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. Running Eagle Falls, also known as Trick Falls, is a unique waterfall in Glacier National Park. It appears to fall onto itself due to a natural bridge where the main flow disappears into a sinkhole and re-emerges below, with an overflow creating a visible upper fall. The falls are surrounded by rocks and trees in the Two Medicine area. Here in Glacier National Park, the water carries the memory of the ice that carved these sheer walls. The hydrology of this system dictates that peak flow occurs in May-July, when the winter snowpack finally yields to the advancing sun. By late summer, the roar diminishes to a quieter conversation between water and stone.

The Ecology of the Approach

To reach the falls requires engaging with the landscape on its own terms. The route follows the Running Eagle Falls 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: NPS Region: Glacier National Park Height: Not documented Optimal Season: May-July

Conservation Notes

The trail is wheelchair-accessible up to a viewing area. Dogs are not allowed on the trail. Cell service is unreliable in Glacier National Park, so downloading offline maps is recommended. The waterfall is named for Pitamakan, or Running Eagle, a female warrior leader of the Blackfeet Nation.