Raven Quiver Falls, Glacier County

Raven Quiver Falls is one of the most majestic waterfalls in Glacier National Park. These beautiful falls tumble down the headwalls of some of the Park’s most iconic peaks.

Raven Quiver Falls is located in one of the more remote locations within Glacier National Park. Raven Quiver Falls begins at the beautiful Sue Lake, which is the start of the Mokowanis River. These substantial falls receive their water from Shepard Glacier which feeds Sue Lake.

Shepard Glacier is one of the largest of the remaining glaciers in Glacier National Park. Sue Lake sits below Mount Kipp, and between Cathedral Peak and Pyramid Peak.

Accessing Raven Quiver Falls is a multi-day backcountry adventure. Visitors to the Park that wish to access Raven Quiver Falls will start their hike at the Chief Mountain Customs Trail Head, off of Highway 17. The trail is a 26.6 miles point to point trail.

The length of this trail, even if only going to Raven Quiver Falls, requires hikers to camp in the backcountry. Permits from the National Park Service are required for all visitors that wish to camp in the backcountry of Glacier National Park.

The hike to Raven Quiver Falls is considered to be very challenging and is best for experienced hikers and backcountry backpackers.

The area where Raven Quiver Falls is located has a very healthy population of grizzly bears, so hikers in this area need to be aware of proper precautions and safety practices for hiking in bear country.

Raven Quiver Falls Statistics

Elevation: 7,129 feet (2,173 meters)
Height: Unknown
Trailhead: Chief Mountain Customs Trailhead
Season (when can it be accessed): April to October

Things to Do Near Raven Quiver Falls

Due to the remote nature of Raven Quiver Falls, there are limited opportunities for recreational activities in this area.

However, there are ways that visitors to this remote part of Glacier National Park can enjoy recreation near Raven Quiver Falls.

Hiking

Because the only way to access Raven Quiver Falls is on foot, hiking is one of the best recreational activities near Raven Quiver Falls. There are a number of hiking trails that are in the area of Raven Quiver Falls.

From the Chief Mountain Customs Trailhead, there are a wide variety of hiking options for adventurous and experienced hikers.

Camping

Hiking and camping go together in the Raven Quiver Falls area. Because accessing Raven Quiver Falls is a multi-day hike for even the most experienced hikers, camping is a necessary recreational activity on the way to Raven Quiver Falls.

Along the Stoney Indian Pass Trail which is the best way to access Raven Quiver Falls, there are a number of backcountry campsites.

These campsites must be reserved ahead of time, and in some cases, because of the popularity of this area for backcountry backpackers, sites must be reserved months in advance.

For campers that need a place to stay before and after their hike to Raven Quiver Falls, the Glacier Elkhorn Cabins and Campground is a great place to stay and enjoy some comforts of home.

Fishing

There are a number of small lakes between the trailhead on Highway 17 and Raven Quiver Falls. Fishing in Glacier National Park is one of the most popular activities for visitors.

Many of the small lakes along the way to Raven Quiver Falls have healthy populations of native fish species that can be harvested by residents that have a valid Montana Fishing license.

Fishing licenses can be purchased online through the Montana Department of Fish Wildlife and Parks.

Can You Swim at Raven Quiver Falls

Swimming is not a popular activity at Raven Quiver Falls. These falls are quite remote and do not have a good pool for swimming.

Accessing the base of the falls is also a very challenging hike. Additionally, because the falls are fed with glacial water and snow melt, the water is always very cold.

Where to Stay Near Raven Quiver Falls

The closest established campground to Raven Quiver Falls is the Glacier Elkhorn Cabins and Campground. This small camping area has a few rental cabins and camping sites that are large enough for most RVs.

If you are looking for more comfortable and established places to stay near Raven Quiver Falls, your best spot is the St. Mary area of the Park. Here you’ll find a number of National Park Service campgrounds, cabins, hotels, and restaurants.

This is a good place to stay for hikers that need to acquire backcountry camping permits, as this is also the location of one of the Park Ranger offices. Some of the lodging options in the St. Mary area include: