Running Eagle Falls Trail in Glacier National Park: A Hiking Guide
Running Eagle Falls Trail is an excellent addition to any itinerary at Glacier National Park, and its shorter length makes it perfect for beginning hikers and families alike.
With options to explore the base of a unique waterfall and a short nature trail spur, you can customize this hike to fit among your other plans while in East Glacier.
Plus, you’ll get away from the crowds that you’ll find elsewhere in Glacier thanks to this hike’s location in one of the park’s quieter corners.
In the hiking guide below, you’ll find everything that you need to know about Running Eagle Falls from parking tips to why the name was changed from Trick Falls to what to expect at every step along the trail.
Running Eagle Falls (Trick Falls) from the main overlook
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Hike Overview
Trailhead Location: in the East Glacier section of Glacier National Park
Trail length: up to 0.8 miles round trip
Trail difficulty: easy
Elevation gain: 29 feet
Getting to Running Eagle Falls Trail and Parking
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To get to the parking lot for this hike, you’ll need to head to East Glacier, a section of Glacier National Park that is separate from the more popular West Glacier and Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Specifically, the hike is located in the Two Medicine area of East Glacier. I love East Glacier since it is so much less busy than West Glacier, which has spots like Trail of the Cedars and Lake McDonald, which is great for paddleboarding and swimming.
If you’re staying in Kalispell, Hungry Horse, or other areas near West Glacier, you will have a gorgeous drive along Highway 2 as you meander along backroads at the base of mountains and next to mountain streams.
Highway 2 is also a much less intense drive than Going-to-the-Sun Road, so if you’re worried about mountain driving, this is a better option for you.
While Going-to-the-Sun Road cuts directly through the heart of the park, Highway 2, skirts the bottom of it, going in and out of the park boundaries as you move from West Glacier to East Glacier.
Once you’ve made it to East Glacier, you’ll turn off of Highway 2 onto Route 203. At this intersection is a small, bright pink food truck called the Burger Box. You’ll find absolutely massive fry bread and burgers here that are well worth a pre-hike stop.
As you turn onto Route 203, there’s a second point of interest (though one that’s far less tasty). If you’d like a slight detour and are interested in seeing one of the park’s beautiful lodges, you’ll pass right by Glacier Park Lodge. This is also the area where the park’s Amtrak station is.
If you’re visiting Glacier National Park with kids, this hotel is a good place to stop for restrooms and souvenirs.
You’ll quickly leave the town of East Glacier behind as you head into Two Medicine. When the road forks, you’ll take the left road and continue on until you come to the Two Medicine entrance station.
Here, you can show your America the Beautiful annual pass, 7-day entry pass, or purchase an entrance pass if you haven’t been to the other areas of the park.
TIP: To save money, get an NPS annual pass! This will get you into any NPS site—including national parks, national battlefields, and national historic sites—for a year. And for even more savings, grab the America the Beautiful pass and AllTrails+ bundle here.
Past the entrance station, continue on Two Medicine Road for just over 1 mile. On the right of the road, you’ll see a wooden sign that reads “Running Eagle Falls (Trick Falls) Nature Trail.”
Why is it called Running Eagle Falls/Trick Falls?
This trail was originally named the Blackfeet word for “Running Eagle” after the tribeswoman and warrior who did a powerful spirit quest here. However, after European explorers discovered the area—and the fascinating structure of the falls—they renamed it to Trick Falls.
It was called Trick Falls since the upper cascade can sometimes hide the lower cascade when the water level is really high.
In recent years, the park has returned the official name to its original to pay homage once again to the tribe’s famed warrior woman, and that’s why you’ll see both names on the sign.
Parking at Running Eagle Falls
There are two entrances to the small-ish parking area, so if you happen to miss the first one, look quickly for the second, which is also on your right past the sign.
The parking area has 20 spaces, and while that might seem like a reasonable number, this trail is one of the most popular in this area of the park and those will fill up on weekends and mid-day in peak season.
However, it is a shorter trail, so you won’t have cars sitting there for hours at a time like you do over at the trailhead for Avalanche Trail and Trail of the Cedars in West Glacier.
Be patient and circle a few times if the lot is full. You should have something open up fairly quickly.
If you’re pressed for time because you’re doing the Two Medicine boat and hiking tour, check back on the parking lot on your way back out of the park. Spots free up later in the afternoon as the park gets quieter.
There is a vault toilet in the parking area if you need the facilities before or after you explore.
Plan your entire national parks vacation with this helpful (and free) collection of Glacier National Park resources!
Running Eagle Falls Trail, Step-by-Step
TIP: Before you set out on any hike, it’s a good idea to check for any recent updates, trail conditions, and level of difficulty at AllTrails! Purchase your annual subscription here.
Informational signs at the Running Eagle Falls trailhead
Once you’ve gotten settled into your parking space, it’s time to head out on the trail.
You’ll find the trailhead just off of the concrete sidewalk that runs along the parking area.
There are a few small signs at the trailhead, including one letting you know that dogs aren’t allowed on this trail, and that bears can be active in this area.
While the trail is largely flat, it isn’t suitable for strollers or wheelchair users as it is packed dirt with some uneven areas with roots and rocks.
That being said, it is still very manageable for families with younger hikers as the entire trail is well marked with little elevation throughout.
You’ll head straight ahead into the woods, though the trail quickly begins to curve back to the right.
Around 300 feet into the trail, you’ll see that it splits.
Nature Trail Spur
Signs for the nature trail spur
If you carry on straight ahead, you’ll continue onto the falls. If you take the fork to the left, you’ll enter the Nature Trail.
