How to Get There

Fairy Falls can be reached from two different trailheads. The first trailhead, 1 mile south of the Midway Geyser Basin, begins at a steel bridge across the Firehole River and follows the Fountain Freight Road hiking/biking trail for approximately 1 mile before the hiking-only trail to Fairy Falls branches off on the left. The second trailhead, 1/2 mile south of the Nez Perce picnic area on the Fountain Freight Road, follows the hiking/biking path from the northern end, 1-3/4 miles to the junction with the Fairy Falls trail.

Trailhead: 1) Steel Bridge parking area 1 mile south of the Midway Geyser Basin

2) Fountain Freight Road parking area 1 mile south of Nez Perce picnic area on the Fountain Freight Road

Distance: 5 miles (8 km) from trailhead #1; 7 miles (5.5 km) from trailhead #2

Level of Difficulty: Easy

Brief Description

At 197 feet high, Fairy is one of the tallest waterfalls in Yellowstone.  Located behing Midway Geyser Basin, the trail starts out on an old roadbed, then veers to the west through timber.  The falls plunge off a plateau into a shallow, shaded pool of very cold water.  The hike to Fairy can take several hours (or longer if you take one of several side trails), so be sure to take water with you.

Photo by Steve Slackta

Yellowstone Net is Produced by Bruce Gourley, Russ Finley,  & Tim Gourley.
Copyright 1997-2008 by Bruce Gourley.