Hiking the Fairy Falls Trail in Yellowstone National Park
Distance: 5.0 miles / 8.0 km
The Fairy Falls Trail in Yellowstone National Park is a local and visitor favorite, as the hike to the towering 200-ft. (61 m) waterfall is one of the easier and more beautiful day hikes near the Upper and Midway Geyser Basins.
On top of this, the Fairy Falls Trail is often combined with the popular Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook, making it one of the best all-around places to explore in the Yellowstone National Park—especially since only a fraction of the people who visit the area hike past the overlook to Fairy Falls!
U.S. National Park Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
Fairy Falls Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Fairy Falls Trail is located directly off of Grand Loop Road in two adjacent parking areas.
However, even with two parking lots, finding a spot at the Fairy Falls Trailhead can be fairly difficult by mid-morning because the Fairy Falls Trail is also the same trail as the popular Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook, and there is no direct connection to the overlook from the Grand Prismatic Spring itself.
Google Maps Directions: Fairy 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.
Bear Spray & Holster - If you aren’t flying, don’t rent bear spray! It’s a waste of money. Prepare ahead of time by buying your own, as this may be one of the most important items on this list.
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the Fairy Falls Trail
Overall, the hike to Fairy Falls is relatively easy with no notable elevation gain, unless you decide to hike the optional trail up to the Grand Prismatic Overlook.
Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook Junction
If you choose to add the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook onto your hike to Fairy Falls, this small detour adds an extra 0.25 miles (0.4 km) and about 100 ft. (30.5 m) of elevation gain onto the hike.
If you’re only interested in the hike to Fairy Falls, go right to continue on the most direct trail.
Fairy Falls-Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook
There are a few things to know about the busy images shown below.
First, the Grand Prismatic Overlook is not always as busy as you see in these photos. If you visit earlier in the morning, which is when the photo below was taken, you’ll have a much more pleasant time at the overlook without the crowds of people.
Second, I want to stress that not all beautiful areas of Yellowstone National Park are as busy as this, and I highly encourage you to scroll through my long running list of things to do across the park. There are countless other trails throughout Yellowstone where you can have a much more quiet experience.
Read My Separate Post: Best Things to Do in Yellowstone
Rather than turning around after visiting the overlook, simply continue on the same trail to return back to the Fairy Falls Trail, as shown below.
Second Fairy Falls-Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook Junction
This is where the Grand Prismatic Overlook Trail meets back up with the trail to Fairy Falls.
Go left to continue hiking to the waterfall or right to return back to the parking area.
Fairy Falls Junction
Then, only 0.2 miles (0.3 km) down the trail, the Fairy Falls Trail splits to the left from the trail that continues on to Goose Lake.
After the Fairy Falls junction, the rest of the trail remains almost entirely flat, as you make your way through the Lodgepole pine forest to the waterfall.
Fairy Meadows Campground
At about half way between the waterfall and the junction shown above, the trail splits with the reservable Fairy Meadows Campground.
If you are interested in camping here or anywhere in the Yellowstone backcountry, make sure to secure your site as soon as you know your dates through the Yellowstone backcountry office.
As the trail nears Fairy Falls, the Lodgepole forests begin to clear, and the towering waterfall will start to become visible off in the distance.
Fairy Falls
For the amount of people that park at the Fairy Falls Trailhead, hardly any of the traffic makes their way as far as Fairy Falls, and even fewer hike to Imperial Geyser if you were to continue down the trail.
Additionally, you can expect Fairy Falls to have much more water if you’re planning your visit in the early summer when the snow is yet melting across Yellowstone.
Warning
Afternoon thunderstorms in high Mountain West areas, such as this, are a serious concern during the summer monsoon season.
Even if the weather forecast doesn’t predict any storms, I can tell you from personal experience that they may show up out of nowhere and can put you and your entire group in a very dangerous situation.
I say this to emphasize the importance of turning around at the first sign of lightning, thunder, or even heavy cloud buildup. However, if you ever get caught in a storm unsuspectingly, follow the steps linked below to reduce the risk of getting struck.
U.S. Forest Service: Lightning Safety Tips
How Bad are the Mosquitoes?
If this is your first trip to Wyoming, you’re likely unfamiliar with how bad the mosquitoes will be. Locals don’t joke when they call the mosquito the Wyoming state bird, which is why I recommend grabbing this cheap bug net before going. You never know where and when you may want it because even midday in the most unsuspecting places, the mosquitoes can be out in clouds!
More Yellowstone Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing adventures within Yellowstone National Park, check out my separate posts below!
Best Way to Find Places to Stay!
Wherever I travel, I love to start my search for places to stay on VRBO.
Even if I don’t end up booking through them, I think it’s one of the best ways to see what’s in the area!
Washington
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Discover Cars!
Safety
From personal experience, I’ve seen that the Yellowstone-Teton area has one of the highest Grizzly Bear densities in the country. Even on the popular trails, you need to be hiking with bear spray and know how to react in the event of a Black or Grizzly Bear encounter.
Aside from wildlife, Wyoming, like any Mountain West state, is known for its violent afternoon thunderstorms, which are more typical in the warmer summer months than other times of the year.
That said, it’s important to check the local forecast before setting off on any adventure, as lightning strikes are not uncommon in and near mountain ranges across the West. I have personally been knocked to the ground by a strike that hit near me in the past, and I confidently say that it’s an experience you don’t want to live through. This is why I highly recommend checking Mountain Forecast for any high-elevation adventures you may be interested in—especially when climbing a summit.
Finally, know that when micro-spikes are necessary for an early-season adventure, micro-spikes are never supposed to be a substitute for conditions that require crampons.
As always, find the most up-to-date information and conditions on the official Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park websites.
National Park Service: Grand Teton National Park / Yellowstone National Park
U.S. National Parks Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
More U.S. National Parks
If you’d like to read more about some of my best recommendations when visiting other U.S. National Parks, check out some of my other posts below!
Disclaimer
All information provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for information or advice from qualified professionals or managing agencies.
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