Hiking the Apikuni Falls Trail in Glacier National Park
Distance: 2.0 miles / 3.2 km
Out of all the beautiful hikes within Many Glacier, Apikuni or Appekunny Falls is one of the least visited trails on the east side of Glacier National Park.
For this reason, Apikuni Falls is one of my favorite hikes when I’m looking for a beautiful short east Glacier adventure!
Apikuni Falls Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Apikuni Falls Trail is located in a joint parking area with the Poia Lake Trailhead.
However, because the "nearby" Cracker Lake Trail is so popular, and parking is limited at the trailhead since it shares the same lot as the Many Glacier Hotel, during the busiest times, people tend to spill over into the Apikuni Falls parking lot when they can’t find a closer spot.
This is typically only true during Glacier’s busiest summer season, and the vehicle permit system has helped with problems like this.
Google Maps Directions: Apikuni Falls Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Glacier
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Glacier National Park.
Hiking the Apikuni Falls Trail
Even though the Apikuni Falls Trail is only one mile each way, the hike is nearly an all-uphill mile, gaining between 600-700 ft. (183-231 m) of elevation from the trailhead to the falls.
Make sure that you are always hiking with bear spray, as I had the unique opportunity to watch a grizzly walk the shores of the nearby Lake Sherburne shortly after finishing the hike to Apikuni Falls.
Overall, the Apikuni Falls Trail is very straightforward, but I hope that these photos show that the trail is nearly all uphill.
It isn’t until you’re within the last quarter mile of the waterfall that you finally start to get views of Apikuni Falls in the distance.
In my opinion, it wasn’t clear whether the Park Service wants you to stop at this rock barrier or not, but it was pretty evident that most hikers continue further up toward the falls.
These last sections were easily the difficult, as it didn’t appear to be a maintained trail past the rock barrier.
Apikuni Falls
At the very end of the trail, you are greeted with the beautiful Apikuni Falls, which is fed via snowmelt from Natahki Lake located higher up the mountain.
I think it’s worth noting that the cliff directly above Apikuni Falls is overhanging, which can present the greatest danger of rockfall should you choose to stand at the base of the falls.
