Best Waterfall Hikes in Glacier National Park
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Running Eagle Falls is the best waterfall hike for most visitors — flat, 0.6 miles, wheelchair-accessible, and does not require the Going-to-the-Sun Road. For something more dramatic, Virginia Falls delivers a multi-tiered 50-foot cascade at just 3.1 miles round trip.
Glacier National Park has more than 200 named waterfalls fed by snowmelt, glaciers, and alpine lakes. Nine are reachable on day hikes ranging from 0.3 to 6.7 miles. This guide ranks each by difficulty, tells you when it is accessible, and flags which ones need the GTTS Road open — a detail most guides omit.
- Entrance fee: $35/vehicle (2026). Valid 7 days.
- Going-to-the-Sun Road opens mid-June to early July — trails dependent on it are not accessible before then.
- Running Eagle Falls, Apikuni Falls, Ptarmigan Falls, and Rockwell Falls are accessible without GTTS Road.
- Bear spray is required at all Many Glacier and Two Medicine trailheads.
- Vehicle reservations for GTTS Road eliminated in 2026 — ticketed shuttle system starts July 1.
Running Eagle Falls (Trick Falls)
No GTTS required
Two Medicine area
Running Eagle Falls is 1.1 miles west of the Two Medicine entrance station. The trail is paved, flat, and takes most visitors under 30 minutes. The falls are technically two in one: a year-round lower fall and an upper fall that appears only when spring snowmelt is high — hence “Trick Falls,” per NPS.gov.
Virginia Falls
GTTS Road required
East side
The trailhead is at the St. Mary Falls shuttle stop, 10.6 miles west of the St. Mary entrance. St. Mary Falls comes first at 0.8 miles, then continue uphill 0.7 miles to Virginia Falls at 4,825 feet elevation. Peak flow is June through July, per NPS.gov.
Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Falls
GTTS Road required
West side
The boardwalk section is 0.9 miles and takes 30 minutes. For the full payoff — Avalanche Lake with its waterfall backdrop — continue 2 more miles uphill. The lake turquoise color comes from glacial rock flour suspended in the water, per NPS.gov.
St. Mary Falls
Shuttle accessible
GTTS Road required
Trailhead is at the St. Mary Falls shuttle stop on Going-to-the-Sun Road. The trail drops through forested terrain to the falls, where a footbridge provides a front-row view of the cascade, per NPS.gov. Extend easily by continuing uphill to Virginia Falls.
Apikuni Falls
Many Glacier area
Bear spray required
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, per NPS.gov.
Via Sunrift Gorge
St. Mary Lake views
Park at the Sunrift Gorge pullout on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. The short trail drops through pines to the base of the falls. 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, per AllTrails.
Ptarmigan Falls
Many Glacier area
Bear spray required
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, per NPS.gov.
Rockwell Falls
Two Medicine area
Dual waterfalls
Start from the Two Medicine area on the South Shore Trail. The route follows Two Medicine Lake shoreline before climbing gently to the falls, crossing Paradise Creek on a footbridge. Two Medicine is accessible without the GTTS Road, ideal for early and late season, per NPS.gov.
Roadside viewpoint
2nd tallest in park
Bird Woman Falls tumbles between Mount Oberlin and Mount Cannon, visible from a pullout west of Logan Pass on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Peak flow is June and early July. Binoculars significantly improve the experience, per NPS.gov.
Some links below are affiliate links.
Some links below are affiliate links.
All 9 Waterfall Hikes at a Glance
| Waterfall | Distance (RT) | Elev. Gain | Difficulty | GTTS Required | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Running Eagle Falls | 0.6 mi | Minimal | Easy | No | Year-round |
| Virginia Falls | 3.1 mi | 472 ft | Moderate | Yes | June-Sep |
| Avalanche Falls | 5.9 mi | 735 ft | Moderate | Yes | July-Sep |
| St. Mary Falls | 1.6 mi | 260 ft | Easy | Yes | June-Sep |
| Apikuni Falls | 2.0 mi | 700 ft | Moderate | No | July-Sep |
| Baring Falls | 0.7 mi | 111 ft | Easy | Yes | July-Sep |
| Ptarmigan Falls | 5.2 mi | 757 ft | Moderate | No | Late June-Sep |
| Rockwell Falls | 6.7 mi | 419 ft | Moderate | No | July-Sep |
| Bird Woman Falls | Roadside | Minimal | Easy | Yes | June-Sep |
Planning Your Waterfall Hike Visit
The park entrance fee is $35 per vehicle (valid 7 days), per NPS.gov. No additional permit is required for any day hike on this list. Running Eagle Falls, Apikuni Falls, Ptarmigan Falls, and Rockwell Falls are accessible without the Going-to-the-Sun Road — essential for early-season (May-June) or late-season (October) visits.
Peak waterfall volume is June through mid-July, when snowmelt is at maximum flow. By August and September, flows decrease but trails are drier and less icy. Many Glacier and Two Medicine areas are accessible via their own roads, which typically open in late May or early June, per NPS.gov.
For visiting Glacier in June, St. Mary Falls and Virginia Falls can often be accessed before Logan Pass opens. For July visits, all nine trails are typically accessible. See also our Fire Lookouts in Glacier guide for more unique hikes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest waterfall hike in Glacier National Park?
Which waterfall hikes do not require the Going-to-the-Sun Road?
When is the best time to see waterfalls in Glacier National Park?
Do I need bear spray for waterfall hikes in Glacier?
What is the entrance fee for Glacier National Park in 2026?
How We Researched This Guide
- NPS.gov official trail and road condition pages for Glacier National Park
- AllTrails trail data and verified user reports (2025-2026)
- HikingInGlacier.com trail-specific distance and elevation data
- NPS 2026 Visiting Glacier guidance (shuttle changes, road access)
- Glacier National Park Conservancy road condition updates
Trail conditions change seasonally. Bear activity closures are dynamic. Always confirm current trail status at a ranger station or NPS.gov before departing.
Planning your Glacier visit? Browse all of our Glacier National Park guides — from seasonal road conditions to campground reservations.
