Tower Falls is a beautiful waterfall that is located in
Yellowstone National Park. This area is a popular tourist spot near the Tower Falls Store, but can be turned into more of a hike at the end of the scenic vista if you take the hiking trail down to the Yellowstone River. This is a fun short hike that the whole family can do together to get a view of one of the scenic waterfalls in Yellowstone National Park. For more pictures from our 2013 visit to this area, make sure to check out our
Facebook Page.
Directions to Trailhead: To get to the Tower Falls Hike, drive about 2.5 miles south of Tower Junction or 16 miles north of Canyon Junction on the Grand Loop Road toward the Tower Fall's Store. The trailhead starts at the Tower Fall's Store. Parking at this location can be limited due to the popularity of this area. Click
Here for an interactive map of Yellowstone National Park. There is plenty of parking available at the Towers Falls Store for this hike. There is an entrance fee for Yellowstone National Park, but no permit is required to hike to Tower Falls.
Description of Trail: The hiking trail to Tower Falls is well maintained and is heavily used during the summer months as the Tower Fall's Store is a popular stopping spot for people going around the park. The hiking trail begins at the Tower Falls Store parking area, near the restrooms. There are signs indicating the start of the trail. A paved path takes you from the Tower Falls store to an overlook, which provides a great perspective of the 132 foot waterfall. The trail from there takes you all the way down to the Yellowstone river via several switchbacks to get a closer look of the river and the waterfall. The hike from the scenic vista to the Yellowstone River is approximately 1/3 a mile each way and the overlooks is approximately 300 feet above the Yellowstone River. This is an out and back hike.
Further Thoughts: This is a fun short hike to do with the family. The waterfall is an absolute beautiful sight to see and the scenery down by the Yellowstone River is breathtaking. The hiking trail is easy to follow and the National Parks Service does a good job of maintaining this trail. Make sure to bring your camera on this hike as you will want to take pictures of the waterfall and scenic vistas of the Yellowstone River. There is the added bonus of being able to stop at the Tower Falls Store to enjoy a scoop of huckleberry ice cream after your hike! The scenic overlook is the best spot to see the waterfall. The view at the bottom of the hiking trail to Tower Falls is obscured by the pine trees that grow beneath the overlook. If you are hoping to catch more views of Tower Falls by continuing down on the hiking trail to the Yellowstone River, you will be disappointed, but the views of the Yellowstone River are spectacular.
Rating: Elevation Gain: 300 ft. (Easy), Distance: 1 Mile Roundtrip (Easy).
Time to Complete Hike: 30 - 45 minutes.
MORE TRAIL WRITE-UPS ON TOWER FALLS
July 23, 2010 (This Post)
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