Sentinel Falls
By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026
LiDAR & 3D terrain
Photo Credits (5)
Trail Type
Out And Back
About Sentinel Falls
Sentinel Falls is a high-country waterfall at about 8,370 feet in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness of the Custer Gallatin National Forest, west of Red Lodge and about half a mile southwest of Calamity Falls. Forest Service trail data associate it with the Camp Senia Trail (#16), which starts at the West Fork Trailhead at the end of West Fork Road and climbs about 2,000 feet over 7 miles to the Red Lodge Creek Plateau. We have not found a reliable distance from the trailhead to the falls.
The Setting
Sentinel Falls sits at 8,369 feet within Custer National Forest, in the high alpine of Montana.
Trail & Hike Details
USFS Trail
SENIA CREEK #16
Trail Class
Developed
Surface
USFS Segment
6.02 miTrail Description
Camp Senia Trail (#16) shares the West Fork Trailhead with the West Fork Rock Creek Trail: walk about 40 feet up the West Fork Trail and turn right at the sign. The trail climbs about 2,000 feet over 7 miles to the Red Lodge Creek Plateau, is open to hikers and horses, and lies in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, where wilderness regulations apply. No source gives the distance to Sentinel Falls.
What to Expect
Dogs are welcome.
Accessibility
The trail to Sentinel Falls is not wheelchair accessible due to uneven terrain and elevation gain.
Frequently Asked Questions
🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Sentinel Falls?
✅ Dogs are allowed
Dogs are allowed on Custer Gallatin National Forest and Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness trails; keep them under control.
Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?
🆖 No fees required
Permit required
A reservation is required to access the Going-to-the-Sun Road during peak season (May through September). Visitors must also pay the park entrance fee.
🏊 Is There Swimming at Sentinel Falls?
❌ Swimming is not allowed
When to Visit
The best time to visit Sentinel Falls is in late spring or early summer when the snowmelt is at its peak, and the waterfall is flowing strongly.
Seasonal Access
The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Access roads and trails may close during winter due to snow. Check with Custer National Forest for seasonal road closures.
Safety Information
Water temperature is currently 43°F — cold enough to cause numbness quickly. Avoid prolonged water contact and use caution near the falls.
Be cautious of slippery rocks near the falls and stay on designated trails. Carry bear spray and know how to use it, as bears are common in the area. Check weather conditions before your hike, as sudden storms can occur.
Current Water Conditions
These readings come from the USGS gauge on West Rosebud Creek, 10.7 miles away, not on Sentinel Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.
116 ft³/s
Current discharge — how much water is flowing
Much higher than usual for this time of year
Based on 20 years of record
1.85 ft
Water depth at gauge
43°F
Very coldExpect numbness within minutes
7-Day Discharge Trend
What does this mean for your visit?
The water is flowing much higher than usual, expect an impressive display. Water temperature is very cold at 43 degrees F, expect numbness within minutes.
About This Gauge
This gauge is on a nearby waterway and may not reflect exact conditions at the falls.
7-Day Flow Outlook
Based on the USGS gauge W Rosebud Cr at Emerald Lk Campground nr Roscoe (17 km away).
Today
Strong
116 cfs
10/10Tomorrow
Strong
116 cfs
10/10Thu
Strong
125 cfs
8/10Fri
Strong
121 cfs
10/10Sat
Strong
116 cfs
10/10Sun
Strong
116 cfs
10/10Mon
Strong
117 cfs
10/10Best window: Today — strong flow, sunny (trip score 10/10).
Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from late May to late August, peaking in July.
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 Roscoe hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.
Is Sentinel Falls Frozen?
Updated about 11 hours agoNot frozen 1 day in a row below freezing north-facing, shaded
Sentinel Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 30°F to 25°F.
- Days below freezing
- 2 of the last 14
- Current cold streak
- 1 day
- Freezing days ahead
- 0 of the next 7
- Flow
- 116 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 122 feet of descent through Sentinel Falls, a steep tiered drop rather than a single free fall. The brink sits at about 8,353 feet above sea level.
The ground changes about 122 feet in the 500 feet above the falls and 40 feet in the 500 feet below. Facing north, the falls stay mostly shaded, with soft, even light all day.
Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.
- Ground elevation
- 8,353 feet
- Measured by 1-meter lidar
- Drop at the falls
- About 122 feet
- Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
- Faces
- North
- Mostly shaded, so the light stays soft and even all day.
A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading north).
Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.
Location & Access
Getting There
From Red Lodge, turn west off US 212 onto West Fork Road toward Red Lodge Mountain ski area, stay left where signed, and follow the road, which turns to gravel, to the West Fork Trailhead at its end.
Get Directions on Google MapsParking
Park at the West Fork Trailhead at the end of West Fork Road, which serves both the West Fork Rock Creek Trail and the Camp Senia Trail.
Hours
Elevation
8,369 feet above sea level
Coordinates
45.156462° N, -109.528499° W
Land Management
Managed by USFS
Visitor Tips & Gear
Start early to allow time for the climb, carry water and layers, and check with the Beartooth Ranger District in Red Lodge for current trail conditions.
This trail sits at 8,369 ft — the air is noticeably thinner
High AltitudeSome visitors experience headaches, fatigue, or shortness of breath at this elevation. Take it slow, stay hydrated, and consider supplemental oxygen if you're coming from a lower altitude.
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Coppertone Sport SPF 50 Sunscreen
UV intensity jumps ~4% per 1,000 ft — at this elevation you can burn in half the time.
Sun Bum SPF 30 Lip Balm (3-Pack)
Lips have almost no natural UV protection and burn fast in thin, dry mountain air.
Liquid I.V. Electrolyte Packets
You lose moisture ~2x faster at elevation — electrolytes help you absorb water efficiently.
ROCKNIGHT Polarized UV400 Sunglasses
High-altitude glare off rock and water is intense — UV400 lenses block 99%+ of UVA/UVB.
Boost Oxygen 10L Canister (2-Pack)
Portable supplemental oxygen for quick relief from headaches and shortness of breath.
Altitude Rx OxyBoost Complex
Antioxidant formula designed to support your body's natural altitude acclimation.
Where to Stay
Beartooth Hideaway Inn & Cabins
Hotel Expedition
Rock Creek Resort
Red Lodge Vacation Rental with Mountain Views!
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
CASCADE
4 miles away · 30 sites
Overview Cascade Campground is located 11 miles west of Red Lodge, in southern Montana. It conveniently sits along Forest Road 2071, which is paved for most of the route. The area is a popular location for hiking, backpacking and fishing. Recreation Fishing is a popular activity along the West Fork of Rock Creek and at nearby Wild Bill Lake. The small lake is open to kayaking and canoeing, and an accessible fishing dock is located on the shore. The Basin Lakes Trailhead is three miles away, acros
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Nearby Attractions
Calamity Falls is about half a mile to the northeast, and the West Fork Rock Creek Trail from the same trailhead leads toward Quinnebaugh Meadows and Lake at Falls.
Wildlife
Black and grizzly bears, moose, mountain goats and marmots live in the Beartooth Mountains. Carry bear spray and store food as the Forest Service food storage order requires.
Cities near Sentinel Falls
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