Great Falls is Montana's third-largest city and the only one built around a series of waterfalls on the Missouri River. The city sits where the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountain Front — a dramatic geological boundary where the mountains rise abruptly from the prairie with no foothills in between. With only 3 formal trailheads within 50 miles,Great Falls is not a traditional trail town in the way Missoula or Whitefish are. But what it offers is something different and arguably more distinctive: the River's Edge Trail system — 60+ miles of paved and unpaved paths tracing the Missouri River through the city — plus immediate access to the Rocky Mountain Front, one of the most visually stunning landscapes in the American West. This guide covers Great Falls's trail options from urban paths to backcountry wilderness. For the full city profile, see our Great Falls guide.
At a Glance
- 85 recreation sites within 50 miles
- 3 trailheads within 50 miles
- 4 wilderness areas accessible from Great Falls
- 3 state parks with trails and interpretive walks
- River's Edge Trail: 60+ miles of urban trail along the Missouri River
- Closest state park: Giant Springs State Park, 4 miles
- Rocky Mountain Front: 50–70 miles west — dramatic mountain wall rising from prairie
- Ski areas: Showdown Montana (53 mi), Teton Pass (61 mi)
River's Edge Trail System
The River's Edge Trail is Great Falls's defining outdoor asset and one of the finest urban trail systems in the Northern Rockies. Over 60 miles of interconnected paved and unpaved paths follow both banks of the Missouri River through the heart of the city, linking parks, historic sites, and all five of the waterfalls that give the city its name. The trail passes Black Eagle Falls, Rainbow Falls, Crooked Falls, the Giant Springs area, and the Great Falls of the Missouri itself — the cascade that halted the Lewis and Clark Expedition for a month-long portage in June 1805.
The paved sections are accessible year-round for walking, running, and cycling, while unpaved singletrack spurs climb the bluffs above the river for more rugged terrain. The trail connects directly to Giant Springs State Park, offering a continuous riverside experience from downtown to one of the largest freshwater springs on Earth. For visitors accustomed to mountain trail towns, the River's Edge Trail reframes what "hiking" means in Montana — this is prairie-river walking at its best, with cottonwood-lined corridors, cliff-edge overlooks, and a landscape shaped by water and wind rather than glaciers and granite.
Giant Springs State Park & Nearby Walks
Giant Springs State Park (4 miles from downtown) is the anchor of Great Falls's trail network and one of Montana's most visited state parks. The park sits at the outflow of Giant Springs — one of the largest freshwater springs in the world, discharging approximately 156 million gallons of water daily at a constant 54°F. The spring feeds the Roe River, which at 201 feet is recognized as one of the shortest rivers on Earth. Walking trails wind through the park along the spring outflow and the Missouri River bank, with interpretive exhibits on the area's natural history and the Lewis and Clark Expedition's encampment here.
First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park (11 miles southwest) offers a very different hiking experience — an interpretive trail leads to the top of a mile-long sandstone cliff used by Indigenous peoples for over 1,000 years to drive bison herds over the edge. The cliff is one of the largest buffalo jumps in North America, and the trail provides sweeping views across the prairie. Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge (10 miles north) offers birding trails through wetland and prairie habitat, with over 230 bird species recorded, including nesting avocets, white pelicans, and migrating waterfowl.
Trailheads Within 50 Miles
Great Falls's formal trailhead count is modest — just three within 50 miles — reflecting the city's prairie setting rather than a lack of outdoor opportunity. Sulphur Springs (12 miles) is the closest, offering access to rolling terrain in the foothills east of the Rockies. Taylor Hills (37 miles) and South Pilgrim (40 miles) push further into the transition zone between prairie and mountains, where grassland gives way to scattered ponderosa pine and Douglas fir. These trailheads see minimal traffic compared to western Montana trails, offering genuine solitude.
| Trail | Distance from Great Falls |
|---|---|
| Sulphur Springs Trailhead | 12 mi |
| Taylor Hills Trailhead | 37 mi |
| South Pilgrim Trailhead | 40 mi |
The Rocky Mountain Front
The Rocky Mountain Front is Great Falls's most spectacular hiking destination and one of the most dramatic landscapes in Montana. Fifty to seventy miles west of the city, the front is the abrupt eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains — a wall of peaks rising 4,000 to 5,000 feet directly from the plains with no foothills to soften the transition. This is one of the few places in North America where the mountains meet the prairie in a single, unbroken escarpment, and the visual impact is extraordinary. On clear days, the front is visible from Great Falls as a jagged horizon line stretching from Glacier National Park south to Rogers Pass.
Day hikes along the front access alpine terrain surprisingly quickly. Trails climb from prairie trailheads through aspen groves and conifer forests to ridgeline views over both the mountain wilderness to the west and the vast plains stretching east to the horizon. The Sun River Canyon area — where the Sun River cuts through the front — is a popular access point with trails leading into the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Our Lady of the Rockies and other trails near Augusta and Choteau (both roughly 60–70 miles fromGreat Falls) provide day-hike access to the front's most dramatic terrain. This landscape is grizzly bear country — bear spray is essential, and proper food storage is required for overnight trips.
