Aster Falls & Paradise Point: Glacier National Park Hike
The easy-going hike to Aster Falls in Glacier National Park has it all: a multi-tiered waterfall, tremendous potential to spot wildlife, summer wildflowers, and options to explore Paradise Point and Aster Park Overlook. In this trail guide, we share everything you need to know about this enjoyable hike.
Tucked away in Glacier’s (slightly) lesser-visited Two Medicine area, you’ll find the gorgeous, family-friendly hike to Aster Falls and Paradise Point.
This laid-back trail offers a detour to aptly-named Paradise Point, fantastic views of Two Medicine’s iconic mountains, meadows covered in wildflowers, beaver ponds frequented by moose, and the star of the show, Aster Falls.
Major bonuses include far fewer crowds than other parts of the park and several options to extend your adventure. Book a boat tour on the historic Sinopah, cast a line in Two Medicine Lake, continue your hike to Upper Two Medicine Lake, or hang out at pristine Pray Lake.
This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission — at no cost to you — if you click or make a purchase through any of them. For more information, read my disclosure statement. I appreciate you!
Jump ahead to:
Aster Falls Trail Highlights
- Location: Two Medicine area of Glacier National Park
- Distance: ~2.8 to 4 miles out and back, depending on whether you visit Paradise Point
- Elevation gain: 200 feet
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- Pets allowed? No
- Detailed trail notes + directions
2024 Glacier National Park Vehicle Reservations
In 2024, you do NOT need a vehicle reservation for the Two Medicine entrance.
You still need to pay an admission fee at entry ($35 per vehicle/$30 for motorcycles) or better yet, have an America the Beautiful annual national parks pass.
Visiting other parts of Glacier? From May 24 – September 8, vehicle reservations are required for West Glacier/Going-to-the-Sun Road and North Fork between 6:00am and 3:00pm. Reservations are also required in Many Glacier from July 1 – September 8.
Check out Glacier’s official Vehicle Reservations page for the most up-to-date details.
Requiring little time or effort and delivering a beautiful 20-foot waterfall, wildlife galore, and even a lakeside beach, we’re genuinely surprised that the Aster Falls hike isn’t more popular. Not that we’re complaining…
It could be because Two Medicine is pretty dang remote. You could argue that Many Glacier is, too, but it has the iconic Many Glacier Hotel and multiple restaurants.
In the park’s southeast corner, Two Medicine isn’t accessible from Going-to-the-Sun Road and it’s not near much of anything.
Sure, East Glacier Park Village is about 15 minutes away, but other than Two Medicine Campground and the camp store, there are literally no in-park services or accommodations.
We’re not saying this to deter you from hiking Aster Falls (or anywhere in Two Medicine!). We LOVE that Two Med is just a bit out of the way and has little to offer in the way of amenities!
This particular valley is really, really special, something you have to experience firsthand to really get. It’s just icing on the cake that there are several easy-ish hikes to let you really explore.
If you like the idea of chasing waterfalls, hanging out at a beach…in Montana, spotting moose, wandering through wildflower-blanketed meadows, and getting far, far away from the crowds at places like Logan Pass and the Highline (we love those, too, but there’s no denying they’re wildly popular), add the Aster Falls hike to your Glacier National Park itinerary.
Planning a big Glacier National Park trip? Check out our super detailed 1-5 day itinerary!
Know Before You Go
The hike to Aster Falls and Paradise Point in Glacier National Park is straightforward and fairly short, but there are still several things to consider before hitting the trail.
Do you have an annual national parks pass? This amazing pass gets you into all 63 national parks and 2,000+ other federal recreation sites. National monuments like Mount Rushmore, national recreation areas including Lake Powell, and many others! Read all about it HERE!
Best Time of Year to Hike to Aster Falls
Summer into mid-fall (June-October) is not only the best time to do the Aster Falls hike, it’s really the only time you can.
Just like Going-to-the-Sun Road, Two Medicine Road closes completely for much of the year—to vehicle traffic, anyway. Mother Nature dictates the exact dates, but the road generally closes by mid-October and doesn’t re-open until late May.
