This less than 1-mile out-and-back hike is well worth the effort, especially in the spring as the runoff waters enlarge the falls, spreading out as it cascades down the 80-foot rock slope, and then coming together at the bottom of the falls. The waterfall was named by members of the Hague expedition of 1885 who apparently thought the bulb shaped falls looked like a ghost.

 

The trail passes through sagebrush meadows, a few marshy areas (over boardwalks), through sparse pines, over a wooden footbridge that crosses Lupine Creek, and has slight inclines over the length of the hike. However, the last short section of the trail does a switchback and turns up hill climbing 50 feet (including stone stairs) to a fenced viewpoint of the falls. As you look across to the other side of the ravine you can often spot yellow-bellied marmots that have made the rocks on that side their home; another reason kids enjoy this hike.

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Wraith Falls Trailhead was mentioned in our article titled: "Best Places to Go and Things to do with Kids in Each of Yellowstone's 14 Road Sections"