Running Eagle Falls Nature Trail
East Glacier Park, Montana · on Two Medicine Creek · Glacier National Park
Verified · 6 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- waterfall pool
- FALLS
- Waterfall on site
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- No fee found
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Running Eagle Falls Nature Trail
Running Eagle Falls (also called Trick Falls) is a short, wheelchair-accessible nature trail in the Two Medicine area of Glacier National Park, leading to a waterfall on the Dry Fork of Two Medicine Creek. The falls are named for Pitamakan (Running Eagle), a Blackfeet woman warrior, and are known for changing appearance seasonally as snowmelt recedes.
The trail sits in the Two Medicine section of Glacier National Park, reached via a paved road about 1.1 miles west of the Two Medicine entrance station. A wide, hard-packed path leads through forest and open ground to a footbridge crossing the Dry Fork of Two Medicine Creek, with the waterfall carved into a limestone overhang just beyond.
Swimming at Running Eagle Falls Nature Trail
This is a shallow wading spot rather than a deep swimming hole: first-hand accounts describe a small 'beach' area near the footbridge where visitors wade, sit, skip rocks, and let kids play in ankle-deep, glacially cold creek water. Multiple sources note the cold can numb feet within minutes, making it better suited to brief wading and cooling off than sustained swimming.
How to get to this swimming hole
From East Glacier Park Village, take Highway 49/Two Medicine Road toward the Two Medicine entrance station; the trailhead parking lot is about 1.1 miles past the entrance station.
Parking: Paved trailhead lot with about 20 spaces including 2 accessible spots; can fill on peak-season weekends, with spots freeing up later in the afternoon.
The hike in
Running Eagle Falls Nature Trail
- To the water
- approx. 0.3-0.4 mi one-way (the wading 'beach' is at the footbridge over Dry Fork Two Medicine Creek, roughly the midpoint of the 0.6-0.8 mi roundtrip trail)
- Time on foot
- 15-25 minutes roundtrip at a casual pace
Difficulty: easy; the main trail segment is wide, hard-packed, and wheelchair-accessible, with a shorter narrower dirt/root-and-rock section near the footbridge and falls
Trailhead: Paved trailhead parking lot on Two Medicine Road, about 1.1 miles west of the Two Medicine entrance station (reached via Highway 49 from East Glacier Park Village).
Entire out-and-back nature trail is only 0.6-0.8 mi roundtrip (sources vary); the footbridge/wading beach and waterfall viewpoint sit at roughly the trail's midpoint/end, so there is no significantly longer hike beyond that to reach deeper water.
Not stroller/wheelchair-friendly past the footbridge due to uneven roots and rocks. Minimal elevation gain (about 29 ft per one source).
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Wading area is ankle-deep at the footbridge 'beach' and the main nature trail to the falls is flat/wheelchair-accessible, making it easy and safe for young kids to reach; the water itself is glacially cold enough to numb feet within minutes, and the trail beyond the footbridge has uneven roots/rocks, so supervision is still needed. No lifeguards, no steep cliffs at the swim/wade area itself, but active bear country signage means kids shouldn't wander unsupervised.
Parking
Free
Paved trailhead lot with roughly 20 spaces including 2 accessible spots; no separate parking fee found beyond the standard Glacier National Park entrance fee. Lot can fill on peak-season weekends/midday, with spots freeing up later in the afternoon.
Restrooms
Yes
Vault/pit toilet in the trailhead parking area, confirmed by multiple firsthand visitor accounts.
Hours
Running Eagle Falls trailhead itself has no separate posted hours, but access depends on Glacier NP's Two Medicine Road, which is generally open late May through mid-October (closed roughly mid-Oct to late May); standard park entrance fee applies ($35/private vehicle summer rate, $25 winter, per NPS fee schedule; NPS no longer accepts cash).
On the water
Restrictions: The wading/swim area itself is on the shallow, ankle-deep Dry Fork of Two Medicine Creek at the falls and is not navigable by any watercraft. Nearby Two Medicine Lake (about 1-2 miles away, same Two Medicine area) does allow kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards same-day after a free mandatory AIS (aquatic invasive species) inspection at the Two Medicine inspection station (open May 30-Sep 7, 7:30am-5pm per NPS); motorized boats are capped at 10 hp and require a 30-day quarantine plus inspection. PFDs required for all watercraft users.
Watercraft rules above apply to Two Medicine Lake, not the Running Eagle Falls creek/wading spot itself, which is unsuitable for any boat/board.
Rentals nearby
Boat tours and rentals (canoes/rowboats typical of their other Glacier lake locations) at Two Medicine Lake, about 1-2 miles from Running Eagle Falls trailhead
Two Medicine Lake dock, Two Medicine area of Glacier National Park, roughly 1-2 miles from the Running Eagle Falls trailhead
Backstory
The falls and trail are named for Pitamakan (Running Eagle), a Blackfeet woman who became a respected warrior leader in the early 1700s. The nickname 'Trick Falls' refers to the waterfall's seasonal illusion: in spring/early summer it appears as two stacked cascades, but by late summer the upper tier dries up, leaving only the lower falls.
Running Eagle Falls Nature Trail: FAQ
Is Running Eagle Falls Nature Trail kid friendly?
Wading area is ankle-deep at the footbridge 'beach' and the main nature trail to the falls is flat/wheelchair-accessible, making it easy and safe for young kids to reach; the water itself is glacially cold enough to numb feet within minutes, and the trail beyond the footbridge has uneven roots/rocks, so supervision is still needed. No lifeguards, no steep cliffs at the swim/wade area itself, but active bear country signage means kids shouldn't wander unsupervised.
How hard is the hike to Running Eagle Falls Nature Trail?
A hike is required, about approx. 0.3-0.4 mi one-way (the wading 'beach' is at the footbridge over Dry Fork Two Medicine Creek, roughly the midpoint of the 0.6-0.8 mi roundtrip trail) to the water (15-25 minutes roundtrip at a casual pace). Wear real shoes, since approaches to natural swim spots are often rocky or rooty.
Where do I park for Running Eagle Falls Nature Trail?
Paved trailhead lot with roughly 20 spaces including 2 accessible spots; no separate parking fee found beyond the standard Glacier National Park entrance fee. Lot can fill on peak-season weekends/midday, with spots freeing up later in the afternoon.
When is the best time to visit Running Eagle Falls Nature Trail?
Late May through September, when the access road is open; the falls show their full two-tiered 'trick' cascade during spring runoff into early summer (best by early July), with the upper tier drying up by late summer.
What are the rules at Running Eagle Falls Nature Trail?
No swimming-specific rules were found in available sources; trailhead signage in first-hand accounts warns of bear activity and recommends carrying bear spray.
What water body is Running Eagle Falls Nature Trail on?
Running Eagle Falls Nature Trail is on Two Medicine Creek, a natural waterfall pool verified in USGS hydrography data.
