Tower Falls Trail is a 0.9 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming that features a waterfall and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and birding and is best used from May until October.
kid friendly
birding
hiking
nature trips
walking
forest
river
views
waterfall
wild flowers
wildlife
no dogs
Tower Fall is a 132-foot waterfall in the Tower-Roosevelt region of Yellowstone National Park. This popular waterfall on Tower Creek was named by members of the 1870 Washburn expedition. It first was called "Minaret Creek," but one member objected, stating that the name violated their agreement to naming objects for their friends. He claimed the name was in reference to "Minnie Rhett," a sweetheart of one of the other members. By unanimous vote, the name was reconsidered and the names "Tower Creek" and "Tower Falls" were applied. The 132-foot waterfall plunges as a near-perfect water column until it crashes onto the rocks at its base. Until 1986, a precarious boulder was perched on the lip of the falls, and in the spring of that year, without witnesses, it plunged to the bottom. Tower Creek has cut through the basalt formation, which make up the walls of the gorge. At the brink of the falls are eerie-shaped minarets or towers sculpted from rhyolitic basalt.
Hiked the trail today with our 4 year old. Nice view of the waterfall at the top and an easy hike down. Got our feet wet in the river at the bottom. Very crowded, but it's a holiday weekend. Carried our daughter halfway up from the bottom.
Not really worth the stop to be honest. The trail further down past the Falls ends in a weird place and just doesn't compare well to so many other options in the area.
I was very disappointed with this trail. The trail was blocked off. The only view of Tower Falls was from a view point and was mostly blocked from trees.
Nice views, but doesn't go to the falls. An overlook is available to see the falls, but is extremely crowded with people that don't want to hike but want good pictures. Obstructed views of the waterfall at the overlook. 1/2 mile trek down to the river is nice, but trail is unmaintained after this point. Saw a couple of people attempt the walk down to the river but they struggled.
The major downfall is that there are so many people. There is also a ton of construction on the alternate paths leading down to the falls. If you do this trail definitely take the path down to the riverside and hang out along the little beach.
Hiked this short trail back in 88'. Nice waterfall and easy trail. Had the place to ourselves the morning we did it. That makes a difference when visiting a spot like this, as they can get overcrowded.
Upon seeing a trail closed up ahead sign, I hiked the short trail down to the river to see the reason the trail to the foot of the falls was closed. I put my hand in the river at the bottom [which is a nice view in itself as there is a sandy beach] and went to the trail closure point to discover that the trail to the left had been washed out and suspect this happens quite a bit due to rainfall and makeup of the terrain. Still got a really good shot at the overlook.
Although the view of Tower Falls and the namesake stone “towers” from the observation platform is impressive, the trail itself does NOT lead to the base of the falls as some published sources (and even some park employees!) claim, so we didn’t hike beyond the viewpoint. Be sure to try a huckleberry ice cream sandwich in the store – they’re yummy!
An ok little trail. Down then back up again.