Located only 0.3 miles from Montana Highway 135 connecting Paradise to St Regis, Cascade Falls, Montana, is an easily accessible waterfall along Cascade Creek in Sanders County.
Not to be confused with the waterfall of the same name in Montana’s Park County, the Cascade Falls are only minutes away from fantastic fishing, camping, and hiking opportunities along the Clark Fork River and surrounding countryside.
Cascade Falls, Sanders County Stats
- Elevation: 2884 feet
- Latitude:30225
- Longitude: -114.82615
- How to Get There: The Cascade Falls, Montana, is accessible via a 2.9-mile out and back hike from the Cascade Creek Campgrounds Trailhead.
Recreation Activities
Hiking
Located only 0.3 miles from the nearby road, the Cascade Falls are an easily accessible landmark that does not require a particularly rigorous hike.
With that said, the trail from the street does guide visitors through a rather roundabout path and requires approximately an hour and a half to complete the 2.9-mile out and back hike.
Of course, the waterfalls are only one of the beautiful landmarks scattered throughout Sanders County’s countryside.
Visitors to the falls would be remiss not to engage in one of the other many hikes in the area, including the popular St. Regis River Trail, which follows the Clark Fork River to the east.
Fishing
Situated along a tributary of the Clark Fork River, visitors to the falls are only a short distance from the fantastic fishing sites along the larger water body.
Returning to the trailhead, visitors need only cross the street before casting their lines in the cool waters of the river populated with native species, including Brook Trout, Mountain Whitefish, Northern Pike, and the West slope Cutthroat Trout.
Wranglers should be aware that as the official State Fish of Montana, the West slope Cutthroat Trout is a protected species in the state and are required to be released when caught.
Camping
Eight miles from the nearest city, the Cascade Creek Campground is a fantastic destination for camping in the idyllic countryside of Sanders County. Located directly next to the trailhead, the campgrounds also serve as a convenient access point for reaching Cascade Falls.
The Park features tent campsites and four accessible sites, each serviced with a picnic table, a fire ring, and access to onsite amenities that include vault toilets, drinking water, and a boat ramp.
Horseback Riding
From their location to the south of St Regis, Rugg’s Outfitting offers a variety of services, including half- and full-day trail rides and multi-day summer pack trips.
The best part, the company will design the excursion specifically around the whims and fancies of each of its patrons. With no fixed itineraries, a visit to Cascade Falls is entirely in the cards for those that want to venture into the idyllic landscape on horseback.
Trail Routes
Cascade Falls Overlook Trail
The trail leading to the Cascade Falls from the Cascade Creek Campground Trailhead is considered an easy hike.
The 2.9-mile out and back route requires an average of 1 hour and 28 minutes to complete, but visitors should allow more time to take pictures of the breathtaking views along the way.
Visitors will follow the Iron Mountain Trail north from the trailhead as it wraps around a nearby hill. Then, following the path parallel to the road, hikers head back towards the Creek until arriving at the falls themselves.
From here, visitors can continue along the trail up the mountain, or they can return to the trailhead.
Iron Mountain Trail from Pardee Creek Road
The Iron Mountain Trail from Pardee Creek Road is only for the most intrepid visitors to Montana and should only be undertaken by experienced hikers.
From the top of the mountain on Pardee Creek Road, hikers will follow the Iron Mountain Trail, historically used as a wagon trail for transporting goods from Flat Creek to Clark Fork in the late 19th century.
Today, visitors can follow the rigorous path as it weaves through the cliffsides of Keystone Peak and down along the mountain until it reaches Cascade Creek. Following the water, hikers will eventually reach the falls, from where they can continue to follow the path to the Cascade Creek Campgrounds.