Big Bend Overlook & Falls

Big Bend Overlook & Falls at Glacier National Park near West Glacier, Montana is an easy 0.1-mile out-and-back walk along the Going-to-the-Sun Road that features breathtaking alpine mountain views from Big Bend and leads to an avalanche chute, Big Bend Falls.

Exploring Big Bend

Big Bend is one of the best views along the Going-to-the-Sun Road as it peers westward into the Lake McDonald Valley with Oberlin Mountain towering overhead. During the summer, Big Bend is one of the best spots in the park to find abundant wildflowers without having to take an actual hike. This guide leads visitors directly to the views at Big Bend where you'll find a large parking lot and plenty of spaces to spread out from the crowds. The westward views are expansive and breathtaking as you stand within Glacier's alpine mountains. Just behind, to the northeast of the view, sits an avalanche chute that often has water flowing down from the Garden Wall. This avalanche chute, I've named "Big Bend Falls", creates a temporary waterfall after heavy rains or during snow melt season. During our visit in late September 2024, Big Bend Falls was just a trickle of a waterfall. The path that leads up to Big Bend Falls, however, includes more opportunities to snap stunning pictures of wildflowers and Oberlin Mountain.

Parking

Visitors will find a large parking turnout along the Going-to-the-Sun Road. The turnout is large enough to fit a couple dozen vehicles as of September 2024.

Vehicle Reservations

Depending on what time of year you visit, you may need to reserve a vehicle entrance pass to get into the park, in addition to a park entry fee (or annual National Parks pass). Before planning this hike, ensure you've checked the NPS website for when and where Glacier NP vehicle reservations are required.

Pets

Dogs are not allowed on any trails at Glacier National Park; however, they are allowed in parking lots only if leashed. For this reason, dogs are allowed here but only if they stay on the paved surface of the parking lot -- do not bring you dog outside of the parking lot.