Introduction to Waterfalls In Yellowstone NP
Lewis Falls
Most people have seen pictures of Yellowstone's Grand Canyon and the Lower Falls. So, I wanted to share other falls with you. Do you know how many falls there are in Yellowstone National Park?
Lewis Falls, seen above in its fall finery, is one of at least 290 permanent or temporary waterfalls in Yellowstone National Park. Very few people have seen many of these falls over the years.
Three people who have seen those 290 waterfalls wrote about them in the out-of-publication book The Guide to Yellowstone Waterfalls and Their Discovery. Paul Rubinstein, Lee H. Whittlesey and Mike Stevens spent seven years hiking in Yellowstone's backcountry. They often took others with them, such as my good ranger friend Joanne. They saw 290 waterfalls that fell at least 15 feet and many more that didn't meet that height qualification. They will be the first to tell you they are sure they have not yet seen all the Park waterfalls. Remember, the Park encompasses 2.2 million acres, much of which has been seen by few human visitors.
Many of those waterfalls are buried deep in the backcountry. But at least 15 or more waterfalls or cascades are within a 2–3-mile walk, and many are just steps from the parking area. You are encouraged to visit as many times as time allows.
Waterfalls are another way nature displays its power within the Park. The picture to the left shows Moose Falls, steps from the parking lot. Once there, the noise from the falls totally blocks all traffic sounds. It was invigorating and peaceful at the same time. I was alone and could easily imagine what it must have been like for those who first explored this part of our country.
The above authors used the following definitions for waterfalls and cascades. "...waterfall to mean a plunge or a horsetail, while we use cascade to mean water flowing at an angle with too many small leaps or segments to count."1
Navigate to: Types of Falls or Waterfall Map
Search the Internet, and you may find a reasonably priced copy of the book listed below to help you explore Yellowstone's waterfalls.
1Rubinstein, P. W., Whittlesey, L. H., and Stevens, Mike. The Guide to Yellowstone Waterfalls and Their Discovery. (2nd Ed.). Eaglewood, CO, 2000: Westcliffe Publishers.