Little North Fork Falls
By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026
LiDAR & 3D terrain
Photo Credits (5)
Difficulty
Easy
Trail Length
0.5 miles
Trail Type
Out And Back
About Little North Fork Falls
Little North Fork Falls drops into a narrow, mossy gorge on the Little North Fork of Big Creek, in the Kootenai National Forest on the west side of Lake Koocanusa. A short interpretive nature trail (USFS Trail #248, the Little North Fork Falls National Recreation Trail) leads from a developed trailhead on Big Creek Road 336 to the falls. The walk is about a quarter mile each way.
The Setting
Little North Fork Falls sits at 3,058 feet within Kootenai National Forest, in the mountains of Montana.
Trail & Hike Details
The Approach
The easy hike follows Little North Fork Big Creek (#249), a 0.5-mile out-and-back trail over natural surface. The trail is developed (Class 3).
USFS Trail
LITTLE NORTH FORK BIG CREEK #249
Trail Class
Developed
Surface
Avg Grade
USFS Segment
0.16 miTrail Description
The nature trail starts on the east side of the creek near the Big Creek Road bridge and passes interpretive signs, benches, seeping springs, moss and ferns under cottonwood, maple, alder and birch. Steps lead up to a wooden bridge over the creek, and the trail ends at the falls on the far side. The round trip is about 0.5 mile and is rated easy, with a short climb on the steps.
What to Expect
Dogs are welcome.
Accessibility
The trail is short and relatively flat, but the surface may be uneven. Contact the managing agency for accessibility details.
Frequently Asked Questions
🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Little North Fork Falls?
✅ Dogs are allowed
Dogs are allowed; Forest Service guidelines require a 6-foot leash on interpretive trails like this one.
Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?
🆖 No fees required
🏊 Is There Swimming at Little North Fork Falls?
❌ Swimming is not allowed
When to Visit
Late spring and early summer, when snowmelt gives the creek its strongest flow.
Seasonal Access
The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Winter access may be limited. Check with Kootenai National Forest for seasonal road closures.
Safety Information
The steps and bridge can be slick when wet. Stay behind the end of the trail, since the gorge walls are steep.
Current Water Conditions
These readings come from the USGS gauge on Tobacco River, 16.7 miles away, not on Little North Fork Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.
85 ft³/s
Current discharge — how much water is flowing
About average for this time of year
Based on 10 years of record
2.44 ft
Water depth at gauge
7-Day Discharge Trend
What does this mean for your visit?
Flow is about average for this time of year.
About This Gauge
This gauge is on a regional waterway. Conditions at the falls may differ, especially after local rain.
7-Day Flow Outlook
Based on the USGS gauge Tobacco River at Eureka, MT (27 km away).
Today
Moderate
91 cfs
5/10Tomorrow
Moderate
88 cfs
8/10Thu
Low
79 cfs
6/10Fri
Moderate
85 cfs
5/10Sat
Moderate
90 cfs
5/10Sun
Moderate
95 cfs
5/10Mon
Moderate
96 cfs
5/10Best window: Tomorrow — moderate flow, mostly sunny (trip score 8/10).
Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from early April to early July, peaking in May.
How we calculate this
This is a transparent outlook, not a precise forecast. We take the waterfall's current flow strength (how it ranks against its historical normal for today, from the nearest USGS stream gauge), carry that ranking forward along the gauge's seasonal curve, and nudge it for forecast rain. Confidence is highest for the next day or two and falls further out. Always check official conditions and your own judgment before visiting — high flows can be dangerous.
Know when to go.
Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Rexford hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.
Is Little North Fork Falls Frozen?
Updated about 7 hours agoNot frozen highs above freezing lately
Little North Fork Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 48°F to 36°F.
- Days below freezing
- 0 of the last 14
- Current cold streak
- 0 days
- Freezing days ahead
- 0 of the next 7
- Flow
- 85 ft³/s
Winter safety. Frozen falls are the one waterfall trip with a documented injury pattern: falling ice, and ice-glazed rock and trail. Wear microspikes, keep well back from the base and from overhangs, and never walk out on ice over moving water.
Estimate from Open-Meteo daily temperatures at the falls, the LiDAR-measured facing direction, and the nearest stream gauge. It is a likelihood, not a report from the trail. See every frozen waterfall in Montana.
Weather Forecast
The Terrain, Seen by LiDAR
Aircraft-mounted lasers measured this ground to within inches. Trees and buildings are digitally stripped away, leaving the bare shape of the land the water has carved.
1-meter lidar measures about 119 feet of descent through Little North Fork Falls, a steep tiered drop rather than a single free fall. The brink sits at about 3,066 feet above sea level.
Steep ground runs through the entire stretch: about 186 feet of descent in the 500 feet above the pin and 95 feet in the 500 feet below it. Facing west, the falls glow in afternoon and evening light.
Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.
- Ground elevation
- 3,066 feet
- Measured by 1-meter lidar
- Drop at the falls
- About 119 feet
- Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
- Faces
- West
- Glows in afternoon and evening light.
A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading west).
Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.
Location & Access
Getting There
From Rexford, drive south about 7 miles to the Koocanusa Bridge, cross the lake, and continue south on Forest Road 228 to Big Creek Road (Road 336). The marked trailhead is a short drive up Big Creek Road. From Libby, take Highway 37 north to Libby Dam, cross to Forest Road 228 and follow it north about 52 miles from Libby to Big Creek Road.
Get Directions on Google MapsParking
The trailhead has a developed parking lot with restrooms near the Big Creek Road bridge over the creek.
Elevation
3,058 feet above sea level
Coordinates
48.759959° N, -115.375730° W
Land Management
Managed by USFS
Visitor Tips & Gear
This is a good short stop on a drive around Lake Koocanusa. Rexford Bench on the east side of the lake has a beach if you want to swim afterward.
Where to Stay
Eureka Vacation Rental Steps to Creek and Fishing!
Maggies Cabin - Enjoy a Slice of Paradise in Rexford Montana
Waterfront Log Home w/ 95 Acres on Yaak River
Wilderness Club Nest - Modern Cabin Retreat for 9 with Hot Tub
Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby
Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses
Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip
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Nearby Campground
WEBB MTN. LOOKOUT RENTAL
4.3 miles away · 1 sites
Overview Webb Mountain Lookout is perched at 5,988 feet atop its namesake mountain in Kootenai National Forest. The lookout was built in 1959 and used as an observation point for fighting forest fires for over 40 years. The structure rests on a concrete block basement and encompasses 196 square feet. The lookout is accessible by car and the roads are well maintained; however, the last quarter mile of the access road is steep and rocky and not suited for low clearance vehicles. This rustic cabin o
Book on Recreation.govAdditional Information
Nearby Attractions
Lake Koocanusa, the Koocanusa Bridge, and Rexford Bench.
Wildlife
The area is home to various wildlife, including deer, birds, and small mammals. Be cautious of bears and carry bear spray if hiking in bear country.
Cities near Little North Fork Falls
Nearby Waterfalls
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