Virginia Falls Hike
Waterfall | Montana
3.6 mi round trip
359 ft
Moderate
Virginia Falls Hike at a Glance
The Virginia Falls hike via the St. Mary Falls Trail is 3.6 mi round trip with 359 ft of elevation gain.
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 4,850 ft |
|---|---|
| Trail | St. Mary Falls Trail |
| Distance | 3.6 mi round trip |
| Elevation gain | 359 ft |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
Your time: about 1 h 25 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 1 h 45 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 780 kcal.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 3.6 mi distance and 359 ft of gain for this hike are verified (nps.gov), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Virginia Falls
Virginia Falls is a waterfall in Montana, on land managed by Glacier National Park.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the St. Mary Falls Trail: 3.6 miles round trip with about 359 feet of elevation gain, from St. Mary Falls Trailhead. Distance from nps.gov. By the National Park Service difficulty formula (distance against climb) that puts it at Moderate.
Before You Go
- Virginia Falls can also be reached from the St. Mary Falls Shuttle Stop. (nps.gov)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Glacier National Park for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Virginia Falls?
The St. Mary Falls Trail to Virginia Falls is 3.6 miles round trip with about 359 feet of elevation gain.
Where does the Virginia Falls hike start?
It starts from St. Mary Falls Trailhead.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
1:00 PM (2:00 PM summer)
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The Virginia Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- nps.gov
- Distance
- nps.gov
- Falls location
- worldwaterfalldatabase.com
- Elevation
- ≈ Copernicus GLO-90 elevation model at the falls coordinates (via Open-Meteo)
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.
Nearby Hikes
Other hikes within 30 miles of Virginia Falls.