Yellowstone NP, WY – The Terraced Falls are located near the south boundary of Yellowstone National Park and accessed from Grassy Lake Road via Cascade Creek Trail. This 3.8 mile round-trip out and back trail travels though pine forest past a series of cascades and waterfalls en route to the Terraced Falls. The trail descends approximately 300 feet on the hike to the falls which is ascended on the return hike. This is an easy trail with a primarily packed dirt surface. The trail begins by traveling along Cascade Creek which has some rapid sections.
The first section of trail follows Cascade Creek while traveling through pine forest
Cascade Creek
A waterfall on Cascade Creek Trail
Below the confluence of Cascade Creek and Falls River is Cascade Acres, a segmented set of rapids dropping 30 feet over a 200 yard stretch of creek. The Terraced Falls are a six-tiered cataract on the Falls River that plunge 140 feet between steep volcanic columns of rock. Take care viewing the falls from numerous side trails as there are steep drop-offs with no barriers. This was a very scenic region of the park.
The trail below the confluence of Cascade Creek and Falls River
Falls River
Section of Falls River just above Terraced Falls
Terraced Falls and canyon of volcanic rock columns
Terraced Falls
Terraced Falls
Falls River below Terraced Falls heading toward the Bechler region of Yellowstone
To reach the trailhead, from the John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway (the road located between Yellowstone’s South Entrance and Grand Teton National Parks), turn west onto the Flagg Ranch/Grassy Lake Road turnoff at Flagg Ranch Village. Make a quick right onto Grassy Lake Road. Continue 10.9 miles to the Grassy Lake Dam. Cross the dam and continue another 1.7 miles to a poorly signed turnout on the right side of the road just after crossing the bridge over Cascade Creek. This trailhead is located in Targhee National Forest.
We hiked this trail while staying at Headwaters Campground at Flagg Ranch. From Flagg Ranch we also hiked:
- Beula Lake Trail (Yellowstone)
- Bechler Short Loop (Yellowstone)
- String Lake Loop (Grand Teton)
- Emma Matilda Lake Loop (Grand Teton)
- Pacific Creek Trail (Teton Wilderness)
For other Yellowstone Hiking Trails from our prior trips:
- Yellowstone Day Hiking Part 1: Artist Paint Pots, Yellowstone Picnic Area/Specimen Ridge, Trout Lake, Slough Creek, Beaver Ponds, Hellroaring Creek, Mary Mtn, Pelican Creek, Fairy Falls
- Yellowstone Day Hiking Part 2: Mount Washburn, Bunsen Peak, Elephant Back
- Upper Gallatin River Valley via Bighorn Pass Trail
- Nez Perce Creek (western Mary Mountain Trail)
- Fawn Pass/Fan Creek Trail
- Pebble Creek Trail
- Rescue Creek Trail
- Gneiss Creek Trail
- Riddle Lake Trail
- Chain of Lakes Trail
- Black Canyon of the Yellowstone River Backpacking Trip
