Ribbon Cascade sits inside Grand Teton National Park, so the walk in comes with the park around it: marked trails, signed junctions and, usually, other things worth a stop on the same day.
What brings people back to Ribbon Cascade is how different it looks from one visit to the next. A wet spring week and a dry August afternoon can feel like two different places.
Geology and background
What makes Ribbon Cascade special
Ribbon Cascade drops about 600 feet near the eastern end of Hanging Canyon, in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, west of Jenny Lake. It is fed by an unnamed intermittent stream, and the peak time for waterflow through the cascade is during spring snowmelt.
What sets it apart is that it rarely runs dry. It is the only discharge for the Lake of the Crags, Ramshead Lake and Arrowhead Pool, so water keeps coming even after the snowmelt fades. A fall that depends on one small stream would normally dry out by late summer; Ribbon Cascade keeps going because three lakes drain through it.
You see it from the lake, not from the trail. There are no maintained trails to the cascade, though it can be seen during peak waterflow from the east shore of Jenny Lake, just to the north of Cascade Canyon. Its nearest neighbours are Cleft Falls at 3.8 miles, Bannock Falls at 3.9 miles and Columbine Cascade at 9.8 miles.
The cascade sits in Hanging Canyon, a steep side canyon above Jenny Lake. The stream that feeds it is intermittent, but the canyon holds the outflow of three lakes, the Lake of the Crags, Ramshead Lake and Arrowhead Pool, and that is what keeps the water coming. The long drop down the canyon wall is the stream’s way from the high lakes to the valley floor.
Navigate by coordinates rather than by name. Map apps often send waterfall searches to the wrong parking lot or the far side of the stream. Download an offline map before you lose signal.
Prices and passes
Entry fee: $35.
Best time and crowds
No stream gauge is linked to Ribbon Cascade, so recent rain and snowmelt are your best guide. The peak time for waterflow is during spring snowmelt, and that is when it can be seen from the east shore of Jenny Lake, just to the north of Cascade Canyon. It is rarely dry, so a later visit can still be worth it.
Grand Teton is busiest in summer. Arrive early or late: the middle of a summer weekend is peak time, and the park’s parking lots can be full by 10 a.m.
Safety
There are no maintained trails to the cascade, so do not try to reach it on foot. View it from the east shore of Jenny Lake. Stay on marked trails and behind railings. Wet, mossy rock near the brink is the most common cause of serious injury. Never climb the cascade or stand at the top edge, even when the flow looks gentle.
What to bring
Shoes with real grip
A rain shell for the spray
Water and a snack
An offline map or screenshot
A dry bag for your phone
A bag to pack out trash
Practical tips
View it from the east shore of Jenny Lake, just north of Cascade Canyon: there are no maintained trails to the cascade itself.
Time the visit for spring snowmelt, when the flow is at its peak.
Screenshot the directions and these coordinates before you leave town.
Check the Grand Teton National Park page on the day for closures and entry requirements.
Most waterfalls form where a stream crosses from hard rock onto softer rock. The soft layer wears away faster, the hard lip is left overhanging, and over thousands of years the fall slowly cuts its way upstream.
Water flow and seasons
No stream gauge is linked to Ribbon Cascade yet, so recent rain is your best guide. The weather panel on this page adds up the last three days of rain at the fall.
Flow tends to peak in spring with snowmelt and seasonal rain, and again for a day or two after a big storm. By late summer smaller falls can drop to a thin ribbon.
The trail and the viewpoint
We do not have a trail length for Ribbon Cascade yet. Some falls are a few steps from a parking area, others take a real hike, so check the park or a trail app before you set out.
Swimming is not listed. Treat the plunge pool as off-limits unless signs say otherwise: the water at the base is colder and stronger than it looks.
Facilities and amenities
Facilities depend on Grand Teton National Park: larger parks usually have a signed trailhead, restrooms and a parking area, while smaller reserves may have none of these.
Plan as if there is no drinking water and no phone signal at the falls themselves. Use the restroom and fill your bottles before you start walking.
Fees, permits, and opening hours
An entry fee of $35.00 is listed. Fees change, and some parks charge per vehicle rather than per person, so confirm before you go.
Most falls are reachable from dawn to dusk. Gates, seasonal road closures and timed-entry permits are the usual surprises, so check the managing agency on the day.
How to get to Ribbon Cascade
Ribbon Cascade is in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. For the last stretch, navigate by coordinates (43.7752, -110.7502) rather than by name. Map apps often send waterfall searches to the wrong parking lot or the far side of the stream.
The final approach is usually the hardest part: narrow roads, small trailhead lots that fill early, and a walk that can be ten minutes or several hours. Download an offline map before you lose signal.
Our Wyoming waterfalls page maps every fall in the state, which helps when you are planning a route.
For the fullest flow, visit Ribbon Cascade in spring or within a couple of days of heavy rain. For easier footing and warmer air, early summer is the compromise.
Light matters for photos: the base of a fall is often in shade by midday, and an overcast day evens out the bright water against dark rock.
Crowds and timing
Weekday mornings are the quietest. On summer weekends, popular falls can fill their parking by mid-morning, and the viewpoint becomes a queue.
Holiday weekends and the first warm days of spring are the busiest of all. If the lot is full, do not park on the road shoulder: it is the most common reason for tickets and towing at trailheads.
How long to spend there
Without a listed trail length, plan for half a day: enough time to find the trailhead, walk in, spend an hour at the water and walk out without rushing.
If there are other falls nearby, they are often on the same road or trail system. Two or three in a day is very doable.
Where to stay near Ribbon Cascade
We do not recommend specific places to stay. The links below search for hotels and campgrounds around Ribbon Cascade on Google Maps, so you can compare drive times from the trailhead.
Stay on marked trails and behind railings. Wet, mossy rock near the brink is the most common cause of serious injury.
Never climb the cascade or stand at the top edge, even when the flow looks gentle.
Plunge pools hide cold water, strong currents and submerged logs. Only swim where it is allowed.
In canyons, rain upstream can raise the water in minutes. Leave if the water turns muddy or starts to rise.
Leave no trace: pack out trash, stay off fragile moss and plants, and keep drones grounded where they are banned.
What to bring
Shoes with real grip
A rain shell for the spray
Water and a snack
An offline map or screenshot
A dry bag for your phone
Cash for parking
A bag to pack out trash
Practical visitor tips
Screenshot the directions and these coordinates before you leave town.
Wear shoes you do not mind getting wet: spray reaches further than you expect.
Keep your phone in a zip bag near the base.
Pack out everything, including food scraps.
Tell someone where you are going if the trail is long or remote.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Ribbon Cascade, Wyoming located?
Ribbon Cascade is in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. Its GPS coordinates are 43.7752, -110.7502.
What kind of waterfall is Ribbon Cascade, Wyoming?
Its form (plunge, cascade, horsetail and so on) is not listed yet.
How tall is Ribbon Cascade?
Its height has not passed a source check yet, so we do not show a number or include it in tallest lists.
How much does it cost, and when is it open?
A fee of $35.00 is listed. Most falls are open dawn to dusk, but check the managing agency for gates and seasonal closures.
Is Ribbon Cascade good for families?
It depends on the trail, which we have not confirmed. Check the length and terrain first, and keep children well back from wet rock and the edge.
How do I know if it is flowing?
No gauge is linked, so use the last three days of rain in the weather panel: more rain usually means more water.
The bottom line
Ribbon Cascade is worth a detour, especially after rain. Check the flow before you go, start early to beat the crowds, and stay well back from the edge.
Waterfalls nearby
One fall rarely fills a day. These are within about 40 miles.
Leave a waterfall report