Wilderness & Backcountry
Four federally designated wilderness areas are accessible from Great Falls, all concentrated along the Rocky Mountain Front and the Continental Divide to the west. The Gates of the Mountains Wilderness (52 miles south) is the closest — a rugged limestone canyon landscape along the Missouri River named by Lewis and Clark. The Scapegoat Wilderness (77 miles) and the Bob Marshall Wilderness (85 miles) form the heart of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex — over a million acres of contiguous roadless country stretching along the Continental Divide, home to grizzly bears, wolverines, and the iconic Chinese Wall, a 1,000-foot limestone escarpment running 22 miles along the divide.
The Great Bear Wilderness (96 miles northwest) extends the complex north toward Glacier National Park, completing one of the largest intact ecosystems in the lower 48 states. Multi-day pack trips into the Bob Marshall from Rocky Mountain Front trailheads are a classic Montana backcountry experience — most trips run 5 to 10 days, with outfitters offering horse-supported expeditions for those who want to reach the wilderness interior without carrying heavy packs. The wilderness areas see their heaviest use in September during hunting season; summer offers more solitude.
| Wilderness Area | Distance from Great Falls |
|---|---|
| Gates of the Mountains Wilderness | 52 mi |
| Scapegoat Wilderness | 77 mi |
| Bob Marshall Wilderness | 85 mi |
| Great Bear Wilderness | 96 mi |
State Parks
Great Falls's three nearby state parks each highlight a different facet of central Montana. Giant Springs State Park (4 miles) is the crown jewel — home to one of the world's largest freshwater springs, the tiny Roe River, a state fish hatchery, and miles of riverside trails along the Missouri. It's the most accessible outdoor destination in the city and connects directly to the River's Edge Trail system.
First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park (11 miles southwest) preserves one of North America's largest buffalo jumps — a mile-long sandstone cliff used by Indigenous peoples for communal bison hunts for over a millennium. The interpretive trail to the cliff top offers panoramic prairie views and a powerful connection to the region's deep human history. Tower Rock State Park (30 miles south) features a striking 424-foot volcanic rock formation along the Missouri River — a brief stop with an interpretive trail, best combined with a drive along the Missouri River canyon.
| State Park | Distance from Great Falls |
|---|---|
| Giant Springs State Park | 4 mi |
| First Peoples Buffalo Jump | 11 mi |
| Tower Rock State Park | 30 mi |
Seasonal Considerations
Spring (March–May): The River's Edge Trail and Giant Springs State Park are accessible year-round, and spring brings migrating birds to Benton Lake NWR and warming temperatures to the prairie trails. Snow lingers on the Rocky Mountain Front into June, limiting higher-elevation access. Wind is a significant factor inGreat Falls — spring winds regularly exceed 30 mph, and exposed river bluffs and prairie trails can be challenging on gusty days. First Peoples Buffalo Jump is excellent in spring with wildflowers on the prairie.
Summer (June–August): Peak season. Great Falls is warmer and drier than western Montana, with temperatures regularly reaching the upper 80s and low 90s°F. The River's Edge Trail is best enjoyed early morning or evening in midsummer. Rocky Mountain Front trails are fully accessible from late June through September. Giant Springs State Park's constant 54°F spring water provides a cool contrast to summer heat. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in the mountains but typically brief. Wildfire smoke can affect air quality in late July and August — check conditions before planning Rocky Mountain Front hikes.
Fall (September–October): The best season for hiking near Great Falls. Cool, dry conditions, golden cottonwoods along the Missouri River, and fall color in the aspens on the Rocky Mountain Front make this an ideal time. Elk bugling echoes along the front in September. Hunting season begins in October — wear blaze orange on all trails outside city limits. The River's Edge Trail is beautiful in autumn light, and Giant Springs State Park sees fewer crowds than summer.
Winter (November–March): The River's Edge Trail remains hikeable year-round, though ice and packed snow require traction devices from December through February. Great Falls's prairie location means cold, windy winters with temperatures regularly dropping below 0°F during cold snaps. Giant Springs State Park's trails are maintained in winter and the spring never freezes. Showdown Montana (53 miles) and Teton Pass (61 miles) offer downhill skiing — closer than Helena's ski options. Cross- country skiing is available along the Rocky Mountain Front when snow conditions allow.
Trail Safety
The Great Falls area straddles the boundary between prairie and mountain ecosystems, bringing unique safety considerations. Grizzly bears are present along the Rocky Mountain Front and increasingly on the plains east of the mountains — carry bear spray on all hikes west of the city and on prairie trails near the front. Rattlesnakes inhabit the river bluffs and rocky terrain along the Missouri from May through September. Wind exposure is a factor on prairie trails and river bluffs year-round but especially in spring; dress in layers and be prepared for sudden temperature drops. The Missouri River's current is powerful — stay on trails near cliff edges and river banks. Cell service is reliable on the River's Edge Trail and in state parks but drops off rapidly on the Rocky Mountain Front and in wilderness areas.
For more outdoor activities, see our Great Falls fishing guide and the Great Falls weekend itinerary.