Saint Mary Falls Trail in Glacier National Park

The Saint Mary Falls Trail hike on the Saint Mary side of Glacier National Park is a unique opportunity to hike through a wooded area that is recovering from a large wild fire. In 2015, the Reynolds Creek Wildland fire burned several thousand acres along the east end of the Going-to-the-Sun road. Currently, the undergrowth is covered in beautiful wildflowers, contrasted against the white charred tree trunks left by the fire. The whole hike is in direct sun with no real shade until you get to Saint Mary Falls.

There are two trailheads. The main trailhead is from the Saint Mary parking lot. There are restrooms here but only maybe a dozen parking spots. From here it’s a 0.4 miles downhill hike to join the main trail.

The second trailhead is a little further up the road at the park shuttle stop. There is no parking at this trailhead. From here, it’s a steep 0.3 miles to join the main trail. I preferred coming up this way – although it’s steeper, the actual distance you are hiking up hill is shorter. There are also a few more parking spots a bit further up the road beyond the shuttle stop.

Once you get to Saint Mary Falls, there is some shade, a bridge over the creek, and ample opportunities for swimming and jumping either from the cliff side or the bridge. I highly recommend planning on taking a dip. This is also a great place to stop and have some lunch.

If you’re looking for a longer, more difficult hike, you can continue on to the Virgin Falls, adding an additional 1.4 miles (out and back) and some additional elevation gain to your hike.

This hike pairs nicely with the Sunrift Gorge & Baring Falls hike as they are both short hikes and located in the same area of the park.

Hike Details

• Distance: 2.2 miles* (I think it’s 2.0 miles from the shuttle stop)
• Type: Out and Back
• Elevation Gain: 134 ft*
• Elevation Loss: 325 ft*
• Restrooms: Yes, at the Saint Mary Falls parking lot
• Parking: Yes, but limited
• Distance From Park Entrance: 10.7 miles from the Saint Mary park entrance on the east side

*Source: Glacier National Park Visitor Guide

What To Bring

Although this hike is relatively short, it is uphill most of the way coming out and in the hot sun with no shade. There’s also no water available at the trailhead. The closest places to refill water bottles is in the Saint Mary Visitor Center at the park entrance. If you use trekking poles, you’ll probably want them for the hike back up.

• Water
• Hat and/or sunglasses
• Camera
  • Wide angle lens in the 16-35mm range to capture river and waterfall views
  • Zoom lens in the 50-100mm range for forest views and possible animal sightings
• Water shoes & swim gear if so inclined
• Snack or lunch if planning to stop
• Sunscreen
• Trekking Poles (if desired)

Photos

Coming Soon!