Right now
Right now as of Oct 28, 2026
- Status NPS says Going-to-the-Sun Road is typically fully open only until the third Monday of October (Oct 19 in 2026).
- Permit No permit needed. Entry fee: $35 per vehicle (summer).
Status note (Oct 28, 2026): NPS says Going-to-the-Sun Road is typically fully open only until the third Monday of October (Oct 19 in 2026). Vehicle access to the trailhead has likely closed for the season. Check the NPS road status page. What the status labels mean
St. Mary Falls is a double waterfall of clear blue water just above St. Mary Lake in Glacier National Park, NPS says. The trail is 1.2 miles each way from the St. Mary Falls Trailhead on Going-to-the-Sun Road, and Virginia Falls is 1.8 miles in. Glacier did not require vehicle reservations in 2026. NPS says the road is typically fully open only until the third Monday of October, which fell on Oct 19 in 2026.
About St. Mary Falls
NPS describes St. Mary Falls as a double waterfall of clear blue water. It sits on the St. Mary River just above St. Mary Lake. NPS gives no height. The guide Hiking in Glacier says it drops roughly 35 feet in three tiers, so treat that as an estimate.
A 2015 fire burned the forest here, according to NPS. As a result, the trail has little shade.
The same trail leads on to Virginia Falls, so one hike can take in both. Dogs have to stay behind: Glacier doesn't permit pets on any trail.
This is not St. Mary's Falls in Virginia's St. Mary's Wilderness, or the St. Mary's Falls trail in Colorado.
Elsewhere in Montana, Kootenai Falls is on the Kootenai River near Libby.
Getting there and parking
Park at the St. Mary Falls Trailhead on Going-to-the-Sun Road, west of Rising Sun, or arrive by tour boat. Check the park shuttle schedule for any stop there.
Parking and the shuttle stop
The St. Mary Falls Trailhead is on the east side of Going-to-the-Sun Road, west of Rising Sun. NPS calls this a popular day hike on that side of the road. It says trailhead parking is limited and fills quickly during the busy months.
NPS lists restrooms at the trailhead, including an accessible one. It also lists two other ways in: from the St. Mary Falls Shuttle Stop, or by the concession tour boat from Rising Sun, which charges its own fee.
NPS suggests the shuttle stop or starting from Sun Point when the lot is full. In 2026, Glacier's Logan Pass Shuttle ran from July 1 to September 7, at $1 per person age 2 and up plus a $1 fee on Recreation.gov. NPS described it as an express between St. Mary Visitor Center, Rising Sun and Logan Pass, with no St. Mary Falls stop listed.
Vehicle reservations were not required in 2026 for Going-to-the-Sun Road, Many Glacier, Two Medicine or North Fork. Instead, Glacier piloted the ticketed shuttle and 3-hour parking at Logan Pass. NPS had not announced a 2027 plan as of Oct 2026.
Entrance fees
Glacier's entrance fee is $35 per private vehicle in summer and $25 from November 1 to April 30. Motorcycles pay $30 or $20, and individuals $20 or $15. Every option lasts 7 days, and the park annual pass is $70.
Non-US residents 16 and older pay a $100 per-person surcharge, unless they hold an annual or America the Beautiful pass. For another national park waterfall, see Fairy Falls in Yellowstone, where the access road closes to regular vehicles after October 31, 2026.
Map and nearby falls
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St. Mary Falls Trail
NPS lists the St. Mary Falls Trail at 2.4 miles round trip from the trailhead, and Virginia Falls is 1.8 miles in.
From St. Mary Falls Trailhead
NPS lists 1.2 miles each way, or 2.4 miles round trip, with 260 feet of elevation loss on the way in. The climbing comes on the walk back to your car. NPS gives no difficulty rating or hiking time; Hiking in Glacier rates it moderate.
From the shuttle stop or tour boat
From the St. Mary Falls Shuttle Stop, when a shuttle stops there, NPS lists 0.8 miles each way with the same 260-foot loss. From the concession tour boat out of Rising Sun, it lists 1.6 miles each way with 140 feet of gain, and tour fees apply.
On to Virginia Falls
To add Virginia Falls, keep going past St. Mary Falls on the same trail. NPS lists it as 1.8 miles each way from the trailhead, with 359 feet of gain and 335 feet of loss. That makes 3.6 miles round trip for both falls.
NPS asks hikers to stay extra aware around water, steep drop-offs and wildlife on this trail.
When to visit
Vehicle access to St. Mary Falls is seasonal. NPS says Going-to-the-Sun Road is typically fully open until the third Monday of October, though weather can change that at any point. In 2026 that date was October 19.
