Firehole Falls

Firehole Falls is a waterfall in Yellowstone National Park that plunges roughly 40 feet over volcanic rock into a deep canyon. The cascade drops vertically and is surrounded by steep cliffs of rhyolite stone.

The falls were documented in 1871 by Lieutenant Gustavus Doane during an expedition that explored the volcanic canyon and its formations. This early survey helped introduce the geological features of Yellowstone to the wider world.

Trout were introduced to this waterway starting in 1889, transforming how early visitors viewed the river as a fishing destination. The presence of these fish species became central to how people experienced and used the canyon.

You can reach this spot via the one-way Firehole Canyon Drive, which branches off from the main road between Madison Junction and Old Faithful. The drive itself has several viewpoints along the river, making it easy to see the falls and surrounding rock formations.

The falls act as a natural barrier that stops trout from swimming upstream, creating distinct fish populations in different river sections. This geographic separation shaped two different ecosystems within the same waterway.