A waterfall is not merely a feature of the landscape; it is a mechanism of the watershed, a place where gravity and geology intersect to oxygenate the stream and shape the valley floor. Crooked Falls flows over an irregular shelf, 19 feet high and 300 yards across. It is the only one of the five falls of the Missouri River in the Great Falls area to remain in its natural state, untouched by a dam. The falls are inaccessible by vehicle and can be witnessed today just as the Lewis and Clark Expedition saw it in 1805.

The Ecology of the Approach

To reach the falls requires engaging with the landscape on its own terms. The route follows the Crooked Falls Overlook Trail (part of River's Edge Trail), covering a round-trip distance of 0.6 miles. The terrain demands a easy effort, a fair exchange for the privilege of observing this mechanism of the watershed at close range.

Practical Geography

Land Management: State Region: Giant Springs State Park Height: 19 feet Optimal Season: Not documented