Whether you do it on the way to the falls or the way back, I highly recommend taking the spur to the Nature Trail.
Part of the Nature Trail Spur
The Nature Trail spur is about 1/8 mile, and it takes visitors past informational signs and native plant species of Montana. Each of the signs has the scientific name, English name, and Native American name for the plant, and sketches of the plant in various life stages.
Doing this spur trail helped my kids get more familiar with the plants that we were seeing all over the park, and it allowed them to better identify what we were passing on our hikes.
You’ll walk past Two Medicine Creek before the Nature Trail turns back to the right and heads into the woods.
One of the interpretive signs along the Nature Trail spur
Continue along the Nature Trail, stopping at each of the signs.
The Nature Trail again connects with the main trail closer to the falls.
First Overlook
After this intersection, you’ll quickly come to an overlook with a bench. From here, you can see the falls, but I recommend continuing on as you can get much better views of Running Eagle Falls ahead.
The first look at Running Eagle Falls
Continue on the trail, which will open up as you get to Dry Fork.
This tributary flows into Two Medicine Creek (back to your left) in the late spring and summer as the snow and glacier ice melts in the mountains above.
Dry Fork and Two Medicine Creek closer to the falls
Cross Dry Fork on the small wooden footbridge.
The only way over Dry Fork if you don’t want to get in the chilly water
On the far side of the bridge, the trail turns back to the left sharply, and you’ll follow it to the final, and best, overlook for Running Eagle Falls.
The Trail Ends
At the overlook, you’ll find a split rail fence indicating the end of the trail. This is an excellent spot for a family photo or a great shot of the unique waterfalls.
Running Eagle Falls from the main overlook
The double cascade at Running Eagle/Trick Falls
You can see the configuration of the falls best here and marvel at the geology that led to this water feature.
The larger part of the waterfall cascades through the rock face, forming a wide flow halfway down the cliff.
The smaller part of the waterfall falls straight down from the top of the cliff, creating a tiered cascade.
Keep in mind that the double cascade is only seen when the water flow is at its heaviest, which is in the late spring and summer.
If you visit in the late summer, fall, or winter, you’ll just be able to see the lower, wider falls (which is still plenty impressive!).
This dual cascade is what gave it the name “Trick Falls,” as the lower cascade is sometimes hidden by the taller one.
Retrace your steps to return to the trailhead. Along the way, be sure to make time to splash in Dry Fork, which is usually only about ankle deep.
There’s a little beach near the footbridge that’s perfect for sitting while you watch your kids or others in the river.
Keep in mind that the water here is so cold!
My feet went numb after just a few moments of standing in it, but my kids didn’t care and played for quite a while.
This area is also absolutely beautiful with the waterfalls ahead, the river to your left and the mountains behind you.
Two Medicine Creek running through the beautiful natural surroundings of Glacier National Park
Tips for Visiting Running Eagle Falls
Bring bear spray.
Anytime you’re in Glacier National Park, especially in the last spring and summer, it’s always a good idea to carry bear spray.
If grizzly bears have been spotted in a specific area of the park, rangers will put up a sign at the trailhead. However, bears kind of do their own thing and aren’t always that predictable.
Assume that if you’re in the brush in the park and near a bear food source (i.e. berry bushes, rivers), you could run into one at any time.
You can purchase bear spray throughout the park. Many of the local hotels and campgrounds also offer canisters for rent. We stayed at Beargrass Lodging and RV Resort and were able to rent through their front desk.
If you’ve never used bear spray before, ask any ranger in the park for a quick tutorial. They all carry bear spray on their belts, and they’re happy to show you the mechanics of deploying the spray.
The younger Camping Kiddos hiking on Running Eagle Falls trail
Wear comfortable shoes.
While it’s a shorter hike, you still don’t want to do this trail in flip flops or wedges.
Plan to wear tennis shoes, at minimum, but hiking sandals are ideal.
If you’re taking kids, I highly recommend letting them wear something like Chacos, Tevas, or, my favorite, Keen Newport H2s, as they will want to get into the ankle deep water around the river.
Bring a towel.
Since there are several places that are excellent for wading, your kids—if they’re anything like mine—will make a beeline for the water.
We ended up spending more time splashing in the shallow river and looking at the beautiful stones than we did at the actual waterfall overlook.
Bringing a lightweight towel allows you to quickly get your kids ready for the short hike back, so you won’t hear about how uncomfortable, cold, or squishy they feel.
We always hike with one of these Turkish towels in my bag. They don’t add much weight to my pack and dry quickly.
There are restrooms at the trailhead.
If your kids always pick the worst time to need to use the bathroom, make sure that they stop by the vault restrooms at the trailhead before you head towards the falls.
The vault restrooms aren’t my favorite, but they’re better than 1) cutting my hike short to go find a bathroom, and 2) having to talk my kids into using the bathroom in the woods.
Final Thoughts on Running Eagle Falls in Glacier National Park
My son hiking in Dry Fork near Running Eagle Falls
While it’s a bit off of the beaten path, Running Eagle Falls trail needs to be on any Glacier itinerary.
You’ll get away from the crowds, take in one of the most interesting waterfalls in the entire park, and have a gorgeous spot for wading, picnicking, fishing, or splashing around.
The short hike length makes this manageable to just about any Glacier National Park visitor, and it is one of my favorite options if you’re hiking in Glacier with kids.
We had to pull the kids away from this trail, thanks to the many family friendly elements you’ll find here: water for wading, beautiful waterfalls, a nature trail, and colorful rocks and plants to explore.
Plan to head over to East Glacier on your trip and be sure to stop by this fascinating and lovely trail.