You can technically ski or snowshoe to the trailhead for Paradise Point and Aster Falls, but it’s about 20 miles roundtrip…and challenging. It’s 16 miles roundtrip just to Two Medicine Lake from the winter road closure gate.
One thing to keep in mind if you hike in Two Medicine outside of peak summer season: the ranger station, general store, and boat rentals all shut down in early September.
How Difficult is the Aster Falls and Paradise Point Hike?
The hike to Paradise Point and Aster Falls is on the easier end of moderate, suitable for even beginner hikers and young children.
While the trail both ascends and descends, it’s gradual and never technical. The most challenging thing about this hike is probably the uneven sections with tree roots.
Continuing to Aster Park? The last 0.6 miles of the trail (the section beyond Aster Falls) is more challenging. It’s significantly steeper and involves tackling a set of switchbacks.
How Long is the Hike to Aster Falls?
Plan on 2-2.5 hours if you hike to both Paradise Point and Aster Falls. That factors in time to stop at both Paradise Point and the waterfall.
If you skip Paradise Point, your hike will probably take more like 1.5-2 hours. And if you add Aster Park to your adventure, add on another hour or so.
Cell Service in Two Medicine
Don’t count on having cell service in Two Medicine. Even more so than many other national parks, cell service in Glacier is basically non-existent.
If you’re coming from St. Mary, stop at the visitor center and use the free wi-fi to get directions into GPS. Coming into Two Med from East Glacier Park or Browning, use your phone one last time before leaving town.
Using AllTrails in Two Medicine
Cell service is basically non-existent in Two Medicine (and most of Glacier as a whole), so it’s easy to get turned around—even on shorter hikes.
That’s exactly why we always download trail maps ahead of time on AllTrails+.
AllTrails’ free version is awesome, but if you frequently hike in national parks and other remote areas, the downloading and accessing trail maps offline is WELL worth the $2.99 a month.
You can try AllTrails+ for a week before committing, so there’s truly no reason not to. At the very least, sign up for the free account and transform your hiking game.
Parking for Aster Falls and Paradise Point
There’s a large main parking lot at the eastern end of Two Medicine Lake that accommodates about 60 vehicles. If that’s full, you can also head to the overflow parking area at the general store or park along the road.
You literally cannot miss either one—Two Medicine Road ends at the main lot and passes the store.
If you’re staying at the Two Medicine Campground, you can also walk the short distance to the Aster Falls trailhead. Depending on where you are in camp, it’s 0.3-0.5 miles, 10-15 minutes tops.
The Bathroom Situation
There are multiple bathrooms close to the start of the Aster Falls and Paradise Point hike, but none on the trail itself.
The closest ones are the restrooms in the Two Medicine Lake parking lot, and there are also two other sets of bathrooms adjacent to and just across from the general store. The bathrooms right outside the store have running water and flush toilets.
Aster Falls and Paradise Point Route Details
Your Aster Falls hike starts from the South Shore Trailhead, at the far east end of Two Medicine Lake (close to the boat dock and rental kiosk).
Interestingly, the trailhead sign doesn’t even list Aster Falls. Don’t worry, though—hit the trail and head toward Paradise Point and Aster Park Overlook. The falls are 1.2 miles away.
The trail is well-defined and fairly wide, very gently rolling up and down. In mid- to late summer, this first stretch is lined with tons of huckleberry bushes (and yes, the park allows and even encourages visitors to pick and eat them!).
At just under a quarter-mile in, look for the turnoff to Paradise Point on your right. You can, of course, stop here on your way back instead…which is a great idea on hot days, because you can take a dip in the cool water!
The trip to Paradise Point from this trail junction is about one mile round-trip. We clocked 1.1 miles, and have seen others say it was as little as 0.8. This likely depends on how much walking around you do at the lakeshore.
Depending on how much time you spend at the water, factor in about one hour total for this side trip.
Paradise Point
The side trail leading to Paradise Point is about 0.4 miles and moderate. There are some natural ‘steps’ built into the trail and roots to maneuver around, but nothing too tricky.
En route to the water, you’ll descend a bit, cross a few small footbridges over marshy areas, and pass through open meadows filled with summer wildflowers (and tons of wild berries!).
