Dawn Mist Falls is a 75-foot, two-step waterfall on the Belly River in Glacier National Park, Montana, in the park's northeastern corner in Glacier County. The whole river pours over a rock ledge here, and reaching it takes a long walk up the Belly River valley from the Chief Mountain trailhead.
The falls
Lidar measurements indicate a main drop of about 65 feet followed by a second step of about 10 feet, while other accounts describe a 50-foot cascade. The entire river crashes onto rocks below the lip and turns sharply to the right, throwing up heavy mist.
Getting there
The shortest route runs 7.8 miles one way from the Chief Mountain Customs trailhead, down the Belly River Trail past the ranger station. A longer approach runs 11.3 miles from the Iceberg-Ptarmigan trailhead. The falls sit on a short spur, a 0.3-mile round-trip detour between Cosley Lake and Elizabeth Lake. The return hike climbs about 700 feet back out to the Chief Mountain trailhead.
Overnight stays need a Glacier wilderness permit. Summer admission is $35 per vehicle for seven days ($25 from November through April), plus $100 per person for non-US residents aged 16 and older unless they hold an Annual or America the Beautiful Pass. The park requires no vehicle reservations in 2026 and does not take cash.
When to go
The Belly River area is often reachable in May, but seasonal bridges go in from late May, are all installed by mid-July and are mostly removed by late September. In the afternoon, the sun behind the viewer puts rainbows in the spray.
On site
The spur leads to a view from below, and the trail then climbs to the top of the falls. The mist soaks everything nearby, including camera lenses. Pets are not allowed on Glacier's trails.
History and name
The Park Service's administrative history says the falls were first called Morning Dew and were probably renamed for the heroine of an Indian novel by H. F. Sanders, the lover of White Quiver.
Nearby
Gros Ventre Falls on the Mokowanis River is about 1.7 miles away, Upper Otatso Creek Falls about 3 miles, and Kaina Lake Falls about 4.1 miles.
Distances are straight-line.