Hiking the Tower Falls Trail in Yellowstone National Park
Distance (RT to Yellowstone River): 0.9 miles / 1.4 km
Elevation Change: ~275 ft. / 84 m
The Tower Falls Trail in Yellowstone National Park is a very short, somewhat steep 0.45-mile (0.7 km) day hike near Tower Junction and Lamar Valley that first leads to a beautiful overlook above Tower Falls before descending to the banks of the Yellowstone River, where visitors can hike around, fish, and simply enjoy some time away from all the busyness that surrounds the Tower Falls Overlook at the very beginning!
Before visiting, it’s important to be aware that the National Park Service is very clear in its description: the Tower Falls Trail does not lead to the base of the beautiful 132-ft. (40 m) waterfall. Historically, however, this was not always the case.
In fact, the Tower Falls Trail used to lead hikers to the base of the waterfall until the summer of 2003, when rockfall, erosion, and overall slope instability damaged the final section along Tower Creek and destroyed the lower viewing platform. Then, just a year later in 2004, further similar damage ultimately led to the permanent closure.
Since then, the National Park Service has not maintained the trail to the base of Tower Falls, though that doesn’t stop visitors from trying!
Tower Falls Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Tower Falls Trail is located at the Tower General Store, about 2.4 miles (3.9 km) south of Tower Junction.
The Tower Falls Trail—or rather, the overlook—is one of the busier destinations in Yellowstone National Park, but the parking lot is very large, making it fairly easy to find a spot, though it may be a bit of a walk to get to the actual trailhead.
Google Maps Directions: Tower Falls Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Yellowstone–Tetons
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in the Yellowstone–Teton area.
Hiking the Tower Falls Trail
The Tower Falls Trail begins adjacent to the Tower General Store on a flat, easy, paved path that leads to the Tower Falls Overlook, a little more than 0.1 miles (0.2 km) away.
This first section between the trailhead and the Tower Falls Overlook is typically the busiest part of the entire hike.
Tower Falls Overlook
After just over 0.1 miles (0.2 km), the Tower Falls Trail reaches the Tower Falls Overlook, the only place on the maintained trail where visitors can actually see Tower Falls, as there are no views of the waterfall at the point where the trail ends at the Yellowstone River below.
How Did Tower Falls Get its Name?
The name "Tower" quite literally comes from the volcanic, tower-like pinnacles located right at the brink of the falls.
The name dates back to 1869, when members of the Folsom-Cook-Peterson Expedition gave the waterfall its name while exploring this part of Yellowstone National Park, prior to the creation of the park in 1872.
On the east side of the overlook, the Tower Falls Trail turns sharply to the right, beginning the steep descent to the Yellowstone River.
This is where most visitors turn back, mostly because of the descent itself and the fact that the trail does not lead to the base of the waterfall.
After just 0.1 miles (0.2 km) since leaving the Tower Falls Overlook, the Tower Falls Trail reaches the first of six switchbacks on the descent to the Yellowstone River.
In total, the Tower Falls Trail loses about 275 ft. (84 m) in just 0.3 miles (0.5 km) from the overlook, which is why some hikers may want to bring trekking poles—something that can certainly be useful on countless other beautiful adventures across the park, like the Brink of the Lower Falls Trail and Mt. Washburn via Dunraven Pass, to name a few!
This is where the Tower Falls Trail turns the fifth and second-to-last switchback.
This is the final and steepest part of the descent to the Yellowstone River, and it’s another area where trekking poles can be very useful!
Yellowstone River (Warning)
This is the end of the Tower Falls Trail, where hikers can explore a roughly 0.2-mile (0.3 km) stretch upstream of Tower Creek along the banks of the Yellowstone River.
On a different note, I caution against swimming in the Yellowstone River, as the current is deceptively strong and has unfortunately resulted in multiple fatalities over the years, notably one incident on July 28, 2015 just downstream of here near the confluence with Hellroaring Creek.
That is all to say, it’s not worth it, and there are much better and safer places in Yellowstone to enjoy a cold swim, like the beaches on northeast side of Yellowstone Lake along East Entrance Road.
Can Visitors Fish in the Yellowstone River?
Yes, but not everywhere.
As it pertains to the Tower Falls Trail, visitors are allowed to fish in the Yellowstone River at the bottom of the trail with a valid Yellowstone National Park fishing permit for those age 16 and over, but this is not the case everywhere.
By this, I mean that certain sections of the Yellowstone River are closed to fishing, particularly a 4.6-mile (7.4 km) stretch of Grand Loop Road between the confluence of Alum Creek and Sulphur Cauldron in Hayden Valley, a 100-yard (91 m) section both upstream and downstream of LeHardys Rapids, and finally, a 1.25-mile (2.0 km) stretch from the beginning of the river at Yellowstone Lake near Fishing Bridge. There is one additional, less applicable closure in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, but this, for obvious reasons, is not as noteworthy, simply because of the impractical nature of accessing much of the river corridor through that stretch.
All four are permanent closures.
Is it Possible to Hike to the Bottom of Tower Falls?
Yes, but as previously mentioned, there is no maintained trail to the base and hasn’t been since it first closed in 2003.
That said, visitors still attempt to hike to the bottom of Tower Falls daily, but most turn back after hiking a short distance up Tower Creek, mostly because they don’t know the best and easiest way to get to the bottom.
I originally thought about including information about hiking to the bottom here—and even thought about putting it behind a donate-to-the-park paywall—but I ultimately decided it would be irresponsible to share more. That doesn’t even mention the fact that the base of Tower Falls is home to three very rare plant species that don’t need foot traffic from countless visitors.
If you are going to attempt to hike to the base, all I will say is that the easiest trail begins where you wouldn’t initially think to look. Stay safe out there! ᨒ 🤘🏼
Old Faithful (Upper–Lower Geyser Basins)
Canyon Village
Maddison–Norris
Yellowstone Lake & East Entrance
Mammoth, Lamar Valley & Tower
