This is the smaller of the two famous waterfalls on the Yellowstone River at 109 feet tall. To get a feel for its magnitude notice that the arrow at the top of the photo points at three people standing on the platform at the Brink of the Upper Falls.

This falls was called the "upper falls" for the first time by members of the 1869 Folsom party who estimated its height at 115 feet.

Visitors to the Brink of the Upper Falls have throughout time found the power of the experience worthy of detailed description.   In 1870 N.P. Langford of the Washburn party wrote of his visit to the brink:

"Mr. Hedges and I made our way down to this table rock, where we sat for a long time. As from this spot we looked up at the descending waters, we insensibly felt that the slightest protrusion in them would hurl us backwards into the gulf below. A thousand arrows of foam, apparently aimed at us, leaped from the verge, and passed rapidly down the sheet. But as the view grew upon us, and we comprehended the power, majesty and beauty of the scene, we became insensible to the danger and gave ourselves up to the full enjoyment of it."

Detailed information about the names of many Yellowstone locations can be found in the book Yellowstone Place Names by Lee Whittlesey. It is available through the Yellowstone Association's Online Bookstore.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Tour
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