Fairy Falls
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
| Address: | US-287, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, USA |
| GPS: |
44°30'55.7"N 110°49'56.9"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | Wyoming |
| Trails/Routes: | 0.3-5.0 mi |
Waterfalls National Park
Hike
Fairy Falls is something out of a fantasy novel. Fairy Falls is a wonderful portion of Yellowstone. It has stolen the hearts of many who have had a little pixie dust sprinkled on them from the mist of the waterfall. Fairy Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in Yellowstone, it stands 197 feet high. The river that feeds this waterfall is naturally thin, which is what gives Fairy Falls its wispy nature. The waterfall is smaller in nature during the dyer months, however in the spring when the snow melts, it is a delightful sight.
The trail to Fairy Falls is also extremely scenic. There are many hot springs that can be spotted, including the famous Grand Prismatic Spring. Because there are many natural springs and sights along the trail, you may find the trail to be quite crowded in the beginning. As you continue on the trail, you will find a much quieter experience. The trail is mostly flat only reaching an incline as you progress into the thicket of the trees. You will then be graced by the majestic view of Fairy Falls.
To get there, you'll cross the steel bridge over Firehole River, then pass over the Grand Prismatic Spring. You will then turn left at the junction and go through the Lodgepole forest near the Fairy Meadows until you reach Fairy Falls. Don't worry, there's no trolls under the bridge, you shouldn't have to answer any riddles, and as far as we know, these are the nice kind of fairies*.
Most of the amazing pictures you see of the Grand Prismatic Spring were taken from somewhere along this trail. There's an overlook just off the trail about 0.75 miles into the trail if you want an even better view.
Fairy Falls gets its name from the "graceful beauty with which the little stream [drops] down a clear descent" and was named by members of the 1871 Hayden Survey. At only 5 miles round trip and only 279 feet of elevation gain, this is one of the more popular non-boardwalk hikes in Yellowstone National Park.
* FREEARENAS.COM IS NOT LIABLE IN THE EVENT THAT YOU OR ONE OF YOUR LITTLE ONES IS CARRIED OFF BY A NOT-SO-NICE FAIRY.
Mapped Route/Trail Distances
| Fairy Falls Trail | 5.0 miles Round Trip |
| Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook Hike | 1.6 miles Round Trip |
| Overlook Detour | 0.3 miles |
| Imperial Geyser from Fairy Falls | 1.5 miles Round Trip |
More Information
Be courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read More
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
- Head east on Pyramid Rd (0.2 mi)
- Turn left onto Geyser View Ave (0.2 mi)
- Geyser View Ave turns left and becomes Old Faithful Rd (0.6 mi)
- Take the ramp to US-191 N/
US-20 W/ US-287 N/ US-89 N (0.4 mi) - Keep right at the fork, follow signs for Madison and merge onto US-191 N/
US-20 W/ US-287 N/ US-89 N Toll roadParts of this road may be closed at certain times or days(4.4 mi) - Turn leftMay be closed at certain times or days(374 ft)
- Turn rightDestination will be on the right(167 ft)
Trailheads:
Short route—park 1 mile (1.5 km) south of Midway Geyser Basin, cross the steel bridge and walk 0.9 mile to the junction and continue another 1.6 miles to Fairy Falls.
Long route—park at the end of Fountain Flat Drive and walk 1.75 mi to the junction. From the junction, walk 1.6 miles through a young lodgepole pine forest to the falls. You can continue 0.6 miles to Spray and Imperial geysers. This adds 1.2 miles to the hike.
20190914 160703 courtesy of endoveric↗
20190914 180014 courtesy of endoveric↗
Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook courtesy of endoveric↗
Bridge over the trail courtesy of endoveric↗
20190914 161138 courtesy of endoveric↗
Fairy Falls Panorama courtesy of endoveric↗
20190914 163051 courtesy of endoveric↗
Imperial Geyser erupting on a cloudy fall afternoon courtesy of NPS / Jacob W. Frank↗
Trails
Distance ?
5.0 miles Round TripElevation Gain ?
63 feetReal Ascent ?
231 feetReal Descent ?
168 feetAvg Grade (0°)
0%Grade (-8° to 18°)
-14% to 32%Distance ?
1.6 miles Round TripElevation Gain ?
111 feetReal Ascent ?
162 feetReal Descent ?
51 feetAvg Grade (1°)
3%Grade (-16° to 14°)
-29% to 24%Distance ?
0.3 milesElevation Gain ?
5 feetReal Ascent ?
115 feetReal Descent ?
110 feetAvg Grade (0°)
0%Grade (-16° to 14°)
-29% to 24%Distance ?
1.5 miles Round TripElevation Gain ?
13 feetReal Ascent ?
88 feetReal Descent ?
75 feetAvg Grade (0°)
0%Grade (-15° to 9°)
-27% to 15%Elevation differences are scaled for emphasis. While the numbers are accurate, the cut-away shown here is not to scale.
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