Waterfall Hikes Near Polson, MT

5,218 residents
Denver Time Zone
10 Waterfalls

within 50 miles

Polson holds the foot of Flathead Lake with the Mission Mountains rising to the southeast, and the ten falls within fifty miles skew toward real climbs. Mission Falls and Needle Falls each run four miles with 800 feet of gain. Elizabeth Falls and Terrace Falls cover the same distance with 500 feet and allow dogs. Morrell Falls over by Seeley Lake makes the gentle day, 5.4 miles of easy grade with about 300 feet of rise and dogs welcome. Barrier Falls stretches ten miles for anyone wanting a full day out.

Located at 47.6886°N, -114.1411°W

Map of Waterfalls Near Polson

Today's Conditions

Live data from USGS gauges & National Weather Service

Water Flow

10 of 10 gauged

10 waterfalls near Polson have live flow data today

Barrier Falls Barely Flowing Big Salmon Falls Barely Flowing Elizabeth Falls Barely Flowing Mission Falls Barely Flowing Terrace Falls Barely Flowing Cascade Falls Moderate Dean Falls Moderate Morrell Falls Low Mud Creek Falls Moderate Needle Falls Moderate

Updated about 3 hours ago via USGS

Best Day to Hike

Friday

Widespread Frost then Mostly Sunny · 62°F

Fri 62°F Widespread Frost then Mostly Sunny Best
Sat 68°F Mostly Sunny
Sun 59°F Sunny
Mon 61°F Partly Sunny
Tue 58°F Partly Sunny
Wed 57°F Mostly Sunny
Thu 55°F Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Light Rain

Flowing best right now near Polson

Updated 35 minutes ago

Ranked by live stream-gauge flow versus each waterfall's seasonal normal.

  1. 1 Cascade Falls Moderate · 10200 cfs 60th percentile
  2. 2 Needle Falls Moderate · 92 cfs 58th percentile
  3. 3 Dean Falls Moderate · 430 cfs 25th percentile
  4. 4 Morrell Falls Low · 19 cfs 21st percentile
  5. 5 Mud Creek Falls Low · 7230 cfs 11th percentile
  6. 6 Barrier Falls Barely Flowing · 13 cfs 0th percentile

Know when to go.

Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Polson hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.

Find waterfalls to hike near Polson

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🚗 Easy Waterfall Hikes Near Polson (2 waterfalls)

Easy access waterfalls are drive-up or short-walk friendly. Perfect for families, casual visitors, or anyone who loves waterfalls but is "so-so" about hiking.

LiDAR terrain view around Mud Creek Falls in Montana, about 348 feet of drop LiDAR

Mud Creek Falls

9.3 miles away
Montana
Easy
1.2 miles 150 ft

All 10 Waterfalls Near Polson

LiDAR terrain view around Mud Creek Falls in Montana, about 348 feet of drop LiDAR

Mud Creek Falls

9.3 miles away
Montana
Easy
1.2 miles 150 ft
Terrace Falls waterfall

Terrace Falls

16.4 miles away
Montana
Unknown
Unknown Unknown
Mission Falls waterfall

Mission Falls

25.7 miles away
Montana
Moderate
4.0 miles 800 ft
LiDAR terrain view around Elizabeth Falls in Montana, about 454 feet of drop LiDAR

Elizabeth Falls

26.1 miles away
Montana
Unknown
Unknown Unknown
Barrier Falls waterfall

Barrier Falls

33.3 miles away
Montana
Hard
10.0 miles Unknown
LiDAR terrain view around Big Salmon Falls in Montana, about 123 feet of drop LiDAR

Big Salmon Falls

35.2 miles away
Montana
Hard
5.0 miles Unknown
Needle Falls waterfall

Needle Falls

43.4 miles away
Montana
Moderate
4.0 miles 800 ft
Morrell Falls waterfall

Morrell Falls

47.6 miles away
Montana
Easy
5.4 miles 300 ft
Cascade Falls waterfall

Cascade Falls

47.9 miles away
Montana
Moderate
2.0 miles Unknown
Dean Falls waterfall

Dean Falls

48.5 miles away
Montana
Moderate
3.0 miles 500 ft

Frequently Asked Questions About Waterfalls Near Polson

Are there free waterfalls near Polson?

There are 2 free waterfalls near Polson, including Cascade Falls.

Are there easy waterfall hikes near Polson?

There are 2 easy waterfall hikes near Polson, including Morrell Falls.

Are there dog friendly waterfalls in Polson?

There are 2 dog-friendly waterfalls near Polson, including Cascade Falls.

Are there kid-friendly waterfalls near Polson?

There are 6 kid-friendly waterfalls near Polson, including Cascade Falls.

What is the shortest waterfall hike near Polson?

The shortest waterfall hike near Polson is Barrier Falls at 1.2 miles round trip.

Do any waterfalls near Polson require permits?

Yes, 2 waterfalls near Polson require a permit. Check individual trail pages for current permit details.

Can I camp near the waterfalls around Polson?

Yes, 10 waterfalls near Polson have nearby campgrounds.

What is the closest waterfall to Polson?

The closest waterfall to Polson is Mud Creek Falls, approximately 9.3 miles away.

🏙️ Other Cities Near Polson With Waterfalls

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25,473 residents
Missoula, MT
88,780 residents

Nearby Hot Springs

Hot springs near Polson, Montana

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Camas Hot Springs

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Green Springs

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Quinns Hot Springs

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Looking for a soak after your hike? Explore more hot springs near Polson, Montana on SoakingSprings.

Explore Montana springs

Where to Stay

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