Bird Woman Falls and the Going-to-the-Sun Road Waterfalls

Glacier National Park / Logan Pass, Montana, USA

About Bird Woman Falls and the Going-to-the-Sun Road Waterfalls

For Subscribers Only. See Membership Options.

Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

The Bird Woman Falls was perhaps the tallest and most recognizable of the waterfalls seen along the Going-to-the-Sun Road (also called the Sun Road for short), especially near Logan Pass.

It was said to be 492ft high as it plunged off a hanging valley left behind by a tributary glacier that had since receded and disappeared before the main glacier responsible for the U-shaped valley between Mt Cameron and Heaven Peak also disappeared.

Glacier_NP_17_062_08052017 - Bird Woman Falls and its hanging valley context as seen along the Going-to-the-Sun Road
Bird Woman Falls and its hanging valley context as seen along the Going-to-the-Sun Road

We found the Bird Woman Falls to be such a waterfall highlight that they dedicated several pullouts on the Going-to-the-Sun Road west of Logan Pass.

One of them had a signpost, which yielded the most direct view of the waterfall and its scenic backdrop.

In addition to the Bird Woman Falls, there were also many other roadside waterfalls along the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Thus, this page was dedicated to appreciating these falls while also helping you to spot them out as you traverse the only road that cuts through Glacier National Park.

Glacier_NP_17_002_08052017 - Full context of the Bdramatic scenery of the Bird Woman Falls and the Logan Pass as seen from the climbing part of the west side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road
Full context of the Bdramatic scenery of the Bird Woman Falls and the Logan Pass as seen from the climbing part of the west side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road

It would typically take about 2 hours to drive between West Glacier and St Mary (on the opposite ends of Glacier National Park) without stops.

However, it’s likely that a typical visit would consume far more time than that due to its tendency to compel you to make stops so you can take in both the views as well as the hikes along the way.

The Waterfalls along the Going-to-the-Sun Road

Below are the waterfalls we’ve managed to identify or visit during our trips to Glacier National Park.

This list is going from east to west since we think this would be the best way to experience the park as far as vistas are concerned).

The waterfalls not directly visible from the road and/or requiring a hike each have dedicated writeups and are linked accordingly.

  • unnamed waterfalls seen from Sun Point and Wild Goose Island
  • Baring Falls
  • St Mary Falls and Virginia Falls
  • other unnamed waterfalls feeding Reynolds Creek further to the east
  • “Lunch Creek” – a dramatic unnamed waterfall at the head of Reynolds Creek plunging eastwards away from the Logan Pass Visitor Center
  • Oberlin Falls – where Logan Creek tumbled right besides Going-to-the-Sun Road near Logan Pass at the so-called Oberlin Bend before continuing further downstream and plunging westwards beneath Mt Oberlin
  • the Weeping Wall – where some ephemeral (and manmade) waterfalls spilled right onto the Going-to-the-Sun Road
  • cascade on Haystack Creek – which can be seen from the same pullout as that of Bird Woman Falls
  • Bird Woman Falls – the feature waterfall of this page
  • McDonald Creek Overlook
  • Sacred Dancing Cascade
  • McDonald Falls
Glacier_NP_513_09252010 - Scenic context of an attractive (maybe unnamed) waterfall at the head of Reynolds Creek or 'Lunch Creek'
Scenic context of an attractive (maybe unnamed) waterfall at the head of Reynolds Creek or ‘Lunch Creek’

I’m sure there are still more I haven’t named, but these are the ones we’ve managed to identify while either cruising the busy Going-to-the-Sun Road or riding one of park’s shuttles.

Most of the ones named above have pictures so you have an idea of what they look like as you make your tour.

The National Park Service has also put together a nice series of short videos to get deeper into the points of interest on the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Going-to-the-Sun Road – A Perpetual State of Repair and Management

We actually had to wait several years before we finally got to experience the Bird Woman Falls and the neighboring waterfalls for ourselves.

Glacier_NP_492_09252010 - On our first visit to the Going-to-the-Sun Road in late September 2010, Federal Stimulus money was being used to renovate the road, which resulted in unpaved sections like this as well as the road closure over a long stretch around Logan Pass and Avalanche Creek
On our first visit to the Going-to-the-Sun Road in late September 2010, Federal Stimulus money was being used to renovate the road, which resulted in unpaved sections like this as well as the road closure over a long stretch around Logan Pass and Avalanche Creek

That was because on our first visit to Glacier National Park in September 2010, the road was closed from west of Logan Pass Visitor Center to Avalanche Creek (i.e. the most dramatic part of the drive west of Logan Pass).

