Running Eagle Falls Hike – Glacier National Park

If you’re looking for a quick and easy hike within Glacier National Park that isn’t along Going-to-the-Sun Road (thus doesn’t require a vehicle reservation!), you might want to check out Running Eagle Falls within the Two Medicine area of Glacier National Park. Here is my complete guide to hiking Running Eagle Falls (aka Trick Falls) in Glacier National Park.

This waterfall is also refereed to as Trick Falls in some publications. If you visit early enough in the season, this waterfall becomes a double waterfall due to the spring snow run-off. There will be a waterfall flowing off the top of the cliff, as well as the ‘year-round’ waterfall directly below. As the summer progresses, the water at the top dries up. The photos in this post were taken during the first week of July, which is still early enough most years to see the ‘double’ waterfall.

Running Eagle Falls – Hike Details

Distance: 0.6 miles round trip
Hike Type: Out-and-Back
Difficulty: Easy. Glacier National Park refers to this hike as a “Nature Trail.” When you see “Nature Trail“, you know it’s an easy-peasy hike!
Terrain: Flat, on hard-packed dirt. There is a narrow footbridge to cross the stream if you want to continue to the viewing platform at the end.
Elevation: No elevation

Running Eagle Falls trailhead location:

You’ll find the turnoff and parking lot just past the pay station entrance to the Two Medicine area of Glacier National Park. There is a pit toilet at the trailhead. Parking shouldn’t be an issue – this is a short hike and people are coming and going all the time, plus the lot is relatively large.

Hiking to Running Eagle Falls in Glacier National Park

First things first – SAFETY! Running Eagle Falls in Glacier National Park is a heavily trafficked hike – you won’t be alone, but I still recommend that you bring your bear spray on this short hike – as you should on any hike within Glacier National Park. Better have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

The hike starts off with a very flat and well-maintained trail through the woods. Before you know it, you’ll be at the river.

From the river, you’ll be able to get a great view of the falls. In fact, you don’t even need to continue along the trail if you don’t want to, as this is a wonderful view of Running Eagle falls waterfall right here. Here, you can get the colorful rocks into the foreground of your photo. The water is shallow enough to walk in, but it’s very cold.

If you want to continue along, you can get a closer view of the waterfall. It’s not much longer of a walk.

You’ll need to cross a footbridge to go over Two Medicine Creek. Then, the trail has you walking alongside Two Medicine Creek until you reach the viewing platform.

Once you reach the end of the trail, you will get a closer perspective of Running Eagle Falls from the platform.

After you’re done viewing the waterfall, just turn around and follow the path back to the parking lot.

Running Eagle Falls hike – Final Thoughts

Pros

• The waterfall is beautiful – especially with the colorful rocks! Visit early enough in the season to see the double waterfall.
• Easy and fast hike with a big reward. Anyone can do it, getting to the river area is wheel-chair accessible and you could push a stroller all the way to the viewing platform.
• If you’re staying anywhere on the East Side of Glacier National Park (so St. Mary’s, Many Glacier), Two Medicine is an easy day trip

Cons

• I don’t think the waterfall looks that impressive when it’s just the bottom half flowing.
• The Two Medicine area isn’t convenient if you are staying in or near the West Glacier area. It’s a very long drive over here, and if you’re just coming for the waterfall, I wouldn’t say it’s worth it. In addition to hiking out to Running Eagle Falls, we kayaked around Two Medicine Lake during our time on this side of the park.
• Depending on the whims of Glacier National Park officials, you may (or may not) need a timed entry pass to get into the Two Medicine area. For the 2025 season, reservations are NOT REQUIRED for Two Medicine, but always check the official page for the most up-to-date information.

Have you hiked to Running Eagle Falls/Trick Falls? What did you think?