South Rim Drive
You can see both falls from overlooks along the South Rim Drive.
Plan Around South Rim Drive
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Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
South Rim Drive Details
You can see both the Upper and Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone from overlooks along the South Rim Drive. The road ends at Artist Point, an overlook mistakenly believed to be where artist Thomas Moran sketched the canyon before painting his famous Yellowstone landscape in 1872. It's easy to see why the error occurred: the views from here are outstanding. A spur off of South Rim Drive leads to Uncle Tom's Trail, a series of more than 300 steps leading down into the canyon to a viewpoint over Lower Falls. The parking lot here provides access to the Clear Lake Trail, which ventures about 2.5 miles into forests and meadows to Clear Lake. At Artist Point you can also connect with the east end of the South Rim Trail, which runs along the canyon's edge west to the Wapiti Lake Trailhead near Chittenden Bridge. Other trails from here lead to Lily Pad Lake and other backcountry destinations.
Difficulty
Low
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
Region
Canyon Village to Tower-Roosevelt
Nearby Parks Around South Rim Drive
Compare nearby parks around South Rim Drive when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around South Rim Drive
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond South Rim Drive while the map context is still fresh.
0.1 mi away
South Rim Trail
This generally flat, easy trail follows the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
0.1 mi away
Chittenden Bridge/Wapiti Lake
Located in the Wapiti Trailhead parking lot, 1/10th of a mile north of the Chittenden Bridge.
0.1 mi away
Howard Eaton Trail
This seldom-traveled trail offers a more isolated way to experience a number of park features.
0.4 mi away
Upper Falls
Drops 109 feet over a ledge of hard volcanic rock that is eroding slower than other rock in the canyon.
0.4 mi away
Upper Falls Overlook
The Upper Falls Viewpoint not only gives you a good look at Upper Falls but also Crystal Falls.
