South Rim and Uncle Tom’s Trails, Yellowstone National Park

In this post I review Uncle Tom’s and the South Rim Trails, and their views of the Upper and Lower Falls, at Yellowstone National Park.

 

Several years ago, in June, we visited Yellowstone National Park with the Trekker In-Laws.  As it was the first time there for all of us we didn’t get much hiking in, we just went full-blown tourist and hit all the “must-see” sights.  But Mr. Trekker and I did get to do two very cool, very accessible hikes, the South Rim and Uncle Tom’s trails, which allow amazing views of Yellowstone’s Upper and Lower Falls.

The Trekkers visited during a time of snowmelt so some of the waterfalls were running especially high at the time. 

Author’s Note: Not long after writing this post the Uncle Tom’s Trail was permanently closed due to safety concerns and maintenance costs. Unfortunately, future visitors to the park will not have the opportunity to enjoy these cool sites, so I will leave info on this trail up to allow others to experience what we saw. I feel very fortunate that we were able to see these views before they were forever altered. 

The Yellowstone River:

A wide, raging river with white-capped rapids flows between rocky, pine tree-covered banks. Large boulders sit in the middle of the river.

A wide, raging river with white-capped rapids flows between rocky, pine tree-covered banks. A large, cement, road bridge croses the river with pine trees in the foreground.

Where are the South Rim and Uncle Tom’s Trails?

The trails are located in the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone on the South Rim.  You access the South Rim Trail from the Wapiti Lake Trailhead, which then joins the Uncle Tom Trail.  The trails encompass gorgeous views of both the Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River. (Only the Lower Falls was visible from the Uncle Tom Trail).  The terminus of both of these routes is Point Sublime near Artist Point.

Yellowstone’s Upper Falls

A large, white-capped waterfall pours down a rock face into the mist below. It is surrounded by rocky, pine tree-covered walls.

View from above of a large, white-capped waterfall pours down a rock face into the mist below. It is surrounded by rocky, pine tree-covered walls.

Yellowstone’s Lower Falls

In the background, a large, white-capped waterfall pours down a rock face into the mist and river below. It is surrounded by rocky, pine tree-covered walls. The river then flows through a rocky canyon into the foreground.

A white-capped waterfall flows down a rock face. Dirty snowpack clings to rock in the foreground.

What are the hikes to view Yellowstone’s Upper and Lower Falls like?

Our hike began on the South Rim Trail.  In a welcome contrast to the rest of the park, we saw relatively few fellow hikers even though this portion of the trail is easily accessed and has little elevation gain.  I highly recommend this peaceful hike with its many beautiful views of the two falls; though as is good practice when hiking throughout the park, always be aware of the wildlife that may be sharing the trail with you (we had no bear encounters on our hike but heard stories of hikers who did). 

We had more company on the Uncle Tom Trail as it was more popular.  It was named for H.F. Richardson, or Uncle Tom, as was his nickname.  In the late 19th Century he began guiding tourists into the Canyon to view the waterfalls and cross the river.  At that time the trail consisted of numerous ropes and rope ladders that visitors had to negotiate.  Fortunately on our hike, one only had to manage a hefty climb (300+ steps!) on a metal staircase bolted into the rock on the side of the canyon.

As I’ve mentioned plenty of times on this blog, I harbor a hefty case of acrophobia, or fear of heights.  I tend to get vertigo and “freeze” when confronted with a lack of earth in front of me–an interesting condition for someone who enjoys hiking in high places regularly. 😝 

Due to this, I was a little nervous upon venturing onto the Uncle Tom Trail as I knew the steps bolted into the side of the canyon were composed of perforated steel.  That’s right, not only were you hanging off the side of a cliff but as you descended you were awarded with a view of the gaping chasm yawning below you!…or so I thought.  In truth, the canyon wall was very rocky and the steps lingered over rock ledges the entire way.  Though the steps did hang off the side of the wall and span a chasm, the rock floor you saw was never more than 20 or 30 feet below your feet.  To my surprise, I found the descent surprisingly bearable.

