.

But, if you ask me, the most impressive waterfall – the most photographed, most painted, most visited – is Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River.

At 308 feet, it's double the height of Niagara Falls, and it carries a higher volume of water over its raging precipice than any other waterfall in the Rocky Mountains.

When I visit, I often just stroll along the paved canyon-top trail and visit viewpoint after viewpoint until I'm pressured (typically by my kids) to move along.

This really is a magnificent waterfall that I could marvel at for hours, and it's clearly one of our country's incredible natural wonders. So, the next time you're searching for "waterfalls near me" in the Cowboy State, make the trip to Yellowstone Lower Falls, Wyoming. It will take your breath away. The trail along the north rim is pretty accessible, as is at least one viewpoint. During the summer and on weekends, parking can be tough, though.

The south rim tends to be less crowded, but there are fewer viewpoints. Even so, the hike out to Artists Point is definitely worth it! Cell service is nonexistent in much of the park, so if you plan to do any hiking, be sure to use AllTrails Plus to download trail maps before you go. That way, you'll be able to navigate on your phone even when you're out of range.

Do you think the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River is as magnificent as I do? Let me know in the comments!