The short answer
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is about 120 miles (2 hours 45 minutes) from Bozeman. Its yellow-and-rose canyon walls frame the 308-foot Lower Falls — nearly twice the height of Niagara — and the best viewpoints are a short walk from roadside lots on the North and South Rims.
What to do
Top things to do at Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Artist Point
The classic South Rim view of the Lower Falls framed by the canyon.
Brink of the Lower Falls
A steep switchback trail ends right above the plunge.
North Rim Drive
A one-way road with several pullouts — easy for a van to work in sequence.
Hayden Valley
Just south of the canyon, one of the park’s best wildlife valleys.
By van
Getting there in a van
From Gardiner, drive to Mammoth, then south to Norris and east to Canyon Village. From West Yellowstone, go to Madison and Norris, then east. Dunraven Pass, the shortcut from Tower, typically opens in late May and closes in mid-October.
- Do the North Rim one-way loop first, then cross to Artist Point on the South Rim.
- Canyon Village has gas, food and the visitor education center.
- Dunraven Pass is narrow and steep — take it slowly in a loaded van.
Pack list
What to bring to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
- Good shoes for the rim trails
- Warm layer — the canyon rim sits near 8,000 ft
- Rain shell for afternoon storms
- Snacks for Hayden Valley wildlife stops
FAQ
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone: common questions
How tall are the Lower Falls?
The Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River drop 308 feet, nearly twice the height of Niagara Falls.
Can you combine the canyon and Old Faithful in one day from Bozeman?
It’s possible as a long loop of roughly 280 miles, but it leaves little time at each stop. Most groups split the geyser basins and the canyon into separate days.
Things to do here
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