Uncle Tom's Trail

Beginning in 1898, park visitors could descend along a “trail” known as Uncle Tom's Trail to a viewpoint near the base of the Lower Yellowstone Falls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Constructed by park concessionaire "Uncle Tom" H. F. Richardson, the original trail included several rope ladders and 528 steps. As a private enterprise, Richardson guided clients into the canyon, and then afterwards would provide them with a picnic lunch. This photo was taken before 1905:

In 1905, the National Park Service assumed ownership of Uncle Tom's Trail, and then proceeded to make numerous improvements to the route. In addition to removing the ropes, they reduced the number of steps to “only” 328. However, this new trail only went three-quarters of the way into the canyon. Over the ensuing years, the park made additional improvements to the stairway system. In 2019, however, they closed the trail to all visitors, presumably forever. Here’s the improved Uncle Tom's Trail in 1906:

              ************************************************************************************

Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

• My new and improved edition on hiking history is available on Amazon

Yellowstone Seeks Public Input on Proposal to Update and Repair Canyon Rim Overlooks and Trails

Yellowstone National Park is considering a proposal to update and repair many of the overlooks and trails located on the North and South rims of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

This project is being proposed to address aging and deteriorating infrastructure, provide improved accessibility to visitors, improve pedestrian flow, address safety issues, and improve the visitor experience in the area, all while retaining the historic integrity of this extraordinary portion of the park. Areas to be addressed in the plan includes the Brink of the Upper Falls, the Brink of Lower Falls, Uncle Tom’s Point, Inspiration Point, Red Rocks Point, Crystal Falls, and their associated connecting trails.

The Yellowstone Park Foundation, official fundraising partner of Yellowstone National Park, is presently funding an effort to obtain design proposals from landscape architectural firms for the overlooks and trails in question.

An Environmental Assessment will be prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. As part of the planning process, the park is reaching out to the public and asking them to share their comments, concerns, and ideas which will be used to aid in the development of a range of alternatives.

Comments may be submitted online, hand-delivered during normal business hours to the mailroom in the park’s Administration Building in Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, or mailed to the Compliance Office, Attn: Canyon Rim Overlooks and Trails, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY, 82190.

Comments will not be accepted by fax, e-mail, or in any other way than those specified above. All comments must be received by midnight MDT, October 24, 2014.



Jeff
Hiking in Glacier National Park

Safety Concerns Prompt Temporary Closure of Inspiration Point in Yellowstone

Concerns over visitor safety have prompted officials at Yellowstone National Park to temporarily close a popular viewpoint.

Inspiration Point is one many popular spots along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone from which visitors may view Lower Falls.

The last two tiers of concrete stairs leading to the viewing platform and the platform itself have deteriorated over time.

Due to concerns of visitor safety, the lower section of steps and the viewing platform are temporarily closed.

Park staff members are assessing the damage and determining how to move forward with repair or replacement of the failed stairway and platform.

It is not yet known when the area may reopen to visitors.


Jeff
Hiking Glacier National Park