St Mary and Virginia Falls
- Physical DifficultyThis is the average user-submitted rating on the physical difficulty of this route. In general, green is beginner, blue is intermediate, black is advanced/most difficult and double-black is expert-only. It is recommended that users build up to black and double-black routes.
- Technical DifficultyThis is the average user-submitted rating on the technical difficulty of this route. In general, green is beginner, blue is intermediate, black is advanced/most difficult and double-black is expert-only. It is recommended that users build up to black and double-black routes.
St. Mary and Virginia Falls Trail is a pleasant hike near Logan Pass on the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park. These family-friendly routes include a tranquil waterfall and a more dramatic one, along with gentle climbs through a lush green forest.
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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 1.0 km, 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 15 m 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 11 m 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 15 m 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
Getting to the St Mary and Virginia Falls Trailhead
Enter through the St. Mary Entrance Station and continue along the Going-To-The-Sun Road 17.0 km until you see the trailhead for St. Mary Falls. Park in the small parking lot if you can, or try to find a spot along the road elsewhere. This short hike can be done in the evening when the crowds are thinner.
Route Information
St Mary and Virginia Falls Elevation Graph
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