
Red walls rise beside a narrow cascade, feeding a slim plunge pool. The stone is Grinnell Formation, stained red by iron oxide. Reynolds Creek carved the notch, then deep time erosion continued to shape the fall; a rugged, geology-rich moment on the trail.
Late May to early October. Golden hour light makes the red rock walls glow in morning or late-day; Going-to-the-Sun Road opens mid-to-late June and closes mid-October.
Reynolds Creek Campground; St. Mary Visitor Center; Going-to-the-Sun Road; Jackson Glacier Overlook
Trail not wheelchair accessible; uneven terrain; uphill return; watch footing near the cascade
Rugged terrain and bear presence require close supervision of children; no barriers at the falls; hold hands near edges
Reynolds Creek Campground vault toilets; St. Mary Visitor Center restrooms and water; parking at Jackson Glacier Overlook
Based on 9 Google reviews
Sara Roberts
Fairly quick hike from Gunsite Pass Trailhead. The falls were pretty, but the best part was upstream from the falls with a narrow gorge and other smaller falls. The water is so clear - the rock formations on the bottom of the creek are amazing.
Steven Hall
Beautiful falls not far from Rynolds campsite. Very beautiful rock formations with lots of dry rock space to be near the water or picnic. The trail to here does have a fair bit of decline,but is not bad. Grizzly Bear came down to drink about mid-day 7-19-20
James Thomas
Okay hike, the water waterfalls are very pretty if a little small. St Maryβs falls down the road is nicer
Showing 3 of 9 reviews
Yes. Parking at Jackson Glacier Overlook fills quickly in peak season; arriving before 7β8 AM gives you a better chance to park and start the hike without a long queue.
Yes. The short trek uncovers a vivid red Grinnell Formation backdrop and exposes mudcracks/ripple marks, offering a compact but scientifically rich moment in Glacierβs deep-time story.
Dog access on Deadwood Falls follows Glacierβs backcountry policy; keep dogs on allowed routes and under control; in practice, be prepared for limited enforcement along rugged sections and always leash respectively for wildlife safety.
The roundtrip is moderate (2.2β2.6 miles) with a descent of about 665 feet and a steep uphill return; it can be strenuous for some older hikers. Assess fitness, take breaks, and consider the weather and trail conditions before committing.
Deadwood Falls is fed by Reynolds Creek in a shaded canyon; the water color comes from the rock and light in the setting, not a vivid artificial blueβexpect natural river tones with the red rock backdrop.
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