Kepler Cascades
Wyoming · 150-foot drop · Yellowstone National Park · Last verified 2026-06-26
Today at Kepler Cascades: clear, 34°F. September averages 2.4 snow days here.
Right now
Overnight
34°F
Clear
Thursday
67°F
Sunny
Today's daylight
Sunrise 6:56 AM · Sunset 7:44 PM · 12h 49m
Wildlife activity
- Stay Away From Bull Elk(Caution)
Other park alerts
- Biscuit Basin Closed Due to Hydrothermal Explosion(Park Closure)
- Traffic Delays - Gardner River High Bridge(Information)
- Vehicle Entrance Reservation Not Needed(Information)
Snapshot built 12m ago. Sources: NWS RIW.
Kepler Cascades is a 150-foot tiered cascade on the Firehole River in southwestern Yellowstone National Park, 2.5 miles south of Old Faithful. The 130-foot boardwalk from the pullout to the cliff-edge viewing platform is wheelchair accessible — one of the easiest waterfall stops in Yellowstone. The longest single drop is about 50 ft; the cascade as a whole drops 150 ft through three main steps. Road closes seasonally in winter (typically November through May).
Kepler Cascades is a waterfall on the Firehole River in southwestern Yellowstone National Park in the United States. The cascades are located approximately 2.5 miles south of Old Faithful. The cascades drop approximately 150 feet over multiple drops. The longest drop is 50 feet. The cascades are located very near to and visible from the Old Faithful to West Thumb road.
A short history
Named for Hill Beachey Kepler, a young son of a former Wyoming governor, in the late 19th century. Marked by an early stone observation platform built by the CCC in the 1930s.
The trail
0.05 miles each way, rated easy. Paved pullout on the South Entrance Road, 2.5 miles south of Old Faithful. Boardwalk leads from parking to viewing platform.
Why the waterfall is there
The Firehole River cuts through rhyolite lava flows of the Yellowstone Caldera. Heat from underlying magma keeps the river warm year-round, contributing to the dramatic mist around the falls in winter.
- Rock type
- rhyolite
- Formation age
- Pleistocene Yellowstone Caldera (640,000 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 06036805 · 1.3 mi away
Firehole River at Old Faithful, YNP
View live discharge data →
30-day streamflow
Near 30-day average↻ Same date last year: 32.6 cfs · 108% of last year — similar
When to go (from the climate data, not our opinion)
Monthly averages from Open-Meteo's reanalysis dataset (2020–2024). Highlighted months are when we think the waterfall is at its best — but the numbers are the numbers regardless.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip (in) | Snow days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23 | 11 | 2.4 | 19.6 |
| Feb | 23 | 10 | 2.9 | 18.6 |
| Mar | 31 | 15 | 3.4 | 19.6 |
| Apr | 38 | 20 | 2.3 | 16 |
| MayBest | 48 | 29 | 2.4 | 15 |
| JunBest | 62 | 40 | 2.3 | 4 |
| JulBest | 74 | 50 | 1 | 0.4 |
| AugBest | 71 | 49 | 1.8 | 0.4 |
| SepBest | 63 | 42 | 1.5 | 2.4 |
| OctBest | 47 | 31 | 2.5 | 10.4 |
| Nov | 31 | 17 | 2.6 | 16.6 |
| Dec | 26 | 13 | 3.7 | 18.8 |
Source: Open-Meteo Historical Weather API · ERA5 reanalysis 2020–2024.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kepler Cascades (this page) | — | 150 ft | easy · 0.05 mi | N | $35 |
| Fern Cascades | 2 mi | — | — | N | — |
| Mystic Falls | 4 mi | 69 ft | — | N | — |
| Fairy Falls | 6 mi | 200 ft | — | N | — |
| Tempe Cascade | 10 mi | — | — | N | — |
| Quiver Cascade | 10 mi | — | — | N | — |
Side-by-side comparisons
Kepler Cascades compared head-to-head with other documented falls — height, access, fees, dogs, swimmability in one row each.
Related waterfalls
Similar height (~150 ft)
- Coopey Falls150 ft
- Nellie Falls150 ft
- Peppermint Creek Falls150 ft
- Toxaway Falls150 ft
- Big Creek Falls151 ft
Same best season in Wyoming
- Gibbon Falls84 ft
- Moose Falls30 ft
Questions visitors ask about Kepler Cascades
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 Kepler Cascades?
Kepler Cascades is 150 feet (45.7 m) tall. Source heights disagree by source — see the discrepancy box on the page.
Is Kepler Cascades in a national or state park?
Yes — Kepler Cascades is inside Yellowstone National Park. See the park page for fees, hours, and current conditions.
Can I bring my dog to Kepler Cascades?
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 Kepler Cascades wheelchair accessible?
Yes — Kepler Cascades has a wheelchair-accessible viewing area with ADA parking. Conditions can change seasonally; verify with the land manager before driving.
Can you swim at Kepler Cascades?
No — swimming is not safe or not allowed at Kepler Cascades. Viewing platform only. The Firehole River carries heated water from upstream geysers; combining with cold snowmelt makes any swimming attempt dangerous.
When is the best time to visit Kepler Cascades?
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 Kepler Cascades?
Yes — entry costs around $35. Most Yellowstone National Park entrances accept the America the Beautiful annual pass.
How far is Kepler Cascades from a major city?
Kepler Cascades is 2.5 miles from Old Faithful (about 5 minutes' drive).
More waterfalls in Wyoming
Where it is
44.4455, -110.8059
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/Kepler_Cascades
Wikidata (Q37418)
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37418
GeoNames (5829471)
https://www.geonames.org/5829471/
Last verified by Fallspots: 2026-06-26
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