The best waterfalls near Helena, Montana are Morrell Falls, Memorial Falls, Crow Creek Falls and 7 more, ranked by visitor ratings and distance from the city. The closest is Crow Creek Falls, about 21 miles southeast of Helena.
For more waterfalls around Helena, browse the nearest towns: Clancy, Deer Lodge, Lincoln, Anaconda, White Sulphur Springs, Philipsburg, Sun Prairie, Great Falls. You can also see every waterfall on the Montana waterfalls page.
How we picked: We looked at the 20 publicly accessible Montana waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Helena that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
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1. Morrell Falls
83 miles northwest of Helena. Our top pick near the city 5.0 out of 5 from 32 reviews.
Powell County, MT (GPS 47.3010, -113.4629)
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Morrell Falls is about 83 miles northwest of Helena, near Seeley Lake. Visitors rate it 5.0 stars across 32 Google reviews, and 97% of them give it five stars.
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2. Memorial Falls
67 miles east of Helena. Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 28 reviews.
Cascade County, MT 59465 (GPS 46.9154, -110.6929)
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Memorial Falls is about 67 miles east of Helena, near White Sulphur Springs. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 28 Google reviews, and 86% of them give it five stars. Reviews most often mention rocky trail, rough terrain, and easy walk.
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3. Crow Creek Falls
21 miles southeast of Helena. Rated 4.5 out of 5 from 22 reviews.
Jefferson County, MT 59638 (GPS 46.3380, -111.7908)
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Crow Creek Falls is about 21 miles southeast of Helena, near Clancy. Visitors rate it 4.5 stars across 22 Google reviews, and 68% of them give it five stars. In short: "A popular hiking trail through scenic, wooded terrain leads to this small waterfall & creek." Reviews most often mention high clearance, 4x4 vehicle, and maps.
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4. Cataract Falls
57 miles northwest of Helena. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 16 reviews.
Lewis and Clark County, MT 59410 (GPS 47.3221, -112.6037)
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Cataract Falls is about 57 miles northwest of Helena, near Lincoln. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 16 Google reviews.
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5. Double Falls
65 miles northwest of Helena. Rated 5.0 out of 5 from 8 reviews.
Lewis and Clark County, MT 59410 (GPS 47.4069, -112.7239)
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Double Falls is about 65 miles northwest of Helena, near Lincoln. Visitors rate it 5.0 stars across 8 Google reviews. Reviews most often mention campground, trail, and falls.
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6. Ousel Falls
99 miles south of Helena. Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 92 reviews.
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Ousel Falls is about 99 miles south of Helena, near Big Sky. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 92 Google reviews, and 98% of them give it five stars.
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7. Skalkaho Falls
88 miles west of Helena. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 108 reviews.
Ravalli County, MT 59858 (GPS 46.2574, -113.8265)
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Skalkaho Falls is about 88 miles west of Helena, near Hamilton. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 108 Google reviews, and 84% of them give it five stars. Reviews most often mention magnificent falls, scenic drive, and roadside location.
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8. Rock Creek Falls
46 miles west of Helena. Rated 4.2 out of 5 from 6 reviews.
Powell County, MT 59722 (GPS 46.4102, -112.9625)
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Rock Creek Falls is about 46 miles west of Helena, near Deer Lodge. Visitors rate it 4.2 stars across 6 Google reviews.
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9. Black Eagle Falls
74 miles northeast of Helena. Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 14 reviews.
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Black Eagle Falls is about 74 miles northeast of Helena, near Great Falls. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 14 Google reviews. The USGS gazetteer describes it as: coord approx.
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10. Grotto Falls
95 miles southeast of Helena. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 56 reviews.
Gallatin County, MT 59047 (GPS 45.4358, -110.9638)
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Grotto Falls is about 95 miles southeast of Helena, near Four Corners. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 56 Google reviews, and 88% of them give it five stars. Reviews most often mention easy hike, lush forest, and canyon.
Waterfall Day Trips From Helena
| Waterfall | Distance | Nearest town | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crow Creek Falls | 21 mi southeast | Clancy | 4.5 |
| Rock Creek Falls | 46 mi west | Deer Lodge | 4.2 |
| Cataract Falls | 57 mi northwest | Lincoln | 4.8 |
| Double Falls | 65 mi northwest | Lincoln | 5.0 |
| Memorial Falls | 67 mi east | White Sulphur Springs | 4.9 |
| Black Eagle Falls | 74 mi northeast | Great Falls | 4.7 |
| Morrell Falls | 83 mi northwest | Seeley Lake | 5.0 |
| Skalkaho Falls | 88 mi west | Hamilton | 4.8 |
| Grotto Falls | 95 mi southeast | Four Corners | 4.8 |
| Ousel Falls | 99 mi south | Big Sky | 4.9 |
Straight-line distances from downtown Helena. Driving distances are longer, especially in the mountains.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best waterfall near Helena?
Morrell Falls tops our 2026 list. It is about 83 miles northwest of Helena and rated 5.0 stars from 32 Google reviews.
What is the closest waterfall to Helena?
Of the waterfalls on this list, Crow Creek Falls is the closest, about 21 straight-line miles southeast of the city, near Clancy.
How many waterfalls are near Helena?
We track 20 publicly accessible, reviewed waterfalls in Montana within 100 miles of Helena, 2 of this list's picks within 50 miles. See every waterfall in the state on the Montana waterfalls page.
How was this list made?
We looked at the 20 publicly accessible Montana waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Helena that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
Where are the most waterfalls in Montana?
Glacier National Park and the surrounding Flathead area hold the largest share, with Glacier and Flathead counties accounting for 47 of the state's 120 named falls in our directory. The Bozeman and Big Sky area is the next largest cluster.
Summary
Morrell Falls is our top waterfall pick near Helena, rated 5.0 out of 5 and about 83 miles from the city. Ratings and review counts reflect public data at the time of writing and can change, and trail access and water levels vary through the year, so confirm conditions before you go.
Montana's falls follow the mountain snowpack. Peak flows usually arrive from late May through June, when warm weather melts high-elevation snow, and some falls can be dangerously powerful then. July offers the best combination of strong water and open high-country access; in Glacier National Park, the full Going-to-the-Sun Road often does not open until late June or July because of the time needed to clear snow. By late August and September, flows decline, but larch and aspen color in late September is a strong draw. Winter closes many mountain roads, including the Skalkaho Highway, and falls in Hyalite Canyon and elsewhere freeze into ice climbing routes.
For more Montana waterfalls, see the full Montana waterfalls page, or read 15 Best Waterfalls in Montana, 10 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Montana and 5 Must-See Waterfalls in Montana.