Artist Point Trail: A Yellowstone National Park Icon

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I knew one of the things I had to do on this visit to Yellowstone was hike out to Artist Point since I didn’t do that on my first trip there. I don’t think I really even knew it existed, and I definitely don’t remember driving down the road to get here.

So, after hiking down the to the Brink of the Lower Yellowstone Falls, we stopped at one other overlook then headed over to the Artist Point parking area.

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It was pretty busy here but we also didn’t have a problem finding a parking spot, thankfully. This is a nice, short walk that is paved but it does have a few stairs so it’s not entirely accessible.

It’s a super easy trail to follow, and also busy so it would be hard to get lost here. You start out following the sidewalk along the left edge (on your way in) of the parking lot.

Shortly after that you’ll follow the trail through a lightly wooded area before cutting left up to the main viewing area. There really isn’t much to this trail, it is only 0.3 miles round-trip, after all.

But, it’s well worth the side trip because it’s one of the most beautiful views in the park! You get the falls one way and the view down canyon the other.

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I 100% understand how it got it’s name because I really loved it here and just kept thinking “look at all the textures!” as I took 100 pictures of the ground and trees across from the viewing area.

We spent maybe 10 minutes enjoying the view before heading back to the car and our next destination, the Mud Volcano Trail and Dragon Mouth Spring, which I also loved!

After this trip I am convinced that Yellowstone is one of the most creatively inspiring national parks. The landscapes and textures here are 10/10 and I love it all so much.

I think we were here mid-day/early afternoon and that was a good time for lighting here. It obviously wasn’t like, glowing golden hour, but the shadows weren’t offensive or anything like that.

I don’t have much more to say about this trail other than repeating thatyou should definitely make the stop because it’s quick and one of the best (and most iconic) views in the park.

You can easily stop here before or after seeing the Upper and Lower Falls viewpoints. It’s on the east side of the park, making the Mud Volcano and West Thumb Geyser trails perfect additions to a day on this side of the park.

National Park Goodies

If you’re planning to visit three or more national parks within a year from your trip, definitely get the America the Beautiful pass. It will save you money in the long run if you’re going to more than three parks in a year. Buy the pass here.
If you’re planning on doing a lot of hiking on your trip, or even at home, check out AllTrails! This is my favorite app to find, keep track of, and track my hiking activity. And it’s FREE! Sign up here.
This Ultimate National Park Planning Bundle is a must-have. You get two ebooks and a planner, saving 50% by getting them as a bundle! If you want all the details, this is the bundle for you. Buy the Ultimate bundle here.
Doing a road trip? Want an adventure? Consider an Escape Campervan Rental! It’s a great way to see the parks and is perfect for couples and small (but close) friend groups. Book a campervan here!
This National Park Planner (one of the ebooks from the bundle above) is perfect if you just want some guidance in your planning. Buy the planner here.
Get yourself a National Park journal for all of the NPS sites (400+!) to keep track of your travels!
Consider reading some of these books set in national parks before your big trip, on your adventure, or once you get home to take you back to the parks until next time.

Where is the Artist Point Trail?

How long is the Artist Point Trail?

The official distance is 0.3 miles but AllTrails tracked me at 0.45 miles. Either way, it’s a nice short trail!

Is the Artist Point Trail hard?

Nope! This is a pretty short and relatively flat trail. There’s only about 22 feet of elevation gain, and the trail is all paved, however there are some stairs. AllTrails tracked me at 45 feet of elevation gain though.

Is the Artist Point Trail worth it?

Absolutely yes! This is one of the most iconic views of Yellowstone for a reason. It’s a short easy walk with one of the best views in the park. It’s definitely worth the short side drive to see.