Iris Falls sits inside Yellowstone 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.
The draw here is the moment the sound reaches you before the water does. People plan whole days around falls like Iris Falls: a walk through the woods, cold spray at the base, and a quiet spot to sit for a while.
Geology and background
What makes Iris Falls special
Iris Falls is a waterfall on the Bechler River in Yellowstone National Park, and its name is the first thing to know about it. Members of the Arnold Hague Geological Survey named it in 1885 for Iris, the Greek goddess of the rainbow. The name fits a fall in a river canyon where spray and sun meet, and it has stuck for more than a century.
The fall sits just upstream from Colonnade Falls on the same river, so the two are part of one stretch of water rather than separate sights. It is reached by the Bechler River Trail, in the park’s southwest corner, a quieter part of Yellowstone than the roadside geyser basins and the canyon overlooks.
The neighbours are close. Upper Colonnade Falls is 0.2 miles away and Lower Colonnade Falls 0.3 miles away, so Iris Falls is one of a cluster of falls on the Bechler River, with Ouzel Falls 1.6 miles away.
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: this is backcountry, and signal is not guaranteed.
Prices and passes
Entry fee: $35.
Best time and crowds
No stream gauge is linked to Iris Falls, so recent rain is your best guide. Expect the most water in spring and after heavy rain. In a dry spell, especially late summer and early fall, the same fall can look half the size.
The Bechler River country is one of the quieter parts of Yellowstone. Even so, an early start is the best way to have the trail to yourself.
Safety
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. Yellowstone is bear country: make noise on the trail and carry bear spray.
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
Pair it with Upper Colonnade Falls, 0.2 miles away, and Lower Colonnade Falls, 0.3 miles away: the three sit on the same stretch of river.
Screenshot the directions and these coordinates before you leave town: signal is thin out here.
Wear shoes you do not mind getting wet: spray reaches further than you expect.
Check the Yellowstone 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 Iris Falls 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 Iris Falls 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 Yellowstone 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 Iris Falls
Iris Falls is in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. For the last stretch, navigate by coordinates (44.24151, -110.94324) 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 Iris Falls 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 Iris Falls
We do not recommend specific places to stay. The links below search for hotels and campgrounds around Iris Falls on Google Maps, so you can compare drive times from the trailhead.
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