The St. Mary Falls Trailhead sits on the alpine section of the road, west of Rising Sun. NPS closed the alpine section from Avalanche to Jackson Glacier Overlook on October 9, 2026 for winter weather. After the usual mid-October seasonal closure, expect vehicle access to the St. Mary Falls Trailhead to be closed for the rest of 2026, and check the NPS road status page before you drive.
NPS says there is no set date for the road to open over Logan Pass in summer, but it has typically been fully open by early July. From November 1, the lower winter entrance fee of $25 per vehicle applies. We could not confirm the best months for water flow.
| Height | 35 ftNote: roughly, in three tiers, per Hiking in Glacier; not an official figure, and NPS calls it a double falls |
|---|---|
| Trail | 1.2 mi each way (2.4 mi round trip) from St. Mary Falls Trailhead, losing 260 ft on the way in (NPS) |
| Difficulty | Moderate (Hiking in Glacier); NPS gives no rating |
| Entry fee | Glacier entrance: $35 per private vehicle in summer, $25 Nov 1-Apr 30 (7 days); $100 surcharge for non-US residents 16+ |
| Permit / reservation | No vehicle reservation was required in 2026 |
| Parking | Limited trailhead lot; fills quickly in busy months (NPS) |
| Dogs | Not allowed on any Glacier trails (NPS) |
| Swimming | No specific rule found; NPS advises reconsidering wading in swift streams and never walking, playing or climbing on slippery rocks or logs, especially near waterfalls (park-wide advice) |
| Walk behind the falls | No |
| Restrooms | Restroom, accessible restroom, seasonal restroom and vault/composting toilet listed at St. Mary Falls Trailhead (NPS) |
| Crowds | NPS calls it a popular day hike on the east side of Going-to-the-Sun Road; trailhead parking fills quickly in the busy months |
| Managed by | National Park Service, Glacier National Park |
Safety and swimming
The burned forest leaves the trail with little shade, so carry water and sun protection on warm days.
We found no swimming rule specific to St. Mary Falls. Glacier's park-wide safety advice is to reconsider wading in swift streams and never to walk, play or climb on slippery rocks or logs, especially near waterfalls. Stay back from the edges.
Pets are not allowed on any trail in the park. For general advice on moving water and slick rock, see our waterfall safety guide.
Where to stay near St. Mary Falls
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Photos
St. Mary Falls FAQ
Do I need a vehicle reservation for St. Mary Falls?
Not in 2026. NPS said vehicle reservations weren't required, including for Going-to-the-Sun Road; entrances could be briefly restricted when congested. NPS hadn't announced its 2027 plan as of Oct 2026.
How long is the St. Mary Falls hike?
2.4 miles round trip from the St. Mary Falls Trailhead, losing 260 feet on the way in, so you climb on the way back. From the shuttle stop it's 0.8 miles each way, and from the Rising Sun tour boat it's 1.6 miles each way (NPS).
How long does it take to hike to St. Mary Falls?
NPS gives no hiking time. Plan for 2.4 miles round trip with a 260-foot climb back to the trailhead. Adding Virginia Falls makes it 3.6 miles round trip.
Can you swim at St. Mary Falls?
NPS has no rule specific to these falls. Its park-wide advice is to reconsider wading in swift streams and never to climb on slippery rocks or logs near waterfalls.
Is there a shuttle to St. Mary Falls?
Not in 2026. Glacier's 2026 shuttle was a ticketed express ($1 on Recreation.gov) between St. Mary, Rising Sun and Logan Pass, running July 1 to September 7. NPS didn't list a St. Mary Falls stop.
Can you combine St. Mary Falls and Virginia Falls?
Yes. Virginia Falls is 1.8 miles each way from the same trailhead, past St. Mary Falls, NPS says.
How much is Glacier National Park entry?
$35 per private vehicle in summer or $25 from November 1 to April 30, valid 7 days. Non-US residents 16 and older pay an extra $100 each unless they hold an annual or America the Beautiful pass.
Are dogs allowed on the St. Mary Falls trail?
No. NPS doesn't permit pets on any Glacier trails.
Nearby waterfalls
No other waterfalls within 75 miles are on the site yet.
More waterfalls to explore
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Sources
- NPS: St. Mary Falls Trail
- NPS: Glacier fees
- NPS: Vehicle reservations
- NPS: Visiting Logan Pass in 2026
- NPS: Logan Pass Shuttle 2026
- NPS news: Temporary closure in alpine sections of Going-to-the-Sun Road (Oct 9, 2026)
- NPS: Pets
- NPS: St. Mary Falls Trailhead
- NPS Glacier: Safety
- Hiking in Glacier: St. Mary Falls & Virginia Falls
- NPS: Going-to-the-Sun Road info
Last verified Oct 28, 2026 by The Waterfall Guide editorial team. Conditions change: confirm with National Park Service, Glacier National Park before you go. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.