South Rim Loop

The South Rim Loop in Yellowstone National Park is a moderate 4.9 mile loop hike that wanders along the rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, and returns via Clear Lake. The trail offers two wildly contrasting perspectives, as the canyon presents jaw-dropping landscapes, while the return trip is a more intimate view of Yellowstone’s forests, meadows, and thermal features. Along the way, Clear Lake makes for a nice break.

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South Rim Loop Trail Description

Beginning at the Wapiti Lake Trailhead, you can either head clockwise or counterclockwise around the loop. This writeup is written heading clockwise.

Backtrack down the road a short distance and cross it to pick up the South Rim Trail along the Yellowstone River. Be sure not to cross the bridge over the river – the trail on that side is the North Rim Trail. You’re quickly immersed into a lodgepole pine forest as you weave along the edge of the river.

Not long after, you begin to see the old Chittenden Bridge on the opposite shore. This was previously part of the main road early in Yellowstone National Park’s history. It has since been bypassed and assimilated as part of the North Rim Trail, however it makes for a interesting landmark from the South Rim Trail.

Upper Falls

Passing many stunning vantage points, you then make a quick ascent and begin to veer away from the river slightly. Just up ahead you’ll reach Discovery Point, a gorgeous overlook well worth spurring off the main trail for. You’ll catch a glimpse of Upper Falls before making your way back up the main trail, well paved at this point.

Continuing farther, the roar of Upper Falls becomes more prominent as you reach the Upper Falls Overlook, also accessible by car. Enjoy the view and continue up the trail as you begin to snake through the woods, the trail switching back to dirt shortly after.

Lower Falls

You’ll begin to catch your first glimpse of Lower Falls not long after, where you’ll make an easy switchback up through the woods. You’ll then reach a junction with a trail to bring you back to the parking area. Head left to zig-zag more through the quiet forest, the only noise the ebb and flow of the intensity of the falls.

Reaching a forested overlook of Lower Falls, you’ll maintain a steady pattern of twisting through the woods while catching beautiful vistas of the falls. Along the way you’ll make an occasional ascent and descent, until you reach the parking area for Artist Point.

Artist Point

Head along the paved walkway paralleling the parking lot and you’ll reach the popular destination of Artist Point, also accessible by car. This stunning vantage point provides some of the best views in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, so if it’s your first time visiting, be sure to take advantage.

Toward the back of the congregation area, you’ll see a trailhead for Point Sublime and Ribbon Falls. Head up the trail to begin wandering along the canyon’s rim again, as well as leaving the crowds behind.

The trail along the rim winds in and out of the forest before making a relatively strenuous climb to a captivating view of the canyon. You’ll find many inspiring places to take in the grandness of the canyon before you reach a junction at 2.75 miles in. It’s an optional 0.5 miles more to Point Sublime if you’re interested in adding another mile to your trek. When ready, head right at the junction to begin turning around on the loop.

Geyser Basin

Wandering through the thick forest, you’ll pass the quiet and discrete, Lily Pad Lake, on your right, quickly reaching another junction shortly after. Head right to begin heading back toward the Wapiti Lake Trailhead.

Almost immediately, you’ll see evidence of a geyser basin breaking up the forest. Small streams flow through the bottom of the forest as the ground begins to open up more and more. Before long, you’ve reached a clearing with mud pots and springs lining the trail’s edges. Be sure to stay in the trail, marked by old branches and logs. The ground in any geyser basin can be unstable, so avoid walking up to the features.

As you twist through the thermal area, you’ll begin to catch a stronger scent of sulfur as you climb slightly higher up a small rise. Just on the other side is Clear Lake.

Clear Lake

Meandering past the shores of the highly acidic Clear Lake, the smell of sulfur will linger along the otherwise inviting shores of the small picturesque lake. Once on the other side of the lake, the trail begins climbing up a hill through a broken forest.

The trees begin to fade away as you make your way upward, topping out on a large hill overlooking the northern end of the Hayden Valley. The expansive meadow sprawls out to the south, absorbing a bit of the trail ahead. Continuing heading down, past the next junction, and you’ll quickly reach the other end of the Wapiti Lake Trailhead.

Getting There

From Canyon Village, head south for 2.3 miles along the main loop road. Turn left onto South Rim Drive and after crossing the Yellowstone River, take an immediate right. This will be the Wapiti Lake Trailhead.