St Mary and Virginia Falls

Route Description for St Mary and Virginia Falls

Start the St Mary and Virginia Falls hike descending through a recently burned forest with views up to Mahtotopa Mountain and Little Chief Mountain. The well signposted trail is wide and has few obstructions. After a 0.6mi, you will reach the St. Mary River and shortly hear the roaring of St. Mary falls. A few hundred meters later you will reach the bridge crossing right in front of the falls. The stunning three level falls are worth a few minutes to soak in. If this is as far as you are going take in the mist then return the way you came. Continuing along the trail leads to Virginia Falls. The path starts to climb gently as you enter a dense, lush forest. The trail becomes slightly narrower, but is still clear and well signposted. You will pass a small series of waterfalls, however these are not Virginia Falls. They are nonetheless photogenic and give great views of Little Chief Mountain behind them. Finally, you will reach the end of the trail where the 49ft Virginia fall lies. The gorgeous mist that rolls from the falls are fantastic on hot August days. The multilayer falls have multiple viewpoints, all very stunning. From Virginia Falls, you can see Goat Mountain peaking out above the trees from across the valley. Return the way you came and make sure to take the turnoff towards the St. Mary parking lot, not to the shuttle stop! Trail highlights St Mary Falls Located in Glacier National Park, Montana, the Saint Mary Falls are a three-tiered waterfall that plunges 35ft into a churning pool of glacier water below. While there are a few other waterfalls that can be found within the park, these are few and far between, making the easily accessible Saint Mary Falls a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Virginia Falls Along with the Saint Mary Falls, the Virginia Falls are one of the few easily-accessible waterfalls within Glacier National Park and both can be witnessed along the same hike! Dropping roughly 50ft over a near-vertical rock wall, the cascading water of the falls crash down onto the rock below and flow downstream along Virginia Creek, providing a picturesque view for hikers in the area. Find more epic hikes in Glacier National Park * Grinnell Glacier * Hidden Lake Overlook * Ptarmigan Tunnel * Iceberg Lake * Piegan Pass