Right now
Right now as of Oct 29, 2026
- Status The Madison-Norris road past Gibbon Falls has been closed to regular vehicles since November 1, 2026, per NPS.
- Permit No permit needed. Entry fee: $35 per vehicle.
Status note (Oct 29, 2026): Seasonal. The Madison-Norris road past Gibbon Falls has been closed to regular vehicles since November 1, 2026, per NPS. For winter 2026-27, the road is groomed for oversnow travel only, December 15, 2026 to March 9, 2027. We found no alert specific to the falls as of October 25, 2026. What the status labels mean
Gibbon Falls is an 84-foot cascade on the Gibbon River in Yellowstone National Park, seen from the roadside about 4 miles north of Madison Junction. There's no hike: NPS lists designated accessible parking, paths and views. The only cost is the park entrance fee, $35 per private vehicle. The road has been closed to regular vehicles since November 1, 2026. NPS lists oversnow travel only from December 15, 2026 to March 9, 2027.
About Gibbon Falls
Gibbon Falls is on the Gibbon River in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. NPS says the river 'drops 84 feet (25.6 m) over a remnant of the caldera rim.' One NPS photo caption rounds the height to 80 feet.
The caldera rim is easier to see elsewhere. NPS says it 'can best be seen from the Washburn Hot Springs overlook, south of Dunraven Pass.'
The Gibbon River flows from Grebe Lake past Norris, according to NPS. At Madison Junction it joins the Firehole River, and together they form the Madison River.
Wikipedia credits William Henry Jackson with the first description of the falls, on the 1872 Hayden survey. In 1883, Henry J. Winser put the drop at 'full eighty feet.'
The falls once stopped fish from moving upstream, Wikipedia says. Rainbow trout were first stocked in the river above them in 1890.
Getting there and parking
Gibbon Falls is on the Grand Loop Road, 'four miles north of' Madison Junction, NPS says. West Yellowstone, Montana, is the nearest town, 14 miles west of Madison Junction.
For 2026, NPS projected the Madison to Norris road segment to be open from April 17 to October 31. That comes from the NPS park roads page, updated October 28, 2026.
NPS lists designated accessible parking at the falls. We found no published count of parking spaces.
The Gibbon Falls Picnic Area has 7 tables and 1 wheelchair-accessible vault toilet, per its NPS page, updated August 15, 2026. Campfires are allowed only where there are fire grates. NPS doesn't say how far the picnic area is from the falls.
Gibbon Falls has no fee of its own. Your Yellowstone entrance pass covers it for 7 days, per NPS. That's $35 for a private vehicle, $30 for a motorcycle or $20 for each person 16 and older. A park annual pass costs $70.
Non-US residents 16 and older owe an added $100 each, unless they carry an annual or America the Beautiful pass. NPS lists November 11 as the last 2026 free entrance day for US citizens and residents. The road past Gibbon Falls has been closed to regular vehicles since November 1, 2026. Our Yellowstone entrance fee calculator works out your group's total.
Elsewhere in the park, Tower Fall in the Tower-Roosevelt area is another short, accessible stop. Fairy Falls, near Midway Geyser Basin, takes a 5.4- or 6.7-mile round-trip hike. See waterfalls in Wyoming for a side-by-side comparison.
Map and nearby falls
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The walk
Gibbon Falls needs no hike, since it's a roadside view. NPS lists the falls as wheelchair accessible, with 'Designated accessible parking, paths, and views.'
We found no published length for the paths, from NPS or another reliable source. The views are roadside, so plan on a short walk from your car rather than a trail.
We found no NPS difficulty rating, walking time or elevation figure for the viewing area.
Little Gibbon Falls is a different waterfall
Little Gibbon Falls is a separate waterfall, upstream on the Gibbon River. You don't reach it from the Gibbon Falls overlook.
A Hiking Project trail guide, not NPS, describes reaching it from the Wolf Lake Trailhead on Norris Canyon Road. We could not confirm its height, route or loop length with NPS.
Reaching Little Gibbon Falls means walking a trail, not a roadside path. NPS doesn't allow pets on hiking trails, and its bear guidance applies there as it does anywhere in the park.
When to visit
The Madison-Norris road past Gibbon Falls has been closed to regular vehicles since November 1, 2026, NPS says. Most park roads and the West, South and East entrances closed the same day.
Until December 15, 2026, the road stays closed to regular vehicles, and the oversnow season hasn't started.
For winter 2026-27, NPS grooms the Norris to Madison road for oversnow travel from December 15, 2026 to March 9, 2027. Access is by commercial snowmobile or snowcoach only. We could not confirm whether those tours stop at the falls.
Only the road between the North and Northeast entrances stays open to cars all year, NPS says. The Madison to Norris road past Gibbon Falls is not part of it.
NPS hasn't posted spring 2027 road dates yet. In 2026, the Madison-Norris segment opened April 17. We could not confirm the best months for water flow.
