Uncle Tom's Trail, Mountain trail in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, US.

Uncle Tom's Trail is a walking route with a metal staircase of over 300 steps that descends steeply into the canyon for less than 1 kilometer. The route ends at a viewing platform facing the Lower Yellowstone Falls, a large waterfall deep within the canyon.

Uncle Tom Richardson, a park concessionaire, opened the route in 1898 after receiving a permit to run a ferry across the Yellowstone River. He led visitors down by rope ladders and charged $1 per tour. The ferry business declined after the Chittenden Bridge opened in 1903, and 1906 was his last year of tours. The National Park Service later replaced the ladders with a staircase, and the trail was permanently closed in 2019.

The trail reflects how early visitors explored Yellowstone and marks the shift toward organized recreational routes in the park. The staircase itself has become a landmark for tourists seeking close views of the waterfall canyon.

The route sits at high elevation and requires good physical condition, especially for the climb back up. Sturdy footwear and a slow pace are important for moving safely across the many steps.

The original route used rope ladders and 528 steps; the rebuilt version had 328 steps and no ladders. The National Park Service closed the trail in 2019 and removed it from its publications, and plans to take the staircase out.