Apikuni Falls Trail

The full out-and-back is about 1.7 miles round trip along Apikuni Creek to a two-tier waterfall in Many Glacier. Allow around 1½ hours, longer if you linger at the falls. The route gains about 650 feet and climbs steeply almost all the way, so this is a short hike by distance, not an easy stroll. I'd choose it if you want a close look at a dramatic waterfall and don't mind sustained uphill. The final scramble to the base is optional; the view from above is already worth the climb.

The path starts in open ground near the road, then follows Apikuni Creek through forest. About 0.2 mile in, it passes a young aspen grove. Soon after, the grade steepens through pine and patches of thimbleberry. Short side paths open views toward Mount Altyn and down across Cracker Flats. Higher up, the trail crosses a rocky mountainside, and the terrain makes the climb feel bigger than the mileage suggests.

The falls come into earshot before a high view opens over the water; the trail then continues toward the rocky base. Apikuni Falls drops in two tiers, with smaller cascades below. The last approach involves a short scramble for those who want to get close. You can stop at the upper view instead. Rocks near the water can be wet, and the slope drops away beside the falls. For a photo, keep some of the rocky path in the foreground with the waterfall beyond it, so the climb and the scale of the cliff read together.

Cracker Flats sits beneath this route. A small mining town called Altyn once stood near the head of Sherburne Lake, and the mountain above the falls took its name from the town. The town itself was named for Dave Greenwood Altyn, a backer of the Cracker Lake Mine.

Start at the Apikuni parking area, about 1.1 miles east of Many Glacier Hotel. The small lot is estimated to hold roughly a dozen cars. Pets are not allowed on Glacier National Park trails.