Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park lakes and waterfalls

Iconic Lakes and Waterfalls

Glacier National Park’s landscape is defined by its glacial history, visible in the turquoise hues of its 700+ lakes and the sheer force of its mountain-fed waterfalls. This collection spans the park’s diverse regions, from the deep, pebble-shored Lake McDonald in the west to the wind-swept Saint Mary Lake in the east. It highlights geological anomalies like Running Eagle Falls, which flows from a cave, and alpine gems like Grinnell Lake, colored by glacial silt. These sites showcase the park's hydrological transition from high-altitude glaciers to expansive valley basins.

Iconic Lakes and Waterfalls — Map

A

Lake McDonald

Lake McDonald is the largest lake in Glacier National Park. It is located at 48°35′N 113°55′W in Flathead County in the U.S. state of…

Wing-Chi Poon / CC BY-SA 2.5

B

Saint Mary Lake

Saint Mary Lake is the second-largest lake in Glacier National Park, in the U.S. state of Montana.Located on the east side of the park,…

C

Rainbow Falls

A wide waterfall on the Waterton River, located in the remote Goat Haunt area near the Canadian border.

D

Oberlin Falls

A seasonal cascade dropping from the slopes of Mount Oberlin, visible from the Logan Pass area and the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

E

Grinnell Lake

A turquoise alpine lake in the Many Glacier valley, fed by meltwater from the Grinnell Glacier and characterized by its distinct color from suspended glacial flour.

F

Hidden Lake

An alpine lake situated at 6,375 feet elevation behind Logan Pass, framed by Bearhat Mountain and accessible via a high-altitude boardwalk trail.

G

St. Mary Falls

A three-tiered waterfall on the St. Mary River, known for its vibrant blue-green color and accessible via a 1.7-mile round-trip trail.

H

Running Eagle Falls

Located in Two Medicine, this "Trick Falls" features a double cascade where water flows over the top ledge and through a subterranean cave simultaneously.

I

Baring Falls

A 25-foot waterfall on Baring Creek located near Sun Point, surrounded by forest recovering from the 2015 Reynolds Creek Fire.

J

Twin Falls

A pair of side-by-side cascades in the Two Medicine valley, fed by runoff from the Pumpelly Glacier and the Continental Divide.

K

Rockwell Falls

A multi-tiered waterfall in the Two Medicine region, reached via the South Shore Trail near Two Medicine Lake.

L

Red Rock Falls

A series of cascades in the Many Glacier area, named for the distinct red sedimentary rock formations of the Grinnell Formation.

M

Upper Virginia Falls

A powerful, multi-step waterfall on Virginia Creek, featuring a main 50-foot drop and several smaller cascades upstream from St. Mary Falls.

N

Apikuni Falls

A 100-foot waterfall on the slopes of Apikuni Mountain in the Many Glacier region, reached via a steep mile-long path.

O

Grinnell Falls

A dramatic cascade that carries meltwater from the Grinnell Glacier down to the turquoise waters of Grinnell Lake.

Other Lists

Glacier National Park Essentials Majestic Peaks & Cliffs Glacier Camping & Outdoors Scenic Viewpoints