Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Yellowstone, WY
GRAND CANYON
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF GRAND CANYON OF THE YELLOWSTONE
Until I came to Yellowstone, I thought the only Grand Canyon was in the southwest. Well, I was wrong. This Grand Canyon is 20 miles long, up to 4,000 feet wide, and 1,200 feet deep. But what makes this location special is the combination of the pink, yellow, and orange colored walls, and the massive 300 ft Lower Yellowstone Falls.
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone - of all the many great photographic locations inside of Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone provides the most breathtaking views and infinite compositions. There are several great vantage points to take pictures from (on both the south or north rim). The classic shot is from Artist Point on the south rim. However, I think the best shots are taken from north rim. The shot above was taken on the south rim just off of the main parking lot.
Images and location summary by Tim Wier
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DATA POINTS INCLUDED WITH GRAND CANYON OF THE YELLOWSTONE SUMMARY
I would rate the difficulty of the trail to Artist Point on the south rim a 1 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being most difficult) as it is an easy 200yd walk from the visitor’s parking lot. However, the trail to the location of this photograph is a bit more challenging - which is why I rate it as a 2.
The difficulty of the hike to the location of the shot is very short, but is somewhat dangerous and should not be taken lightly.
The park service provides one of the very best viewpoints of The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone at Artist Point on the south rim. From Artist Point, it is a straightforward shot. It is a fairly small area. If you shoot here after the tourists arrive, you will be surrounded.
The shot above was taken just off of the Artist Point visitor’s parking lot. I jumped over the red fence (about 30 yds east of the restrooms) and walked up a slope to a trail on the ledge of the canyon.
Lenses ranging from 24mm - 200mm can be used in this location, depending on the composition you choose. The shot above was made by stitching together 4 shots vertically with a 24mm lens and panoramic tools.
7,606 ft Elevation
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KMZ Trail File
Directions
Best Time of Day to Shoot
Best Time of Year to Shoot
Equipment Needed
Permits Required
Direction of Shot
Google Maps Birds-Eye-View
Number of Photographers to Expect
Cell Service
Overnight Lodging/Camping
Nearby Restaurants
Area Guides and Workshops
Other Resources
LOCATION SUMMARIES WRITTEN BY PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
