I recently got back from my third visit to Glacier National Park and can confidently say that I fall more in love with the park each time I visit. It's an incredible place that deserves a spot on every adventure lover's bucket list. Beautiful hikes, breathtaking scenery, picture-perfect lakes, rushing waterfalls, and bustling wildlife await you in northwestern Montana.
This past trip was my first time camping in the park, which was quite the experience. My friends and I stayed at Rising Sun Campground and St. Mary Campground. We loved staying in the park and being so close to Going-to-the-Sun Road. Unfortunately, we had to leave both campgrounds due to bear activity. Since the bears weren’t responsive to the rangers’ hazing efforts, they closed the campgrounds to soft-sided shelters. Oh, the joys of camping in bear country! Nonetheless, we had an unforgettable trip and crossed some epic hikes off our bucket list. I’m excited to share one of my favorites, Redrock Falls, with you!
Redrock Falls is in the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park. The hike to the waterfall is 3.6 miles roundtrip and is rated easy. The trail is well-marked, and the terrain is gentle throughout, making it a good option for all ages and activity levels. To get to this area, you’ll go through Babb, Montana, and drive past Lake Sherburne. The trailhead for the Redrock Falls hike is at the end of the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn parking lot. As with many trails in Glacier National Park, the hike to Redrock Falls may be closed at times due to bear activity. Always check for trail closures/updates before heading out on any hike in the park.
My favorite thing about this hike is that the views aren’t just at the end—you get breathtaking views of mountains and lakes along the trail. Sometimes views can be obstructed by wildfire smoke in the summer months, but we lucked out with a clear sunny day. As we hiked, we kept our eyes peeled for wildlife at Fishercap Lake and Redrock Lake. Our searching paid off because we saw a moose enjoying the hot summer day in Redrock Lake. We stood by the shore for a while to admire the moose as it dipped its head in to feed underwater. Fun fact: Moose can dive up to 20 feet!
It’s important to follow Leave No Trace guidelines and give wildlife adequate space at all times. We did not encounter bears on this trail, but you should always carry bear spray when hiking in Glacier National Park.
After reaching Redrock Falls, we walked around to admire the waterfall from different angles. The waterfall gets its name from the red-colored rocks, which makes it incredibly unique! I would expect to see something like it in Utah rather than Glacier National Park. Indyeva's GAMBA II pants were the perfect material for this hike—not too thin or too thick. Also, they’re very stretchy, which makes them perfect for outdoor activities.
You access Redrock Falls via the Swiftcurrent Pass Trail, which means that you can continue beyond Redrock Falls if you wish. We passed several backpackers beyond the falls. Please note that a wilderness use permit is required for camping in the backcountry. We stopped for lunch just beyond Redrock Falls then decided to turn around and head back.
This hike was so much fun, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. The Many Glacier area is my favorite part of Glacier National Park because there are so many amazing hikes—Redrock Falls, Grinnell Glacier, Iceberg Lake, and Cracker Lake to name a few of the ones I’ve done! As always, remember to Leave No Trace and carry the Ten Essentials on your hikes.
Happy adventuring!
- Madelyne Rose
