Hiking the Apikuni Falls Trail in Glacier National Park
Distance: 2.0 miles / 3.2 km
The Apikuni Falls Trail, also called Apikuni or Appekunny Falls, in Glacier National Park is one of the least-visited day hikes within the Many Glacier District on the east side of the park.
This is because Apikuni Falls is often overshadowed by the three big-name hikes in Many Glacier, which include the Cracker Lake Trail, the Grinnell Glacier Trail, and the Iceberg Lake Trail.
For this reason, Apikuni Falls is typically a very quiet, uncrowded trail compared to these other three, which, for obvious reasons, makes it one of my favorite easy East Glacier adventures!
U.S. National Park Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
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.
Bear Spray & Holster - If you aren’t flying, don’t rent bear spray! It’s a waste of money. Prepare ahead of time by buying your own, as this may be one of the most important items on this list.
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the Apikuni Falls Trail
Even though the Apikuni Falls Trail is only 1.0 miles (1.6 km) each way, the hike is nearly all uphill, 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 0.25 miles (0.4 km) 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.
More Glacier Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing adventures within Glacier National Park, check out my separate posts below!
Best Way to Find Places to Stay!
Wherever I travel, I love to start my search for places to stay on VRBO.
Even if I don’t end up booking through them, I think it’s one of the best ways to see what’s in the area!
Washington
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Discover Cars!
Safety
Always be mindful that Glacier National Park and the surrounding area is Grizzly Bear country. Therefore, you need to be hiking with bear spray and know how to react in the event of a Black or Brizzly Bear encounter.
Aside from wildlife, Glacier National Park, like any area in the Mountain West, is known for its violent afternoon thunderstorms, which are more typical in the warmer summer months than other times of the year.
That said, it’s important to check the local forecast before setting off on any adventure, as lightning strikes are not uncommon in and near mountain ranges across the West. I have personally been knocked to the ground by a strike that hit near me in the past, and I confidently say that it’s an experience you don’t want to live through. This is why I highly recommend checking Mountain Forecast for any high-elevation adventures you may be interested in—especially when climbing a summit.
Finally, know that when micro-spikes are necessary for an early-season adventure, micro-spikes are never supposed to be a substitute for conditions that require crampons.
As always, find the most up-to-date information and conditions on the official National Park website.
National Park Service: Glacier National Park
U.S. National Parks Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
More U.S. National Parks
If you’d like to read more about some of my best recommendations when visiting other U.S. National Parks, check out some of my other posts below!
Disclaimer
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