Undine Falls in Snow, Yellowstone National Park

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Undine Falls was originally called “East Gardner Falls,” “Cascade Falls of the East Gardiner,” or “Gardiner River Falls”. It received the current name in 1885 from geologist Arnold Hague. Undine Falls (pronounced UN deen) was named for wise and typically female water spirits from German mythology. They lived around waterfalls and could gain souls for themselves by marrying mortal men.

Undine Falls is on Lava Creek and spills over a basalt cliff that formed in a lava flow about 700,000 years ago. The falls makes three plunges that total approximately 60 feet in height.