Glacier National Park

Travelers' Takes

Rates and Deals

Running Eagle Trail

More Photos
dawn
dawn
First Reviewer
4 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
4
Reviews
14
Photos
Sort by: Most Recent|Positive|Negative|Most Useful
1-4 of 4
Editor Pick

Two Medicine: Running Eagle Falls and Appistoki Falls

  • March 22, 2006
  • Rated 4 of 5 by callen60 from Ozarks, Missouri
Two Medicine: Running Eagle Falls and Appistoki Falls

Like most of Glacier's east side, Two Medicine is a valley that's reached by leaving the main road and driving upstream against the water flowing off the mountains. We discovered the trails to both Running Eagle Falls and Appistoki Falls by accident, just beyond the far edge of Lower Two Medicine Lake. They made nice bookends for our boat ride and hike at Two Medicine. The two trails are different, though: the first is a flat and easy stroll, while the second is a steeper, longer climb that finishes along the steep gorge into which Appistoki Falls empties.

We turned off Highway 49 at Two Medicine Junction (4 miles north of East Glacier Park) and headed in. Since we love waterfalls, and it didn't seem too far off the road, we turned in at the sign for Running Eagle Falls. Pretty quickly, we were at the end of the short, flat, and pleasant 1/3-mile stroll from the parking area to the falls. (If there's any elevation gain at all, it must be measured in inches.)

It wasn't too long before we heard the falls. As we approached, the sound got louder (always a neat thing about waterfalls). We emerged on to the stream bank and the final part of the trail. You can walk right up to the falls themselves. The double-drop of about 100 feet is pretty, and surrounded by rock on either side that sets it off. If you're willing to risk getting a little wetter, you can scramble along the gravel bed and boulders to get pretty close to the falls themselves.

It made a nice warmup for the two longer hikes that day. If you're traveling with younger kids, or anyone less likely to enjoy longer or steeper hikes, it's just a great destination on its own. We stopped here first thing in the morning, and met just one other family at the falls. It was the first hint that Two Medicine was likely to be one of the less populated areas, which makes it an awfully nice place to visit, since it's just as pretty as any other area in Glacier.

From Running Eagle, we headed to the Two Medicine area and the boat ride across the lake. Returning from that expedition, we decided to hike to Appistoki Falls before driving up to St. Mary and Going-to-the Sun Road. The Falls are the first stop along the Scenic Point Trail, whose trailhead is about a quarter-mile east of the Ranger Station. The section to the falls starts flat but climbs 260feet as you approach the falls. The trail has a healthy drop down to where the river flows. There's no railing, so I'd be careful with younger kids.

These falls aren't as dramatic as Running Eagle or Twin Falls, but we still enjoyed it. It's another 2.5 miles to Scenic Point, but we had to skip it. Evidently there's great views of the Two Medicine Lakes here.

From journal Alpine America: Glacier National Park

Editor Pick

Running Eagle Waterfall

  • February 22, 2004
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Lovestogo from Danville, Kentucky
Running Eagle Waterfall

We wanted to see the Two Medicine area in Glacier, but on most days, the smoke from the wildfires was so bad we couldn’t stand to drive through it. However, with time running out, we decided that we had to go for it. . . so we made the trek from St. Mary’s to East Glacier.

Running Eagle Falls is about 1.5-2 miles past the park entrance. The parking lot is quite large and there are restrooms available as well as a few picnic tables.

Running Eagle Falls trail is a very easy, short stroll, which is now wheel chair accessible. There are two entrances to the trail, one in the middle and one that ran alongside the creek bed. We chose to walk alongside the creek bed, which was almost totally dry. The vegetation was dry and brown and we could only imagine how fast the area would burn should the wildfires reach this area.

As we strolled along the path, we were engulfed by total silence. I quickly walked under the huge tree that was growing across the path. . . with my luck, it would choose to fall at this moment!! Soon we were in a wide-open area with gravel and larger rocks. We crossed the wooden footbridge and continued on up the path for a closer look at the waterfall. We could hear the sound of the water and soon the massive dark brown rock cliff side surrounded with evergreen trees on the opposite side could be seen.