It wasn’t until August 2017 that we got to make a return visit, but it always seemed as if some part of the Going-to-the-Sun Road would be in a state of repair every year.

After overhearing a shuttle bus driver talking about the park’s lack of funds situation to keep up with maintenance and ever increasing crowds, we gained a better appreciation of how expensive it was to keep this road open.

After all, it was full of narrow ledges and hairpin turns as well as cliff overhangs.

Hidden_Lake_004_08062017 - The crowds and parking situation at Logan Pass were intense, but even the shuttles filled up fast and incurred wait times which resulted in a frustration factor that rivaled that of the parking situation
The crowds and parking situation at Logan Pass were intense, but even the shuttles filled up fast and incurred wait times which resulted in a frustration factor that rivaled that of the parking situation

It was also prone to avalanches, heavy snow, and it was difficult to plow given the rugged terrain.

So it’s pretty hit-and-miss when it comes to whether you can get the complete experience along the Sun Road on a given visit.

It took us two tries before we finally got to have the full experience.

Going-to-the-Sun Road – A Controversial History

The Going-to-the-Sun Road wasn’t without its share of controversy.

Conservationist, activist, and writer George Bird Grinnell (after whom many of the features of Glacier National Park were named) vowed to never return to the park after the Going-to-the-Sun Road was to be built.

Hidden_Lake_276_08062017 - Context of the Going-to-the-Sun Road looking east of Logan Pass
Context of the Going-to-the-Sun Road looking east of Logan Pass

And it turned out that he made good on his promise for the remainder of his life.

As a key advocate for properly protecting Yellowstone National Park’s wildlife and geysers, he was much against the idea of a national park designed with automobile tourism in mind.

Today, with the difficulties that Glacier National Park was facing with lack of funds, ongoing and expensive maintenance costs, and overcrowding, the park seems to be at a crossroads.

Should Glacier National Park strive to keep the park accessible while also maintaining its viability to operationally stay afloat?

Glacier_NP_17_089_08052017 - Looking towards a small cascade near a small parking area just west of Logan Pass. I believe this waterfall is called Oberlin Falls
Looking towards a small cascade near a small parking area just west of Logan Pass. I believe this waterfall is called Oberlin Falls

Or should they take the opposite extreme, which would be to administer Glacier National Park like a wilderness park where Going-to-the-Sun Road would be more like a trail than a throughfare?

The latter option would be much like the way Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks do not have a convenient road corridor to go across the California Sierras as they’re dominated by roadless wilderness.

I’m sure there will be more to come on this topic in the near future, but you do have to bear this in mind when making your visit, especially given the park’s short season in the busy Summer months.

Authorities

Bird Woman Falls and the Going-to-the-Sun Road Waterfalls reside in Glacier National Park near Kalispell and St Mary in Flathead County and Glacier County, Montana. They are administered by the National Park Service. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, visit their website.

Maps and Routing Content are for annual members. See Membership Options.
Content is for members. See Membership Options.
Tagged with: glacier, flathead, national park, montana, waterfall, rocky mountains, going-to-the-sun, logan pass, st mary, saint mary, apgar



Visitor Comments:

Got something you'd like to share or say to keep the conversation going? Feel free to leave a comment below...

Bird Woman Falls close-up and more August 30, 2020 10:04 pm by Jose Luis Sanchez Esteban - I submit here the best close-up of the falls that I could get plus another picture I think is somehow scenic. ...Read More

Share your thoughts about what you've read on this page

You must be logged in to submit content. Refresh this page after you have logged in.

Visitor Reviews of this Waterfall:

If you have a waterfall story or write-up that you'd like to share, feel free to click the button below and fill out the form...

Bird Woman Falls close-up and more August 30, 2020 10:04 pm by Jose Luis Sanchez Esteban - I submit here the best close-up of the falls that I could get plus another picture I think is somehow scenic. ...Read More

Have you been to a waterfall? Submit a write-up/review and share your experiences or impressions

Review A Waterfall

Nearest Waterfalls



How To Build A Profitable Travel Blog In 4 Steps

Johnny Cheng

About Johnny Cheng

Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
Read More About Johnny | A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls.