Photo: Fredlyfish4 · CC BY-SA 4.0Saint Mary Falls
If you're passing
Is it plungeworthy?
A 2-tier tiered on Saint Mary River.
The details
- Tiers
- 2 drops
- Type
- Tiered
- Watercourse
- Saint Mary River
- Coordinates
- 48.66791, -113.61523
About Saint Mary Falls
Saint Mary Falls is a tiered in Montana, on Saint Mary River. The water falls in 2 distinct tiers.
Fed largely by snowmelt, it runs hardest in late spring and early summer and can thin to a trickle by late season.
Plungeworthy rates Saint Mary Falls 4.7/10 — if you're passing. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.
What you'll find
Glacier's turquoise thunder: the St. Mary River squeezing through red argillite into water the color of glacial memory. An easy walk off Going-to-the-Sun Road, usually the first snow-free trail in the park, and the opening act for Virginia Falls a half-mile on.
Getting there
- Trailhead
- St. Mary Falls shuttle stop or trailhead lot, Going-to-the-Sun Road
- Parking
- Trailhead lot fills — the park shuttle solves it
- Road
- Paved; GTSR opened June 22 for 2026
- Hike
- 1.6 mi round trip, 240 ft of climb (easy)
- Heads up
- No vehicle reservation needed in 2026 — Glacier dropped the system park-wide. Carry bear spray; this is grizzly country at its densest.
When to go
Late June through early October, with the road. June melt is maximum violence; September brings gold light and thin crowds.
Rules & fees
- Fee / pass
- Glacier entrance pass ($35/vehicle); no 2026 reservation
- Dogs
- Not on trails
- Camping
- Rising Sun campground nearby on the GTSR
- Warnings
- Cold, fast water — the bridges are the viewpoint.
Researched from NPS — St. Mary Falls Trail · NPS — Glacier 2026 access FAQ. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Saint Mary Falls recently? Post a conditions report below.
Where it is
Before you go
The pin marks the feature, not a trailhead or a legal route in. Some sit on private land or need a real hike, and conditions change with season and rain. Check local access, don't trespass, and never enter water — hot or cold — where it isn't safe.
Common questions
Where is Saint Mary Falls?
Saint Mary Falls is a waterfall in Montana, at 48.66791, -113.61523.
Is Saint Mary Falls worth visiting?
If you're passing — Plungeworthy rates it 4.7/10.
Gear for the trip
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