Haystack Falls
The cascade the road crosses — Haystack Creek tiers down the cliff and pours under a 1920s stone bridge at mile 27. Best head-on, driving uphill.
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An idea to explore—not a must-do.
The full road crossing depends on seasonal access—even in summer.
An idea to explore—not a must-do.
An idea to explore—not a must-do.
You are here · Going-to-the-Sun Road
The head-on view from the curve below the bridge is the picture — passengers should have cameras ready before the crossing.
In peak melt you can hear it over the engine with windows down.
The crossing has no safe walking area - keep the experience in the car or from the genuine pullouts nearby. Early-season spray can wet the pavement at the brid…
Late June and July, when snowmelt runs every tier at full width. It keeps flowing later than the Weeping Wall but thins noticeably by September.
Natural Attraction
Haystack Falls is the waterfall the road drives across. Haystack Creek stair-steps hundreds of feet down from the slopes of Haystack Butte, and at mile 27 Going-to-the-Sun Road crosses it on a stone-arched bridge — the water pours under the pavement and keeps falling on the other side. Driving uphill you see the whole cascade head-on before you reach it, stacked in tiers above the road. It's the stop most often confused with Bird Woman Falls (which hangs across the valley a quarter-mile earlier); Haystack is the one you can nearly touch.
MAKE ROOM FOR A MEMORABLE STOP
Is this stop worth your time?
Why go
- What Youll See
- Haystack Creek stacked in white tiers above the road, pouring toward you as you climb - then the moment it disappears beneath the pavement and re-emerges falling below. The head-on windshield view on the approach curve is the image everyone keeps.
- Unique Characteristics
- The only waterfall the road physically crosses - and half of the park's most durable case of mistaken identity, forever swapped with Bird Woman Falls a quarter-mile back.
When to go
- Best Visit Times
- Late June and July for full flow; uphill direction for the head-on reveal.
- Seasonal Access
- Open only while the alpine section of Going-to-the-Sun Road is open - typically late June through mid-October. Flow peaks late June and July.
Getting there and doing it
- How To Get There
- About mile 27 on the west-side climb of Going-to-the-Sun Road, a quarter-mile past the Bird Woman Falls overlook. The road crosses the falls on a stone-arched bridge - the full cascade faces uphill traffic on the approach. Roadside parking is minimal; most drivers view on the move and stop at Big Bend beyond. Open only while the alpine section is open, typically late June through mid-October.
- Parking Availability
- A sliver of roadside that fills instantly in summer - treat it as a rolling sight and make Big Bend the standing stop.
Getting there & parking
- Road Type
- Paved Going-to-the-Sun Road; the crossing rides original 1920s stone-arch masonry.
- GPS Coordinates
- 48.738644, -113.745322
When to go
- Best Time To Visit
- Late June and July, when snowmelt runs every tier at full width. It keeps flowing later than the Weeping Wall but thins noticeably by September.
- Road Opening Dates
- Alpine section typically opens late June (June 22 in 2026) and closes in mid-October, varying with snowpack.
- Snow Lingering
- Fed by Haystack Butte snowfields - runs strong while they melt, thins by early fall.
- Weather Patterns
- Alpine-section weather - flow spikes after rain and during warm-afternoon melt pulses.
What you will experience
- Attraction Type
- Waterfall under the road
- Main Features
- Multi-tier cascade descending from Haystack Butte, stone-arch bridge carrying the road over the creek, head-on uphill view, mid-season staying power
- Photo Opportunities
- Head-on from the approach curve below the crossing (passenger camera ready). The stone arch with water threading it, shot from the uphill side. Strongest flow and light in July mornings.
- Geological Formation Type
- Stair-step cascade over tilted Belt rock ledges descending from Haystack Butte; stone-arch road crossing
Facilities, fees & access
- Entry Fees
- $35 per private vehicle (7-day summer pass) for park entrance. No additional fee.
- Permits Required
- No
- Restrooms Available
- No
- Picnic Areas
- No
- Accessibility
- A from-the-road experience — no formal viewing area or trail. The full cascade is visible from the vehicle on the uphill approach.
- Nearby Services
- None at the crossing. Vault toilets at Big Bend up the road; pit toilets at The Loop below.
- Nearby Facilities
- None at the falls. Vault toilets and a large lot at Big Bend, about two miles up. Pit toilets at The Loop, three miles down.
- Family Friendly Notes
- Best enjoyed from the car — the crossing has no safe walking area. Kids can listen for the moment the waterfall goes under the wheels.
Safety
Nearby
- Nearby Attractions
- Bird Woman Falls overlook a quarter-mile below - the other waterfall everyone confuses with this one. The Weeping Wall two miles up. Big Bend beyond it. Haystack Butte rises above the falls.
Planning advice
- Insider Tips
- The head-on view from the curve below the bridge is the picture — passengers should have cameras ready before the crossing.
- In peak melt you can hear it over the engine with windows down.
- This is the middle act of the climb's waterfall sequence: Weeping Wall dries first, Haystack second, Bird Woman lasts longest.
- Tips Advice
- Drive it uphill (west to east) — the full stacked cascade faces you on the approach.
- Roadside parking is minimal; many drivers slow-roll it and stop properly at Big Bend beyond.
- The stone arch carrying the creek under the road is original 1920s masonry — visible from the uphill side.
- A quarter-mile earlier, the Bird Woman Falls overlook points at a different waterfall across the valley — two falls, two stops, endlessly mixed up.
Continue the drive
Location
Photos
Frequently asked questions
Does the road really cross the waterfall?
Yes — Haystack Creek passes directly beneath Going-to-the-Sun Road through a stone-arched bridge at about mile 27. The cascade continues falling below the pavement.
How is this different from Bird Woman Falls?
Bird Woman Falls hangs across the valley and is seen from an overlook a quarter-mile before Haystack. Haystack is the cascade the road itself crosses — close enough to hear.
Can I park at Haystack Falls?
Only a sliver of roadside — it fills instantly in summer. Most drivers view it on the move and stop at Big Bend just up the road.
When does it flow best?
Late June and July, on snowmelt from the slopes of Haystack Butte. It outlasts the Weeping Wall but fades by early fall.
Which direction should I drive to see it?
Uphill, west to east — the tiers stack up head-on in the windshield as you approach the crossing.
More at Glacier National Park
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Grace Lake
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Rising Sun Picnic Area
A practical east-side pause where Glacier’s mountains meet the prairies.
Two Medicine Picnic Area
Two Medicine’s lake and peaks reward a future picnic; road access is closed as of September 9, 2026.
Monument Falls
215 ft waterfall fed by glacial meltwater; view from Avalanche Lake shore.
Lake McDonald
A west-side lakeshore pause: choose Apgar or Lake McDonald Lodge, then leave room for a separate walk or boat outing.
Sources
- YourNPGuide Editorial
Editorial review: YourNPGuide Editorial Team. Information is compiled from official sources, verified traveler reviews, and editorial research; no firsthand visit is implied unless explicitly documented. Learn how YourNPGuide works.
Last updated August 2026. Report an issue.