The NPS park roads page, updated October 28, 2026, lists chip-seal delays of up to 30 minutes at various locations around the park. Leave extra time if you're linking several stops in one day.
| Height | 84 ftNote: over a remnant of the caldera rim, per NPS; an NPS photo caption gives 80 ft |
|---|---|
| Trail | Roadside view on the Grand Loop Road with designated accessible parking, paths and views (NPS). We found no published path length |
| Difficulty | Roadside, with accessible parking, paths and views (NPS) |
| Entry fee | Yellowstone entrance: $35 per private vehicle, $30 per motorcycle, $20 per person 16+ (each 7 days). Non-US residents 16+ pay a $100 surcharge unless they hold an annual or America the Beautiful pass |
| Permit / reservation | None for the roadside view; Yellowstone entrance pass needed |
| Parking | Roadside, accessible; closed to cars since Nov 1, 2026 |
| Hours / season | No posted hours found. Closed to regular vehicles since Nov 1, 2026; oversnow travel only from Dec 15, 2026 to Mar 9, 2027 (NPS) |
| Dogs | Not on trails or boardwalks, per NPS. Pets may be within 100 ft of roads, parking areas and campgrounds on a leash of 6 ft or less. NPS doesn't say whether the viewing paths fall inside that zone |
| Wheelchair / stroller | Yes, per NPS: designated accessible parking, paths and views. The Gibbon Falls Picnic Area has a wheelchair-accessible vault toilet |
| Restrooms | 1 wheelchair-accessible vault toilet at the Gibbon Falls Picnic Area (NPS); its distance from the falls is not stated |
| Managed by | National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park |
Safety and swimming
We found no NPS swimming rule for the Gibbon River at the falls. Stay at the viewing areas, and do not climb down toward the water or out onto the rim.
Roadside stops still call for wildlife distance. NPS asks you to keep 100 yards from bears, wolves and cougars and 25 yards from every other animal. Keep bear spray within reach, especially if you walk to Little Gibbon Falls.
NPS allows pets within 100 feet of roads, parking areas and campgrounds, on a leash of 6 feet or less. It bans them on 'boardwalks, hiking trails, in the backcountry, or in thermal areas,' including pets you carry.
NPS doesn't say whether the paths at Gibbon Falls sit inside that 100-foot zone. Ask a ranger before you walk a dog to the views.
At the picnic area, NPS allows campfires only in fire grates. The NPS alerts page, last updated September 29, 2026, listed fire danger as high. Our waterfall safety guide covers more general precautions.
Where to stay near Gibbon Falls
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Photos
Gibbon Falls FAQ
How long of a hike is Gibbon Falls?
No hike is needed. Gibbon Falls is a roadside view on the Grand Loop Road, and NPS lists designated accessible parking, paths and views. We found no published path length.
Where is Gibbon Falls?
In Yellowstone National Park, on the Grand Loop Road about 4 miles north of Madison Junction, per NPS. West Yellowstone, Montana, is 14 miles west of Madison Junction.
How tall is Gibbon Falls?
84 feet, according to NPS, which says the river drops over a remnant of the caldera rim. One NPS photo caption rounds that to 80 feet.
Is there a picnic area at Gibbon Falls?
Yes. NPS lists the Gibbon Falls Picnic Area with 7 tables and 1 wheelchair-accessible vault toilet. Campfires are allowed only in fire grates. We could not confirm how far the picnic area is from the falls.
What is Little Gibbon Falls?
A different waterfall, upstream on the Gibbon River. You don't reach it from the Gibbon Falls overlook. A Hiking Project trail guide starts it from the Wolf Lake Trailhead on Norris Canyon Road.
Can you see Gibbon Falls in winter?
Not by car. The Madison-Norris road past Gibbon Falls has been closed to regular vehicles since November 1, 2026. From December 15, 2026 to March 9, 2027, NPS grooms it for commercial snowmobiles and snowcoaches. We could not confirm that tours stop at the falls.
Is Gibbon Falls wheelchair accessible?
Yes. NPS lists Gibbon Falls as wheelchair accessible, with designated accessible parking, paths and views. The Gibbon Falls Picnic Area also has a wheelchair-accessible vault toilet.
Nearby waterfalls
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Sources
- NPS: Gibbon Falls (updated Nov 26, 2024)
- NPS: Gibbon Falls Picnic Area (updated Aug 15, 2026)
- NPS Yellowstone: Madison (updated Jun 17, 2026)
- NPS Yellowstone: Accessibility
- NPS Yellowstone: Park roads (updated Oct 28, 2026)
- NPS Yellowstone news release (Oct 21, 2026): road closing dates
- NPS Yellowstone: Fees (updated Jun 16, 2026)
- NPS Yellowstone: Pets (updated Jul 29, 2026)
- NPS Yellowstone: Safety (updated Jul 28, 2026)
- NPS Yellowstone: Current conditions and alerts (updated Sep 29, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Gibbon Falls
- Hiking Project: Wolf Lake Trail (Little Gibbon Falls)
Last verified Oct 29, 2026 by The Waterfall Guide editorial team. Conditions change: confirm with National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park before you go. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.