Baring Falls

Baring Falls is a short but stocky waterfall falling maybe around 30ft or so. We thought of it as a pleasant and short day hike allowing us to do a little walking while driving the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Admittedly, Julie and I kind of did this waterfall with a little haste because the grizzly bears were out and about munching on berries that were in season so they could fatten up for the Winter. Plus, the bad weather didn't help matters either.

Thus, we were content just to take photos, but we didn't do anything more with the falls. I only learned after the fact that it was possible to get to the top of the falls as well as to go behind it.

There seemed to be more than one way to hike to the falls, but the way we did it was to start from the pullout for Sunrift Gorge (see directions below). From here, we descended on a well-used trail passing by some smaller rapids and cascades before turning right at a junction. We then followed the trail past a one-sided footbridge where the falls could be seen and we could get closer once we traversed the bridge. There was signage just underneath the road bridge near the Sunrift Gorge saying that the hike was 0.5km each way, but I swore it felt a bit longer than that.

When we visited Sun Point, it also seemed like it was possible to reach the falls in a slightly longer hike from here. Moreover, we noticed it was also possible to reach Baring Falls from the trailhead for St Mary Falls.

Directions: From the St Mary Visitor Center, drive a little over 10 miles west on the Going-to-the-Sun Road looking for the pullout for Sunrift Gorge just before its bridge.

If you're up for extending the walk from Sun Point, then drive west on the Going-to-the-Sun Road from St Mary Visitor Center to the Sun Point turnoff to the left at a little under 10 miles. Follow the short turnoff to its end where there's a large car park.

For starting the hike at the trailhead for St Mary Falls, see the St Mary Falls page.

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Descending beneath the road bridge by Sunrift Gorge

Looking at some cascade near the Sunrift Gorge

Making a right after seeing this sign

Berries along the trail

Julie checking out Baring Falls

Julie heading back up to the car park

St Mary Lake from Sun Point

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Fixated on the falls

Following the flow of the water from the falls to the one-sided footbridge

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TRIP REPORTS

• September 24, 2010

GUIDEBOOKS / OTHER RESOURCES

NEARBY WATERFALLS

• St Mary Falls
• Going-to-the-Sun Waterfalls

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