Scenic Waterfall Trails Within 2 Hours of Missoula

Being around the water in Montana is a necessity. Whether it is for agriculture or recreation, it is a big part of our lives.

Despite being a land-locked state, we have a lot of impressive bodies of water, for different reasons.

Fort Peck – The fifth largest artificial lake in the U.S. with over 1,500 miles of shoreline.

Flathead Lake – Has a depth of over 300 feet in some areas and is the second largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi.

Berkeley Pit – Montana's most polluted lake, and is a designated "superfund" site.

Montana’s summers also see a lot of people floating in the rivers; it is one of the more popular activities in Western Montana.

For the people who want to experience some of Montana’s waterfalls, but aren’t looking to travel to Glacier National Park, you may want to check out some of Montana’s awesome waterfalls that are a short drive and hike from Missoula.

Top Waterfall Hikes Near Missoula

Holland Lake Falls- One of my favorite waterfalls to visit in Montana is Holland Lake Falls. It is an amazing hike around Holland Lake to the falls. Depending on the traffic, it takes about an hour and 45 minutes to drive there from Missoula. The hike is 3.1 miles in length.

Morrell Falls – Another very popular waterfall is Morrell Falls located near Seeley Lake. It's a bit of a longer hike, 5.5 miles, but they are worth it.

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Mission Falls- Located near St. Ignatius in the Mission Mountains, these falls are amazing. I haven't been up there since I was a child. It's a 4.7 mile hike to the falls. If you want to visit these falls you will need to have a conservation permit from the Confederate Salish and Kootenai tribes.

How to Get Permits for Mission Falls

Skalkaho Falls- If you want to just experience a waterfall without having to do any hiking you can just drive to the Skalkaho Falls which are located along Skalkaho Highway (MT-38), in between Hamilton and Phillipsburg.

If you are looking for some easy to moderate hikes with a waterfall at the end, then some of these may be right up your alley. Enjoy your adventures and the water.