St. Mary Falls
Turquoise tiers exploding under a footbridge — the east side's essential short hike, with Virginia Falls one act further.
You are here · Going-to-the-Sun Road
Shoot from the bridge, low, with the tiers stacked above — the turquoise reads best in soft light.
The shuttle solves the parking problem: ride to the St. Mary Falls stop and walk down one-way options.
Stay off the wet rock beside the chute - the current is violent and the polish is slick. The burn zone is shadeless; carry water. Grizzlies use the berry regro…
Morning for light in the chute and cooler burn-zone walking — the 2015 fire left the descent shadeless. Early summer for maximum thunder; the color holds all s…
Natural Attraction
St. Mary Falls is the east side's essential short hike — a walk of a mile or so down through the 2015 burn to a bridge where the St. Mary River detonates through a rock chute in stacked turquoise tiers. The color is the shock: glacial sediment turns the water an unreal blue-green that photographs like a rendering error. The falls sit about 35 feet tall across multiple drops, the wooden footbridge crosses directly below them, and the spray is the east side's best air conditioning on a hot afternoon. Most hikers continue the extra stretch to Virginia Falls — taller, broader, and the perfect second act.
Getting there & parking
- How To Get There
- On the St. Mary Falls trail network off Going-to-the-Sun Road near mile 39 - start from the St. Mary Falls trailhead/shuttle stop, Sunrift Gorge, or Sun Point; roughly one to two miles each way depending on the start. The footbridge crosses directly below the falls.
- Road Type
- Paved road access to dirt trail - the walk descends through the 2015 Reynolds Creek burn.
- Parking Availability
- Trailhead lots fill by mid-morning in summer - the shuttle stop makes this the east side's most shuttle-friendly hike.
- GPS Coordinates
- 48.667972, -113.615109
When to go
- Best Time To Visit
- Morning for light in the chute and cooler burn-zone walking — the 2015 fire left the descent shadeless. Early summer for maximum thunder; the color holds all season.
- Best Visit Times
- Mornings - cooler burn-zone walking, softer light on the water, thinner crowds.
- Seasonal Access
- Reachable whenever the east-side road is open; flow peaks early summer, the turquoise holds all season.
What you will experience
- Attraction Type
- Turquoise multi-tier falls
- Main Features
- About 35 feet of stacked turquoise tiers, footbridge directly below the drops, glacial-sediment blue-green water, Virginia Falls continuation, 2015 burn-zone descent
- What Youll See
- The St. Mary River compressing into a rock chute and dropping in stacked tiers of impossible blue-green - glacial rock flour scattering the light. Silver fire-killed snags frame the descent; the bridge puts you close enough for spray.
- Unique Characteristics
- The most vivid water color reachable on a short east-side walk - and half of the park's best two-for-one, with Virginia Falls under a mile beyond.
- Photo Opportunities
- Low from the footbridge with the tiers stacked above; soft morning light keeps the turquoise saturated; long exposures silk the chute.
- Geological Formation Type
- Chute falls over resistant Belt-rock ledges in the glacially carved St. Mary valley
Facilities, fees & access
- Entry Fees
- $35 per private vehicle (7-day summer pass) for park entrance. No additional fee or permit for the day hike.
- Permits Required
- 0
- Restrooms Available
- 0
- Picnic Areas
- 0
- Accessibility
- A genuine trail — dirt, some steps, roughly one to two miles each way with elevation on the return. Not barrier-free.
- Nearby Services
- Pit toilets at Sun Point and near the shuttle stop; Rising Sun services five miles east.
- Nearby Facilities
- Pit toilets at Sun Point and the falls shuttle stop area. Rising Sun services about five miles east.
- Family Friendly Notes
- One of the best kid hikes in the park — short, downhill in, a bridge over blue water at the payoff. Keep kids off the wet rocks; the current is violent, and the return climb earns the snacks.
Safety
- Safety Considerations
- Stay off the wet rock beside the chute - the current is violent and the polish is slick. The burn zone is shadeless; carry water. Grizzlies use the berry regrowth in late summer - carry spray, make noise.
Nearby
- Nearby Attractions
- Virginia Falls under a mile upstream - taller, broader, many hikers' favorite. Sunrift Gorge and Baring Falls on the connecting trail. Sun Point at the network's east end.
- Trailheads Here
- The falls sit mid-network: trails connect the St. Mary Falls trailhead, Sunrift Gorge, Sun Point, Baring Falls, and Virginia Falls into flexible out-and-backs.
Planning advice
- Insider Tips
- Shoot from the bridge, low, with the tiers stacked above — the turquoise reads best in soft light.
- The shuttle solves the parking problem: ride to the St. Mary Falls stop and walk down one-way options.
- The dead snags from the Reynolds Creek Fire have become part of the look — silver trunks against blue water; the regrowth understory is head-high and full of berries by late summer (hence the bears).
- Tips Advice
- Multiple starting points reach the falls: the St. Mary Falls trailhead and shuttle stop, Sunrift Gorge, or Sun Point — roughly one to two miles each way depending on where you start.
- Continue to Virginia Falls: under a mile further, and most people's favorite of the two.
- The burn zone is exposed — hats and water on hot days.
- Grizzlies frequent the drainage; carry bear spray and make noise at the brushy creek crossings.
More details
- Waterfall Height
- About 35 feet across stacked tiers
Continue the drive
Location
Photos
Frequently asked questions
How long is the hike to St. Mary Falls?
Roughly one to two miles each way depending on the trailhead — the dedicated St. Mary Falls trailhead is shortest; Sunrift Gorge and Sun Point add distance. It's an easy-to-moderate descent going in, with the climb saved for the return.
Why is the water that color?
Fine glacial sediment suspended in the meltwater scatters light toward blue-green — the turquoise is real, unfiltered, and strongest in bright light.
Should I continue to Virginia Falls?
Yes — it's under a mile further, and its broad 50-foot veil is many hikers' favorite of the pair. The two falls make one natural out-and-back.
How tall is St. Mary Falls?
About 35 feet across stacked tiers — the power and the color, not the height, are the show. The footbridge crosses directly below the drops.
Is the trail through a burn area?
Yes — the 2015 Reynolds Creek Fire burned the descent. Expect open, shadeless walking among silver snags, with vigorous berry-brush regrowth that bears use in late summer: carry spray.
More at Glacier National Park
Vulture Peak
Glaciated peak with Precambrian Belt rocks; backcountry scramble to the summit.
Pyramid Peak
Granite peak sharpened by glacial ice; scrambling to Pyramid Peak from Pyramid Pass.
Grace Lake
Grace Lake: glacial cirque lake at 3,966 ft, reached via the Logging Lake Trail.
Rising Sun Picnic Area
Pizza with a crispy crust and handmade sauce; big views over St. Mary Lake.
Two Medicine Picnic Area
Huckleberry Shake owns the menu; pancakes arrive in colossal portions.
Monument Falls
215 ft waterfall fed by glacial meltwater; view from Avalanche Lake shore.
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.