Are there fees or permits required for Twin Falls?

No, there are no fees required to visit Twin Falls.

Is swimming allowed at Twin Falls?

No, swimming is not allowed at Twin Falls.

Nearby gauge (Hyalite C) · 26 ft³/s · About average

Twin Falls

Q: Are dogs allowed at Twin Falls?

Yes, dogs are allowed at Twin Falls. Dogs are allowed on national forest trails; they must be leashed in developed recreation sites such as campgrounds and picnic areas.

Montana

By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026

LiDAR & 3D terrain

Also For 21 other waterfalls also named Twin Falls, see below

Gallatin National Forest NF · US Forest Service

Before you go

No maintained trail reaches Twin Falls. The final mile is an unsigned off-trail bushwhack that requires fording Hyalite Creek, which can be unsafe during spring runoff.

Photo Credits (5)

aaron_anderer CC BY-ND 2.0 · Flickr

John William Hammond CC BY-ND 2.0 · Flickr

Navin75 CC BY-SA 2.0 · Flickr

mypubliclands CC BY 2.0 · Flickr

Difficulty

Hard

Trail Type

Out And Back

About Twin Falls

Twin Falls is an unsigned waterfall on the west wall of upper Hyalite Canyon, south of Bozeman in the Custer Gallatin National Forest. There is no maintained trail to it: visitors leave the Hyalite Creek Trail between Grotto Falls and Arch Falls, ford Hyalite Creek, and bushwhack about a mile uphill. It is also a winter ice-climbing objective.

The Setting

Twin Falls sits at 8,209 feet within Gallatin National Forest, in the high alpine of Montana.

Trail & Hike Details

USFS Trail

GROTTO FALLS #432

Trail Class

Fully Developed

Surface

Imported Compacted Material

USFS Segment

0.03 mi

Trail Description

Start on the Hyalite Creek Trail at the trailhead at the south end of Hyalite Canyon Road. Grotto Falls is a little over a mile in and Arch Falls about a mile farther; roughly halfway between them, head west, ford Hyalite Creek, and bushwhack about a mile uphill through deadfall and rock to the falls. Route-finding skills are needed.

What to Expect

Dogs are welcome.

Accessibility

The trail involves steep, uneven terrain with significant elevation change and is not accessible to mobility devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Twin Falls?

✅ Dogs are allowed
Dogs are allowed on national forest trails; they must be leashed in developed recreation sites such as campgrounds and picnic areas.

Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?

🆖 No fees required

🏊 Is There Swimming at Twin Falls?

❌ Swimming is not allowed

When to Visit

spring summer fall

Late summer and early fall, after runoff drops and the creek ford is safer. In winter the falls freeze and are climbed by experienced ice climbers.

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 Gallatin National Forest for seasonal road closures.

Safety Information

Do not attempt the creek ford in high water. Carry bear spray, a map and navigation, as the off-trail section is unsigned and rugged.

Current Water Conditions

Updated about 2 hours ago Barely Flowing

These readings come from the USGS gauge on Hyalite C, 10.3 miles away, not on Twin Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.

26 ft³/s

Current discharge — how much water is flowing

About average for this time of year

Very Low Low Normal High Very High

16 21 33 41

Based on 73 years of record

2.31 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 nearby waterway and may not reflect exact conditions at the falls.

Hyalite C at Hyalite R S nr Bozeman MT

USGS 06050000

10.3 miles from waterfall

Drainage: 49 sq mi

Altitude: 5,530 ft

7-Day Flow Outlook

Based on the USGS gauge Hyalite C at Hyalite R S nr Bozeman MT (17 km away).

Moderate confidence

Barely Flowing right now

26 cfs

→ Holding steady

Today

Barely Flowing

26 cfs

5/10

Tomorrow

Barely Flowing

26 cfs

5/10

Fri

Barely Flowing

26 cfs

5/10

Sat

Barely Flowing

27 cfs

2/10

Sun

Barely Flowing

25 cfs

5/10

Mon

Barely Flowing

26 cfs

2/10

Tue

Barely Flowing

26 cfs

2/10

Best window: Today — barely flowing flow, sunny (trip score 5/10).

Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from early May to early August, peaking in June.

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 Emigrant hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.

Is Twin Falls Frozen?

Updated about 5 hours ago

Not frozen highs above freezing lately

Twin Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 44°F to 34°F.

Days below freezing: 1 of the last 14
Current cold streak: 0 days
Freezing days ahead: 0 of the next 7
Flow: 27 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.

Along the line through the falls, the bare ground drops about 439 feet, most of it in one sheer step, the signature of a plunge waterfall. The ground at the falls is roughly 8,217 feet above sea level.

Steep ground runs through the entire stretch: about 295 feet of descent in the 500 feet above the pin and 217 feet in the 500 feet below it. Facing east, the falls catch soft morning light.

Aerial photo of the same ground around Twin Falls near Emigrant, Montana, for comparison with the lidar view

LiDAR bare-earth terrain around Twin Falls near Emigrant, Montana, showing about 439 feet of drop, a single sheer drop, facing east

Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.

Ground elevation: 8,217 feet; Measured by 1-meter lidar
Drop at the falls: About 439 feet; Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
Faces: East; Catches soft morning light.

Ground profile through the falls

A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading east).

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Location & Access

Getting There

From Bozeman, drive south on Hyalite Canyon Road past Hyalite Reservoir to the Hyalite Creek (Grotto Falls) trailhead at the end of the road.

Get Directions on Google Maps

Parking

Park at the Hyalite Creek trailhead lot at the end of Hyalite Canyon Road.

Elevation

8,209 feet above sea level

Coordinates

45.430209° N, -110.976611° W

Land Management

Gallatin National Forest NF

Managed by USFS

Visitor Tips & Gear

Start your hike early in the day to avoid crowds and secure parking. Bring plenty of water, as the trail can get warm during summer months. Wear sturdy shoes, as some sections of the trail may be uneven.

This trail sits at 8,209 ft — the air is noticeably thinner

High Altitude

Some 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.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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

Game Day Hub! half Mi to MSU and Bobcat Stadium

Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby

Glamping Hipcamp

Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses

RV Rentals Outdoorsy

Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip

Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Nearby Campground

CHISHOLM CAMPGROUND

3.2 miles away · 10 sites

Reservable

Overview Chisholm Campground is located next to scenic Hyalite Reservoir in the Bozeman Ranger District of the Gallatin National Forest, 18 miles south of Bozeman, Montana. The surrounding area offers many outdoor recreational opportunities, including boating, canoeing, fishing, hiking and climbing.Recreation Hyalite Reservoir offers many recreational activities, including boating, canoeing and fishing opportunities. Anglers fish for Yellowstone cutthroat, Arctic grayling and brook trout. Hyalite

Book on Recreation.gov