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Wyoming

When to catch Yellowstoneat its best

Yellowstone through the year: spring waterfalls (local timing: June, with waterfalls flowing at full volume), wildflowers (local timing: April to July, higher up later) and fall foliage (local timing: September above 7,000 feet, October below). Each has its own page with spots, sources and the latest reports.

RIGHT NOW · SEP 30

  • Latest reportNo dated report this season; the posters below show each usual window.
  • This weekend (NWS)Sat mostly sunny, 63°F · Sun sunny, 65°F
  • Park alerts2 current NPS alerts: Stay Away From Bull Elk

When are you going?

Fall at Yellowstone

Where to go at Yellowstone

Spots, visitor points and places nearby
  • Spring
  • Fall
  • Winter
Places on this map, as a list
Map: approximate positions; state lines US Census.

Best spots

Where each event's source says to go

Spring waterfalls

  • Lookout PointOn North Rim Drive, 1.5 miles past the four-way stop near Canyon Village: a walkway to a view of the 308-foot Lower Falls; the longest stretch of accessible trail starts from the Lookout or Grand View parking lotsNational Park Service ↗
  • Artist PointOn South Rim Drive, 2 miles past the four-way stop near Canyon Village, then 1 mile to the parking area where the road ends: a popular view of the Lower Falls and the Grand Canyon of the YellowstoneNational Park Service ↗

Wildflowers

Fall foliage

Next 7 days at Yellowstone

Forecast: National Weather Service
  • TodaySunny63° / 37°1% rain
  • ThuSunny60° / 37°1% rain
  • FriSunny61° / 39°–
  • SatMostly Sunny63° / 39°–
  • SunSunny65° / 41°1% rain
  • MonMostly Sunny64° / 41°1% rain
  • TueSunny62° / 39°–

Heads up: Park closure: Biscuit Basin Closed Due to Hydrothermal Explosion.

Today: sunrise 7:19 a.m., sunset 7:06 p.m., light until 7:35 p.m. · moon waning gibbous, 77% lit (our calculation)

Visitor reports, not verified

Been here in the last week? Tell us how the trees looked.

What color were the trees?

Tap the one that looks most like what you saw.

One report per place for each day you saw it, no name or email · How reports work · Terms · Privacy

Nearby, and when they peak

Straight-line miles; roads are longer

Towns nearby

Straight-line miles; each town page has frost dates and its nature year

Yellowstone in pictures

Illustrative photos, not current conditions
A tall waterfall at the head of a deep canyon with pale yellow rock walls, a river winding below and forest along both rims
The Lower Falls of the Yellowstone, photographed by the Park Service on June 15, 2015. Photo: NPS / Jim Peaco · public domain · resized
Bison grazing among sagebrush
Bison grazing in Lamar Valley, Yellowstone, in the fall (year not given). Photo: NPS / Brett Raeburn · public domain · resized

Questions people ask

Where can I see the Lower Falls?

From the North Rim at Lookout Point, Red Rock Point, Inspiration Point and the Brink of the Lower Falls; from the South Rim at Artist Point and a few places along the South Rim Trail.Source: National Park Service, Yellowstone: Canyon Village and the Grand Canyon ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Can I see the Upper and Lower Falls at the same time?

No. The canyon bends between them, so there is no spot where both are in view. The walkways at Lookout Point and the Brink of the Lower Falls lead to views of each fall, just not from the same place.Source: National Park Service, Yellowstone: Canyon Village and the Grand Canyon ↗ (opens in a new tab)

How much water goes over the falls?

It varies a lot: about 63,500 gallons a second at peak runoff in spring, down to about 5,000 gallons a second in late fall.Source: National Park Service, Yellowstone: Canyon Village and the Grand Canyon ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Are the roads open in June?

All roads are typically open in June, though high water limits access to some backcountry campsites and swimming areas. Weather can close roads and services any time of year, so check the park's operating dates and road conditions before you go.Source: National Park Service, Yellowstone Seasons ↗ (opens in a new tab)

How we know

Every timing above, from these pages; checked Sep 27