Best Waterfall Hikes in Glacier National Park
Glacier's 9 best waterfall hikes — from 0.6-mile easy-access cascades to alpine backcountry gems — ranked by difficulty, access, and when they're flowing at peak force.
Glacier National Park has more than 200 named waterfalls fed by snowmelt, glaciers, and alpine lakes — but only 9 are reachable on day hikes. We ranked each by difficulty and access, with details on which trails need the Going-to-the-Sun Road open and when to see them flowing at peak force.
- 200+ named waterfalls in the park
- 9 reachable on day hikes
- $35 entrance fee (7 days)
- June-Jul peak waterfall flow
Running Eagle Falls (Trick Falls) — Two Medicine area
Best easy hikeThe easiest waterfall hike in Glacier — flat, 0.6 miles, wheelchair-accessible, and the upper fall plays a trick: it vanishes in late summer through underground limestone.
- Paved, flat trail — accessible to all abilities
- The upper fall appears only when spring snowmelt is high (hence 'Trick Falls')
- Visit late August to watch the upper fall vanish as water dives underground; June for both tiers at full force
- Located 1.1 miles west of the Two Medicine entrance station — no GTTS Road needed
The trail takes most visitors under 30 minutes and does not require the Going-to-the-Sun Road — making it accessible even when the road is closed or during early-season visits.
Virginia Falls — East side · St. Mary area
Best overallA spectacular multi-tiered 50-foot cascade — the best overall waterfall hike with Virginia Falls plus St. Mary Falls on the same route.
- Virginia Falls is a multi-tiered cascade: 50-foot main drop plus secondary chute and lower cascade
- The trailhead is at St. Mary Falls shuttle stop, 10.6 miles west of the St. Mary entrance
- St. Mary Falls comes first at 0.8 miles — you get two waterfalls in one hike
- Peak flow is June through July; the 2015 Reynolds Creek Fire removed tree cover, so bring sun protection and extra water
Virginia Falls sits at 4,825 feet elevation. Shade is minimal mid-day on the exposed upper section, especially since the 2015 fire removed tree cover along the trail.
Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Falls — West side · Avalanche Creek
Most iconicAn old-growth cedar-hemlock boardwalk leading to turquoise Avalanche Lake ringed by dramatic cliffs — Glacier's signature west-side hike with 29,000+ AllTrails ratings.
- The boardwalk section is 0.9 miles through ancient cedar-hemlock forest and takes 30 minutes
- For the full payoff — Avalanche Lake with waterfalls framing turquoise water — continue 2 more miles uphill
- Lake turquoise color comes from glacial rock flour suspended in the water
- Significant avalanche risk through early June — check NPS conditions; mid-July to September is the safest window
No shuttle service at Avalanche Creek Trailhead in 2026 — arrive by 7 AM on weekends in July/August to get a parking spot.
St. Mary Falls — East side · Logan Pass area
Best for familiesAn easy family hike — almost entirely downhill to the falls, with a footbridge view of the cascade and an easy uphill return.
- The path drops through forested terrain and is almost entirely downhill to the falls
- A footbridge provides a front-row view of the cascade
- The return uphill is the only real effort — ideal for families with young children
- Can be reached by shuttle from Rising Sun, eliminating the parking scramble
St. Mary Falls serves as the first waterfall on the Virginia Falls hike as well. Easily extend this trip by continuing uphill to Virginia Falls (2.3 miles total).
Apikuni Falls — Many Glacier area
Best in Many GlacierThe best short-but-challenging option in Many Glacier — 700 ft of gain in just 1 mile feels genuinely earned, with far fewer crowds than Iceberg Lake.
- Trailhead is 2.8 miles west of the Many Glacier entrance at the Poia Lake Trailhead
- The trail climbs steeply through mixed forest and wildflower meadows
- Many Glacier is prime grizzly habitat — carry bear spray (not optional)
- Many Glacier trails frequently close for bear activity — check status at the Many Glacier Ranger Station before starting
This hike sees far fewer crowds than the marquee Iceberg Lake or Grinnell Glacier trails, yet delivers the same above-treeline terrain and wildlife habitat.
Baring Falls — East side · Logan Pass
Best quick stopThe ideal 30-minute detour on the Going-to-the-Sun Road — a 25-foot cascade just 0.7 miles from the Sunrift Gorge pullout, with St. Mary Lake in the background.
- Park at the Sunrift Gorge pullout on the Going-to-the-Sun Road
- The short trail drops through pines to the base of a 25-foot cascade
- A longer loop (2.8 miles) connects Baring Falls to St. Mary Falls via the lakeshore
- Most visitors combine it with Sunrift Gorge as a single stop
Ptarmigan Falls — Many Glacier area
Best uncrowdedA fraction of the crowds that pack Iceberg Lake and Grinnell Glacier, yet delivers the same above-treeline terrain and wildlife habitat in Many Glacier.
- Start from behind the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn in Many Glacier
- The trail climbs steeply the first quarter-mile, then settles into a moderate grade to the falls at 2.5 miles
- Grizzly closures are common through late June — check trail status at the Many Glacier Ranger Station
- Hike before 8 AM for best access and wildlife sightings
Rockwell Falls — Two Medicine area
Best in Two MedicineTwo waterfalls — a 30-40 ft main drop plus a secondary 100-ft cascade — on one of Glacier's longest flat-terrain hikes; Two Medicine valley is dramatically less crowded.
- Start from the Two Medicine area on the South Shore Trail
- The route follows Two Medicine Lake shoreline before climbing gently to the falls
- Cross Paradise Creek on a footbridge — the hike is one of Glacier's longest flat-terrain routes
- Two Medicine is accessible without the GTTS Road — ideal for early and late season
Two Medicine valley is one of Glacier's most undervisited areas — and one of its most rewarding for hikers seeking solitude.
Bird Woman Falls — Logan Pass · Going-to-the-Sun Road
Most dramatic viewpointAt 492 feet, the second-tallest waterfall in Glacier and one of the most dramatic sights on the entire Going-to-the-Sun Road — visible from a roadside pullout.
- Bird Woman Falls tumbles between Mount Oberlin and Mount Cannon, visible from a pullout west of Logan Pass
- Peak flow is June and early July
- Binoculars significantly improve the experience
- The GTTS Road does not open to Logan Pass until mid-June or later — check road conditions at NPS.gov before planning around this viewpoint
Common Questions
What is the easiest waterfall hike in Glacier National Park?
Running Eagle Falls (Trick Falls) in the Two Medicine area is the easiest — just 0.6 miles round trip on a flat, paved, wheelchair-accessible path. It does not require the Going-to-the-Sun Road and is suitable for all ages and abilities.
Which waterfall hikes do not require the Going-to-the-Sun Road?
Four hikes on this list are accessible without the GTTS Road: Running Eagle Falls and Rockwell Falls (Two Medicine area), Apikuni Falls and Ptarmigan Falls (Many Glacier area). These are your best options before mid-June and after the road closes in October.
When is the best time to see waterfalls in Glacier National Park?
Peak waterfall flow is June through mid-July when snowmelt is highest. Bird Woman Falls, Virginia Falls, and St. Mary Falls are most impressive in this window. By August, flows decrease but trails are drier. Most waterfalls are frozen by November.
Do I need bear spray for waterfall hikes in Glacier?
The National Park Service strongly recommends bear spray for all trails in Many Glacier, including Apikuni Falls and Ptarmigan Falls. It is strongly advised everywhere else in the park. Glacier has one of the highest grizzly bear densities in the Lower 48. Carry it accessible, not buried in your pack.
