A multi-tiered cascade on the Firehole River in Yellowstone, viewed from a roadside platform just south of Old Faithful.
Kepler Cascades tumbles down a narrow, rocky gorge of the Firehole River a short distance south of Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park, dropping through a series of cascades and plunges rather than one clean fall. The National Park Service describes it simply as an easy and beautiful waterfall to experience, and its setting — a tight river canyon lined with conifer forest, viewed from a platform built at the canyon's edge — makes it one of the most convenient river overlooks along the park's southern loop. It sits close enough to Old Faithful that it's easy to add onto a visit without much extra driving.
The cascades are visible directly from a viewing platform at a paved pullout on the Grand Loop Road, with no hiking required to see them. The pullout is small and can fill during the busiest midday hours in summer, but the stop itself takes only a few minutes. A Yellowstone entrance pass is required, and the road segment connecting Old Faithful to West Thumb, where the pullout sits, is typically open from the park's spring opening through its early-November closure.
Know before you go
A roadside pullout and viewing platform on the Grand Loop Road a short distance south of Old Faithful, overlooking the Firehole River.
Accessible whenever the Old Faithful-to-West Thumb section of the Grand Loop Road is open, typically mid-April/May through early November.
No hike required — the cascades are visible directly from the platform at the pullout.
Yellowstone entrance pass required ($35 per vehicle or $20 per pedestrian/cyclist for 7 days).
Viewing platform is reached directly from the roadside parking pullout.
2026-10-13. Conditions and requirements can change; confirm with the land manager before travelling.
Sources & further reading
- Explore Old Faithful - Yellowstone National Park (NPS) ↗
- Yellowstone National Park Fees (NPS) ↗
- USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) ↗
This is a researched visitor guide, not a claim that our editors have personally visited. Trail conditions, permits, and access can change.
