Gibbon Falls
Wyoming · 84-foot drop · Yellowstone National Park · Last verified 2026-06-26
Flow at Gibbon Falls is 87 cfs today, around its seasonal average.
Right now
Streamflow
86.6 cfs
Gibbon River at Madison · 49m ago
Overnight
46°F
Mostly Clear
Friday
81°F
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Today's daylight
Sunrise 5:47 AM · Sunset 9:09 PM · 15h 22m
Other park alerts
- Select rivers closed to fishing daily, 2 p.m. to sunrise(Information)
- Traffic Delays - Gibbon River Bridge(Information)
- Biscuit Basin Closed Due to Hydrothermal Explosion(Park Closure)
Snapshot built 10m ago. Sources: USGS · NWS RIW.
Gibbon Falls is an 84-foot fan-shaped waterfall on the Gibbon River, cascading directly over the rim of the Yellowstone Caldera — the edge of the 631,000-year-old supervolcano crater. Located roadside on the Grand Loop Road between Madison Junction and Norris, it's one of Yellowstone's most accessible falls: paved wheelchair-accessible path, no hiking required, and the overlook puts you eye-level with the entire cascade. Road closes November through late April.
Gibbon Falls is a waterfall on the Gibbon River in northwestern Yellowstone National Park in the United States. Gibbon Falls has a drop of approximately 84 feet (26 m). The falls are located roadside, 4.7 miles (7.6 km) upstream from the confluence of the Gibbon and Firehole Rivers at Madison Junction on the Grand Loop Road.
The trail
0.5 miles each way, rated easy with 20 feet of elevation gain. Large designated pullout on the Grand Loop Road, 4.7 miles upstream from Madison Junction. Paved wheelchair-accessible walkway to the viewing platform.
Why the waterfall is there
Gibbon Falls cascades over the rim of the Yellowstone Caldera — literally the edge of the 631,000-year-old supervolcano crater. The cliff face is welded tuff from the Lava Creek eruption.
- Rock type
- welded tuff (rhyolite)
- Formation age
- Lava Creek eruption, 631,000 years ago
Source: USGS
Is the water flowing right now?
Most waterfall sites don't tell you this. The waterfall itself is almost never gauged, but a USGS streamgage in the same watershed can tell you whether snowmelt has started, peaked, or run dry.
USGS gage 06037100 · 4.5 mi away
Gibbon River at Madison Jct, YNP
View live discharge data →
30-day streamflow
Near 30-day average↻ Same date last year: 90.3 cfs · 100% of last year — similar
Compare to nearby falls
If this one isn't the right fit, here's how it stacks up against the closest documented falls. Every column is filterable on the site — not buried in 13,000 reviews.
| Waterfall | Distance | Height | Trail | Dogs | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gibbon Falls (this page) | — | 84 ft | easy · 0.5 mi | N | $35 |
| Firehole Falls | 5 mi | — | — | N | — |
| Cascades of the Firehole | 5 mi | — | — | N | — |
| Virginia Cascades | 7 mi | 59 ft | — | N | — |
| Fairy Falls | 10 mi | 200 ft | — | N | — |
| Mystic Falls | 13 mi | 69 ft | — | N | — |
Side-by-side comparisons
Gibbon Falls compared head-to-head with other documented falls — height, access, fees, dogs, swimmability in one row each.
Related waterfalls
On the same watercourse (Gibbon River)
- Virginia Cascades59 ft
Similar height (~84 ft)
- John Mountain Falls84 ft
- Camp Benson Falls85 ft
- Fishtrap Hollow Falls83 ft
- Middle Berdeen Falls85 ft
- Upper Whiteoak Falls85 ft
Same best season in Wyoming
- Kepler Cascades150 ft
- Moose Falls30 ft
Questions visitors ask about Gibbon Falls
Answers built from our structured data. If a question isn't here, the fact is unverified — we'd rather omit than guess.
How tall is Gibbon Falls?
Gibbon Falls is 84 feet (26 m) tall. Height is sourced from NPS Yellowstone.
Is Gibbon Falls in a national or state park?
Yes — Gibbon Falls is inside Yellowstone National Park. See the park page for fees, hours, and current conditions.
Can I bring my dog to Gibbon Falls?
No — dogs are not allowed on trails here. Most National Park trails prohibit pets to protect wildlife. Service animals are an exception per ADA.
Is Gibbon Falls wheelchair accessible?
Yes — Gibbon Falls has a wheelchair-accessible viewing area with ADA parking. Conditions can change seasonally; verify with the land manager before driving.
Can you swim at Gibbon Falls?
No — swimming is not safe or not allowed at Gibbon Falls. Roadside viewing only from the paved overlook. The Gibbon River carries warm water from Yellowstone's geyser basins upstream — entry is unsafe and prohibited.
When is the best time to visit Gibbon Falls?
Peak flow is typically May, June, July, August, September, October. Season-wise: spring, summer, fall. Snowmelt and recent rain affect day-to-day volume.
Is there a fee to visit Gibbon Falls?
Yes — entry costs around $35. Most Yellowstone National Park entrances accept the America the Beautiful annual pass.
How far is Gibbon Falls from a major city?
Gibbon Falls is 4.7 miles from Madison Junction (about 8 minutes' drive).
More waterfalls in Wyoming
Where it is
44.6540, -110.7707
Sources and live status
Where we got the data, and where to check current conditions before you drive.
Official land manager
https://www.nps.gov/yell
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibbon_Falls
Wikidata (Q38522)
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q38522
GeoNames (5825971)
https://www.geonames.org/5825971/
Last verified by Fallspots: 2026-06-26
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