The trail is extremely overgrown in some spots close to the lake…like waist-high, if not taller. Because visibility isn’t great through the vegetation, be extra cautious in these areas. You don’t want to accidentally surprise any wildlife!
Once you pop out at the water, there’s a small beach area and spectacular views in front of you. Rising Wolf Mountain seems even larger somehow, and Lone Walker Mountain and Mount Helen tower next to it.
You can swim and fish at Paradise Point, and it’s an excellent spot to watch for wildlife across the lake (bring binoculars!). It’s also ideal for a snack or lunch, peacefully watching kayakers and Two Medicine’s historic Sinopah boat.
When you’re ready, retrace your steps and hop back on the main trail toward Aster Park.
Beaver Ponds
Once you’re back on the main trail, you’ll pass by a series of small beaver ponds in the next quarter-mile (half a mile if you skip the Paradise Point detour).
This area is strikingly beautiful, a mix of marshes and large meadows, all hemmed in by Two Medicine’s towering peaks.
Keep your eyes open for moose near the ponds—this is exactly the type of terrain they hang out in, foraging in the shallow water.
Aster Falls
1.1 miles from the trailhead (right around two miles if you go to Paradise Point), you’ll cross a picturesque log bridge over Aster Creek.
Just after this point, barely a tenth of a mile, come to a fork in the trail. Take the left path onto Aster Park Trail (toward where the sign indicates ‘end of the trail’). The falls are just ahead!
About one-tenth of a mile after the trail split, you’ll come to another junction. The short side trail down to Aster Falls is on your left, while going straight leads to Aster Park Overlook.
To get to the waterfall, simply follow the short spur path downhill. You’ll hear that distinct roar, and in just a couple of minutes, you’ll be standing at a rocky viewing platform at the base of the falls.
You can cross the creek and take in the multi-tiered cascade from different angles, but do so very carefully—and of course, 100% at your own risk.
We crossed the large rocks that form sort of a natural bridge, then climbed up a bit to get a better view. Some other hikers were attempting to go all the way up to the top of the falls, but there’s no trail whatsoever and it looked fairly treacherous, so we stayed behind.
You can also swim in the pool at the base of the falls, or in Aster Creek a little further down. When we were there in July, it was calm enough but CHILLY (even on a hot summer day!).
When you’re ready, retrace your steps uphill back to the main trail.
Aster Park Viewpoint
If you’re up for extending your adventure, head to Aster Park after enjoying the waterfall. Instead of heading back to Two Medicine Lake, take a left when you reconnect with Aster Park Trail.
The ‘park’ is actually an open meadow, looking out over the lake. It’s 0.6 miles from the waterfall, a fairly steep 500-foot incline involving some switchbacks.
While it certainly isn’t as easy as the Aster Falls hike, it’s straightforward and not particularly difficult.
WANT MORE GLACIER NATIONAL PARK CONTENT? YOU’LL LOVE THESE!
Wildlife on the Trail
The Aster Falls trail travels through prime moose and bear habitat, so there’s a decent chance you’ll see one. However, the area is heavily used and busy enough with human activity that you’re more likely to see moose than bears.
You’ll also likely spot some beavers, deer, and all sorts of interesting birds, including bald eagles and osprey.
We did this hike in mid-July and didn’t see any animals on the trail. There were obvious signs of both moose and bears, though, particularly in the meadows near Paradise Point, and we saw a grizzly on the road near the Two Medicine entrance.
Tips for Hiking to Aster Falls
- Hike in the early morning or at dusk. The chances of spotting wildlife, namely moose, tends to be higher at these times.
- Wear bug spray (and bring extra to reapply!). With all the water along the Aster Falls trail, especially at Paradise Point and near the beaver ponds, biting insects can be pretty brutal in the summer.
- Consider wearing hiking sandals. A good portion of the trail is shaded, so it’s often muddy. Plus, you may want to get in the water at Paradise Point or Aster Falls.
- Make lots of noise on the trail. Bears, moose, and other wildlife absolutely do frequent this section of Two Medicine, so take precautions to not accidentally sneak up on them. Especially if there aren’t other hikers on the trail, talk, clap, hum, or sing.