At the time of our visit, (early September 2003) water was only flowing from the bottom opening in the cave. In the early spring/summer, water from the spring snowmelt flows over the top sill as well as from the bottom cave opening. Because of this double waterfall, Running Eagle Falls is also known as "Trick Falls".

A rough and uneven path allows you to climb over the huge boulders and get even closer to the base of the falls.

Under normal circumstances, Rising Wolf Mountain and Spot Mountain are visible from this short nature trail. On our visit, due to the smoke, we could only see a faint shadow of the mountains in the distance.

This easy, short nature trail provides a view of an awesome waterfall with little more than walking involved. Definitely try to schedule it into your activities while in Glacier National Park.

From journal Glacier On Fire

Editor Pick

Running Eagle Trail

  • August 1, 2003
  • Rated 4 of 5 by books from Houston, Texas
Running Eagle Trail

This hike is really just a stroll. The beginning of the trail is wheelchair accessible.

The walk begins in a woodland with underbrush. Soon you reach a barren area with rocks, gravel, and downed trees. This is the flood plain of the Dry Fork of the creek. The falls can be seen from this area.

Continue across a footbridge over the creek to an overlook below the falls. In June, water was flowing from the top of the cliff and also from an opening below. Some of the water drops into a cave, forming this second lower waterfall. The old name for this falls was "Trick Falls."

A rough path continues up through the rocks at the edge of the pool below the falls. You can nearly reach the base of the falls if you clamber through huge boulders.

Return the way you came. As you recross the bridge, you will notice small trails leading down the creek. We walked down the creek a ways and found another little trail which brought us back to the parking lot.

This double waterfall is a unique sight -- worth a side trip to the Two Medicine Area.

From journal Hiking for Ordinary Folks in Glacier National Park

Editor Pick

Running Eagle Waterfall hike

  • August 8, 2002
  • Rated 4 of 5 by dawn from Chicago, Illinois
Running Eagle Waterfall hike

The first time we hiked here our kids were small and we had camped overnight. It was then that we discovered that the East side of the park gets more mosquitos and biting flies than the West! Be sure that you have a can of bug repellent with you for your sanity!
On that first trip in 1981, this waterfall was called "Trick" falls which was a white man’s name. The "trick" was that it seemed that the water flowed from two directions.
  • over the top of the cliffs like a regular waterfall
  • from the very center of the earth.
This illusion of water coming from the center of the earth makes this site a holy one for the people of Indian Nations. Be aware that there will be times that this trail is closed because religious ceremonies are taking place. Oral history states that a warrior Blackfoot woman who came here on vision quests first discovered this area. GOD bless those warrior Women!
The second time I hiked here the upper falls were completely dry and only the center falls could be seen and I’ve heard that the volume does fluctuate during the year. Perhaps it was more magical since the inner waterfall was so pronounced and you could clearly see into the dark reaches of the cave.
The third time I visited, the Indian name for the waterfall had been officially accepted by the National Park Service and there was so much water in early summer that it was rather frightening and thunderous! The path had been upgraded for wheelchair access and was one of the first of its kind in our nation.
This is an easy flat hike with a wide trail that marches through the forest that is often eerily silent among the tall Cedar and Fir. This silent effect certainly adds to the mystique of the place making you look over your shoulder frequently at unseen spirits. Was I imagining the flutter of invisible wings passing my head? My eyes were straining to peer far enough into the forest as I felt that unseen eyes watched from bushes beyond. To your left you can glimpse a stream as you wander while information about various plants that are considered helpful by the Native American tribes for various things (such as medicine) is posted along the path. The sound of rushing water increases as you near your destination and the forest gives way to rocky cliffs where light hits the walls in odd ways casting strange shadows and shapes.
I have never felt threatened by the narrow curtain of the spirit world, but the aura of the unseen is felt very close to the surface. It is without a doubt a very holy place. Keeping that in mind, you may want to consider this trip as a combination outdoor activity as well as a way to study North American Indian Culture by doing some reading of religion or mythology to enhance your day.

From journal Majestic Degrees of Altitude

Sort by: Most Recent|Positive|Negative|Most Useful
1-4 of 4

Compare Glacier National Park Rates

1. Enter travel information

City

2. Select websites to compare rates

Each selected website will open a new window.

Glacier National Park Travel Deals