The Stairs that made up Uncle Tom’s Trail:

A lengthy span of metal stairs descend a rocky, pine tree-covered canyon wall. A river is traversing the bottom of the canyon.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

I’ve been to the “real” Grand Canyon, and while it’s got an exquisite beauty all its own, I think the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone surpasses that splendor in some ways and truly lives up to its name.  This canyon is far smaller and more narrow than its big brother to the south, with rock colors that vary between yellows and reds contrasted with the deep greens of the pine trees on the rim.  There were also numerous patches of snow still remaining in late June.

Rocky, yellow and red-colored canyon walls with a river at the bottom and pine trees covering the rim. A dirty snowfield is in the foreground. Rocky, yellow and red-colored canyon walls with a river at the bottom and pine trees covering the rim. Rocky, yellow and red-colored canyon walls with a river at the bottom and pine trees covering the rim. A dirty snowfield is in the foreground.

So, if you’re looking to stretch your legs a little on your next trip to Yellowstone and want amazing views of the Upper and Lower Falls, check out the South Rim Trail!

Have you hiked these trails?  Let me know what you thought of them in the comments!

 

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Steam rises from rock under a cloudy sky. Pin reads, "South Rim and Uncle Tom's Trails with the Upper and Lower Falls. 2 of the Best Hikes in Yellowstone."

 

 

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Dugout Gulch Botanical Trail (#77)

In this post, I review the Dugout Gulch Botanical trail south of Beulah, WY.

 

The Dugout Gulch Botanical Trail is a nine-mile loop (4.6 mi out to the loop and back, then 4.4 for the actual loop).  It is located in the Wyoming Black Hills. 

We didn’t complete the entire route as it started thundering–when your hiking partner is a meteorologist, you defer to his expertise on these things. 😇  

Where is the Dugout Gulch Botanical Trail?

The trail is situated near Ranch A, south of Beulah, Wyoming.  Take exit 205 off of I-90 (it is the first exit as you come into Wyoming).  Then take Forest Road 863, south, for about six miles to the trailhead. (This is an easy, one-hour trip from Rapid City.)  As you near the end of the drive you’re rewarded with a gorgeous expanse of red sandstone on the western side of the Black Hills.

What is the Dugout Gulch Botanical Trail like?

 The trail was secluded and free of road noise.  It has a gentle ascent the entire way to the loop but the slope is gradual.  The path is fairly root/rock-free so overall it’s not strenuous.  It’s well-marked and very visible as it fluctuates between a single track and a path that’s large enough for several people to walk side-by-side; much of it follows old forest roads.

The Dugout Gulch Botanical Trail begins in lush undergrowth surrounded by leafy trees (it was warm and humid on Memorial Day Weekend) and eventually gives way to more open pine forest as you increase in elevation.  This contrast equates to a unique change in ecosystems as you travel up the gulch. 

The path is fairly narrow to start so be watchful for others sharing the trail.  This also goes for the flora/fauna you may encounter–specifically snakes and poison ivy. 

I won’t comment on the GIANT spider we saw sunbathing on the rocks but we did enjoy a close encounter with a friendly bull snake on this particular hike. 

As the thunder started before we reached the top I can’t speak for the full sights the trail offers but the views of the canyon walls are gorgeous (especially on the return trip).  The variance in rock color from slate gray to reddish-orange, as your eyes travel up the rock face, is incredible.  On much of the trail, you’re accompanied by a bubbling brook, and this along with constant bird chatter, add aesthetic delight to the hike. 

 We chose to hike this particular day but the trail could be amenable for other activities as well.  Once you reach the loop the wide, gradual slope would make for an enjoyable bike ride and the lack of obstacles on the path would present great snowshoeing or cross-country skiing opportunities in the winter months.

My verdict: it’s not the most beautiful trail I’ve ever seen but the views of the canyon walls, the peaceful solitude, and the ease of the path make for an enjoyable afternoon. 

A picture of our new friend is below:  😊

A large, yellow and black snake blends in with the brown and green grass and brown pine needles on the forest floor.

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Have you tried out this trail?  What did you think?  Tell me about it in the comments!

 

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A large, yellow and black snake blends in with the brown and green grass and brown pine needles on the forest floor. Pin reads, "Dugout Gulch Botanical Trail."

 

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