Silver Cord Cascade

Yellowstone National Park / Canyon, Wyoming, USA

About Silver Cord Cascade

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Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Silver Cord Cascade (I’ve also seen it spelled Silver Chord Cascade) was one of the seemingly lesser known waterfalls (at least compared to the waterfalls closer to the main roads further to the west).

This was peculiar since it could very well be Yellowstone National Park’s tallest waterfall as it was said to be where Surface Creek would drain Ribbon Lake and drop some 1,200ft into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.

Silver_Cord_Cascade_17_038_08102017 - Silver Cord Cascade
Silver Cord Cascade

Perhaps a big reason why it didn’t get as much fanfare was because it required a hike on the relatively quiet Seven Mile Hole Trail in order to get the view you see pictured above.

Moreover, it was also thin and hard to experience up close in a satisfying way like most of the Yellowstone’s other waterfalls.

The benefit to this relative obscurity was that each time I’ve done this hike, it was peaceful as I was but one of a handful of people on the trail.

About the Seven-Mile Hole

The Seven Mile Hole Trail was more known to hikers looking to really experience the bottom of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, especially since it could very well be the only such access in the Canyon Village vicinity.

Silver_Cord_Cascade_17_024_08102017 - Looking into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River during the Silver Cord Cascade hike. The Seven-Mile Hole Trail actually would access the base of this deep canyon well downstream of here
Looking into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River during the Silver Cord Cascade hike. The Seven-Mile Hole Trail actually would access the base of this deep canyon well downstream of here

The “hole” was said to refer to a fishing spot on the river.

The hike was also said to have surprising geothermal features as well as a fairly high chance at seeing wildlife.

I’ve never done the entirety of this hike as it was said to be about 10 miles round trip.

This included a brutal 1,400ft descent on loose and slippery terrain towards the end with an equally taxing climb on the return hike.

Canyon_North_Rim_136_08102017 - This was the sizable Glacial Boulder that was believed to have been left behind by a glacier since its composition was nothing like the bedrock of the canyon area
This was the sizable Glacial Boulder that was believed to have been left behind by a glacier since its composition was nothing like the bedrock of the canyon area

Fortunately, in order to experience Silver Cord Cascade, I only had to hike a mile in each direction from the Glacial Boulder Trailhead.

The glacial boulder was referring to a house-sized granite-gneiss rock that was assumed to have been carried here by a glacier since its composition was nothing like the bedrock around the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.

The hiking was pretty benign as it was mostly on somewhat level terrain with only a few minor undulations.

The first time I did this hike in June 2004, it took me a little over an hour round trip to do it.

Silver_Cord_Cascade_17_082_08102017 - My hike to the Silver Cord Cascade was a bit longer thanks to this road closure during my August 2017 visit
My hike to the Silver Cord Cascade was a bit longer thanks to this road closure during my August 2017 visit

The second time I did this hike in August 2017, the Inspiration Point Road was closed to vehicles.

So I had to walk the additional mile for a four-mile round trip hike.

On top of that, I also had to walk to Canyon Village from the barricade on North Rim Drive since I was only dropped off at the road closure by Julie and had to meet up with them back at the village.

As a result, all that walking took me about 90 minutes.

Silver Cord Cascade Trail Description

Silver_Cord_Cascade_17_005_08102017 - The trail to the Silver Cord Cascade and the Seven-Mile Hole initially went past this small stream
The trail to the Silver Cord Cascade and the Seven-Mile Hole initially went past this small stream

From the Glacial Boulder Trailhead, the trail followed a seemingly well-used path amongst lodgepole pine trees.

The trail made a brief descent towards a small stream before briefly climbing out towards the north rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.

That was where I started to get partial views of the river down below as well as gaining a better appreciation for the yellows, oranges, and whites of the cliffs.

Such colors in the cliffs here seemed to suggest some kind of volcanic or geothermal activity in the area.

Silver_Cord_Cascade_17_023_08102017 - Partial views of the Yellowstone River along the Seven-Mile Hole Trail en route to Silver Cord Cascade
Partial views of the Yellowstone River along the Seven-Mile Hole Trail en route to Silver Cord Cascade

The trail continued along the rim weaving in and out of the edge of the lodgepole forest before there was a noticeable descent near the one-mile point of the hike.

This was where I spotted some unsigned use-trails leading towards the canyon rim.

And that was where I eventually was able to peer right across the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River towards the Silver Cord Cascade.

With no fencing, I had to use my best judgment to not get too close to the cliff edges.

Silver_Cord_Cascade_003_06212004 - This was what the Silver Cord Cascade looked like when I first saw it back in June 2004
This was what the Silver Cord Cascade looked like when I first saw it back in June 2004

Finally, each time I’ve been here, it was either at midday or early in the afternoon.

As you can see from the photo above, the sun was pretty much on top of the canyon.

Since it was a north-facing waterfall, it was hard to tell when would be the best time of day for photos if the sun was out.

Authorities

Silver Cord Cascade resides in Yellowstone National Park near Gardiner in Park County, Wyoming. It is administered by the National Park Service. For information or inquiries about the park as well as current conditions, visit the National Park Service website.

Maps and Routing Content are for annual subscribers. See Membership Options.
Content is for subscribers. See Membership Options.
Tagged with: inspiration point, canyon, yellowstone, seven mile hole, glacial boulder, surface creek, wyoming, waterfall, rockies, rocky mountains



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Johnny Cheng

About Johnny Cheng

Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
Read More About Johnny | A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls.