Sentinel Falls is one of two small waterfalls along the West Fork of Rock Creek. Located in the Custer Gallatin National Forest, near the town of Red Lodge, hiking to Sentinel Falls is a great hike that you can enjoy while in the southern part of Montana.
While many people spend only their time in Montana in Yellowstone National Park or Glacier National Park, there are many great hikes and waterfalls to be enjoyed in other parts of the State. The Beartooth Range has plenty of adventure and exploring to offer visitors that are looking for a quieter Montana experience.
Sentinel Falls is accessed from the trailhead located at the end of West Fork Road, just outside of Red Lodge. The hike is an easy 7.2-mile round trip hike. Much of the trail passes through burn scar which allows you to have great views of the Beartooth Mountains that run along the north side of the trail.
The West Fork trail #1 passes by both Calamity Falls and Sentinel Falls. Sentinel Falls is not the end of West Fork trail #1, the trail continues on for a number of miles where it climbs Sundance Pass, eventually becoming Lake Fork trail. Adventurous hikers may also want to take the connector trail beyond Sentinel Falls to Lake Mary.
Sentinel Falls, Carbon County
Sentinel Falls Statistics
- Elevation: 8,367 feet (2,551 meters)
- Height: Unknown
- Trailhead: West Fork Trail #1
- Season (when can it be accessed): Year Round
Things to Do Near Sentinel Falls
There are lots of activities to participate in, near Sentinel Falls. Its close proximity to Yellowstone National Park allows visitors to enjoy Sentinel Falls as well as the beauty of the National Park.
Besides visiting Yellowstone National Park you can enjoy plenty of other recreational activities in the Custer Gallatin National Forest.
Hiking
Custer Gallatin National Forest offers a wealth of hiking trails to be explored. The West Fork Trail is one of the more popular trails thanks to its proximity to Red Lodge.
From the West Fork trailhead, there are five additional trails that can be explored. In the Red Lodge area, there are around 20 well-known trails that are popular with hikers.
Many of the trails in the National Forest are multi-use, so hikers on trails near Sentinel Falls will need to keep an eye out for horses and mountain bikes.
Camping
Just a short distance from the West Fork trailhead and Sentinel Falls are a few nice Forest Service campgrounds. These campgrounds are nicely maintained and provide visitors to the area with easy access to the many hiking trails.
Like most Forest Service campgrounds, there are limited amenities, and in general, the campgrounds are only open during the summer months. If you would rather camp off the beaten path, there are numerous places in the National Forest for dispersed camping as well as backcountry sites for camping.
The Red Lodge area also offers camping opportunities that are more suitable for visitors that may be traveling by RV or would like to use a camping cabin.
Skiing
Red Lodge Ski Mountain is a popular place for downhill skiing during the winter months. This small ski area has 6 chairlifts and a variety of ski runs for beginners to expert skiers and boarders.
If downhill skiing isn’t your idea of fun, many of the hiking trails in the Sentinel Falls area are accessible in the winter for cross-country skiing. There is also an established Nordic ski center at Aspen Ridge Ranch that can be utilized for a small fee.
Horseback Riding
Most of the hiking trails in the Custer Gallatin National Forest are multi-use trails, so they are open for horseback riding.
If you are bringing your own animals, there are a number of trails in the Sentinel Falls area, including the West Fork Trail #1 that are open to horses.
Do make sure when you are selecting a trail to ride that you do not venture into designated wilderness areas. These areas are closed to motorized vehicles and horses as a way of protecting delicate ecosystems and habitats.