Sheepeater Cliff – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming - Atlas Obscura
What's near me?

Sheepeater Cliff

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Around half a million years ago, these magnificent columnar basalt cliffs were formed from cooling lava.  

View all photos
Malcolm Manners (mmmavocado) (Creative Commons)
Malcolm Manners (mmmavocado) (Creative Commons)
57
97
Top Places in Yellowstone National Park
Morning Glory Pool
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
The Crow's Nest at the Old Faithful Inn
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Old Faithful Geyser
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
 See All
This entry is a stub
Help improve Atlas Obscura by expanding Sheepeater Cliff with additional information or photos.

Tucked away in Yellowstone National Park, just off Grand Loop Road, is Sheepeater Cliff. A historic site of the Eastern Shoshone tribe, this cliff was once a safe haven for women and children to hide during raids from other tribes. The columns were composed when basalt lava cooled around 500,000 years ago.

The location includes picnic tables for lunch or a quick snack. Climbing the columns is an easy and fun activity for kids and adults alike. A nearby river and several trails provide additional activities.

rock formations national parks
Community Contributors
onpyre
Added By
onpyre
Edit this listing
Suggest an Edit Add Photos
Nearby
Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center
28.19 miles
Grand Prismatic Spring
29.29 miles
The Wreck of the E.C. Waters
32.22 miles
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
Near This Place
West Yellowstone, Montana

Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center

The residents at this Yellowstone wildlife park will certify your cooler as "bear-proof."
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Grand Prismatic Spring

The largest hot spring in the US is, as the name suggests, a stunning show of natural color.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

The Wreck of the E.C. Waters

No Gordon Lightfoot song, only a barebones monument to greed.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Morning Glory Pool

A beautiful geyser under environmental threat.
Related Places
England

Stanage Edge

This iconic Peak District ridge was once one of the busiest roads in medieval Britain.
Utah

Checkerboard Mesa

This unusual patterns in this rock formation result from two distinct modes of weathering.
La Orotava, Spain

Roque Cinchado

This unique rock formation is quite the local celebrity, although one day it may come crashing down.
São Roque de Minas, Brazil

Giant Anteaters of Serra da Canastra

This breathtaking national park is one of the best places to see the weird and wonderful giant anteater in the wild.