St. Mary Falls Trail

This is a 1.6-mile out-and-back from the St. Mary Falls shuttle stop to the bridge below the falls, about 0.8 mile each way. It drops roughly 260 feet on the way in, then climbs back out. Give it about an hour to an hour and a half, including time at the water. It is a good choice for a vivid waterfall without committing to the longer Virginia Falls hike.

The route in this listing begins at the St. Mary Falls Shuttle Stop on Going-to-the-Sun Road. The National Park Service also lists the separate St. Mary Falls Trailhead parking start at 1.2 miles one way (2.4 miles round trip). That lot is very small and often fills during peak summer, so the shuttle stop is a practical start when service is operating. Road and shuttle access are seasonal; check conditions before setting out.

From the stop, the path heads southwest and descends on moderate grades through the area burned in the 2015 Reynolds Creek Fire. The open slope gives you long views across the valley, including Little Chief Mountain and other peaks. The burned stretch is less sheltered from the sun than the tree-lined section below, so a warm afternoon can feel exposed. The Park Service also cautions that burned slopes can have loose tread, rolling rocks, or falling snags. At about 0.3 mile, the route meets the branch from the parking trailhead. A second junction with Piegan Pass Trail follows; stay left toward St. Mary Falls.

The grade eases as the trail reaches the north side of the St. Mary River at roughly 0.6 mile. Turn west and follow the river through trees toward the falls. At about 0.8 mile, a bridge crosses below the cascade. The bridge is the natural turnaround for this shorter walk and gives the clearest close view of the gorge and falling water.

St. Mary Falls breaks into three tiers over layered rock and drops into a large pool. The lower water continues foaming through the gorge, and spray can hang around the bridge. This is the route’s signature view: frame the falls with the rock walls and pool from the bridge, rather than leaving the tread for a closer angle.

The path continues beyond the bridge toward Virginia Falls. It follows the river briefly, climbs a low hill to an overlook above Virginia Creek, then rises beside the creek past smaller cascades. Virginia Falls is a separate, longer destination on this corridor; the Park Service lists it 1.6 miles one way from the shuttle stop. Turn around at St. Mary Falls if you want the 1.6-mile outing described here.

The return reverses the route, so the 260-foot descent becomes the climb back to the shuttle stop. Pets are not allowed on Glacier trails. If you are driving instead, use the separate parking start and plan for its longer distance and limited spaces; do not count on finding a spot during the busiest summer hours.