River Edge Trail in Great Falls, Montana

We began our ride at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Trail since we were there enjoying the exhibits prior to our 8 day canoe journey through the Missouri Breaks beginning Saturday, but there are eleven trailhead parking lots available along the trail. A trail map is available.

We passed Black Eagle Falls and Dam on one side of the river, and on the return trip on the opposite shore, we took a spur trail over to the dam which has a park on the island. Four of the five waterfalls in this area have hydroelectric dams now, a practice which began in 1892 with the first dam here at this location. Today, very little water was coming over the falls, with most diverted into the plant. Three of the other falls are Rainbow, Crooked, and The Great Falls.



The trail is paved for 13 miles and gravel for 17 miles as either single or double-track. Below is a view downriver from the dam. The trail also passes the water park and the skate park and various parks and park amenities.



Views are frequent from the trail and washrooms, covered picnic tables, and benches with scenic views of the river are liberally sprinkled along the trail. There is even a rest stop by a caboose from the old Burlington Northern (above) which supplies its old roadbed for much of this trail.


The trail also hits the business district and passes the old train station and other old railroad structures and traverses the parking lot of the police department.