Hiking to Virginia Falls via St. Mary and Baring Falls in Glacier National Park

If you’re looking for a hike in Glacier National Park that delivers big views, multiple waterfalls, and manageable effort, the Sun Point to Virginia Falls trail is an excellent choice. This out-and-back hike gives you access to three iconic waterfalls, Baring Falls, St. Mary Falls, and Virginia Falls, while showcasing stunning views of St. Mary Lake and the surrounding mountains.

Starting at Sun Point

The trail begins at Sun Point, a scenic pull-off on Going-to-the-Sun Road just west of the St. Mary entrance. Early in the season, like during my Memorial Day hike, you’ll find the trail peaceful and uncrowded. Once summer hits, however, this becomes one of the more popular day hikes in the park, so arrive early to find parking.

From the trailhead, the hike starts out flat with expansive views of St. Mary Lake and the surrounding peaks. The trail winds through a burn area, leaving it fairly exposed to the sun. If you’re hiking on a warm day, bring plenty of water- you’ll need it.

Baring Falls

About three-quarters of the way to the first major junction, you’ll come to a spur leading to Baring Falls. This waterfall can also be accessed via a shorter 0.7-mile trail from a separate parking area, but I highly recommend including it as part of the full hike.

When I hiked this trail, Baring Falls was peaceful and quiet-likely because most hikers skip it in favor of the more well-known St. Mary and Virginia Falls. That’s a shame, because Baring Falls is a charming waterfall.

St. Mary Falls

From Baring Falls, the trail continues with more shoreline views of St. Mary Lake as it leads to St. Mary Falls. This is where foot traffic begins to pick up, as many hikers choose to start from the St. Mary Falls parking area and head straight to Virginia Falls.

St. Mary Falls is a spectacular sight-turquoise water plunges over a rocky ledge surrounded by vivid red rock. A wooden bridge offers a front-row seat to the falls, making this a popular photo stop. The scenery in this section is outstanding.

Virginia Falls

The final stretch to Virginia Falls is where you’ll gain the most elevation, but it’s still an easy-to-moderate climb. This section follows a scenic creek dotted with smaller cascading waterfalls. Unlike the more open earlier parts of the trail, this stretch winds through lush forest, offering some welcome shade.

Virginia Falls is split into two viewpoints: the lower viewpoint offers a dramatic look at the full cascade from a distance, while the upper viewpoint puts you face-to-face with the roaring waterfall. During my spring hike, the falls were thundering with snowmelt, and the mist was so heavy it soaked my clothes. It was, without question, one of the highlights of the day.

The Return Hike

Since this is an out-and-back trail, you’ll retrace your steps back to Sun Point. The return hike, however, doesn’t feel repetitive-the views of the lake and surrounding peaks look entirely different on the way back. It’s a great opportunity to soak it all in again from a fresh perspective.

Bear Safety Reminder

This is grizzly bear country, so take precautions:

• Carry bear spray and keep it accessible
• Hike in groups when possible
• Make noise on the trail
• Never approach or feed wildlife

👉 For more information, read our guide Staying Safe: Tools for Hiking in Grizzly Bear Country.

Getting There

The Sun Point Trailhead is located off Going-to-the-Sun Road, just past the St. Mary Visitor Center. If you’re visiting during peak summer months, plan to arrive early in the morning or in the late afternoon to secure parking.

Drive Times to Trailhead:

• Columbia Falls: ~1 hour 50 minutes
• Kalispell: ~2 hour 10 minutes

Final Thoughts

Sun Point to Virginia Falls is one of the best waterfall hikes in Glacier National Park. You get incredible reward for a relatively modest effort-three waterfalls, stunning lake views, red rock, and dense forest, all in one hike.

If you want to avoid the crowds, plan your visit in the late spring or early fall before Going-to-the-Sun Road closes. Just note that the waterfalls may not be as full in the fall due to lower runoff.