The Yellowstone River roars and tumbles for 24 miles between the sheer golden-hued cliffs of the 1540ft Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone , its course punctuated by two narrow but striking waterfalls : the 109ft Upper Falls and the thunderous Lower Falls , plummeting 308ft. Both rims of the canyon offer superb vistas, short trails and intense scenery, but the north side is the more popular, as sightseeing can be combined with a visit to the nearby stores and snack bars. To try to see some bears, stake out a roadside spot just south of Tower Junction at dawn or dusk.

On the south rim, Artists' Point looks down 700ft to the river, which swirls between mineral-stained walls. Nearby, Uncle Tom's Trail descends steeply into the canyon, to a gently vibrating, spray-covered platform right in the face of the Lower Falls. A few miles south, the river widens to meander over tranquil, marshy Hayden Valley . Buffalo, elk and deer congregate here, so it's an unsuitable place to go on foot.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River

• Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River

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