Palisade Falls Hiking Guide
Palisade Falls pours over a wall of dark basalt columns deep in Hyalite Canyon, about 20 miles south of Bozeman. The trail to it is paved, short and gentle — one of the few genuinely accessible waterfall walks in the Montana mountains. Families, wheelchair users and visitors short on time can all reach the base of an 80-foot waterfall in a setting that feels far from the road.
The Walk
The Forest Service describes Palisade Falls as a half-mile paved nature trail; round trip it is about 1.2 miles with roughly 250 feet of gain. The path is stroller- and wheelchair-friendly, though a few steeper sections may be challenging for some wheelchair users. It ends at a viewing area near the base of the falls, where the water drops more than 80 feet over columnar basalt.
Road Access and Seasons
Hyalite Canyon Road is closed to motor vehicles every year from April 1 to May 15, reopening May 16, though walking and biking are allowed. The East Fork road (FS 6280) to the Palisade Falls trailhead is open to vehicles from May 16 to December 31 and sometimes opens later because of snow or mud. In winter, people ski or snowshoe in from the Chisholm trailhead, and the falls freeze.
Bear Country
Hyalite is bear country, and a forest-wide food storage order applies on the Custer Gallatin National Forest. Store food and scented items properly, even at the picnic area, and carry bear spray on longer hikes in the canyon. The paved path is busy enough that bear encounters are unlikely, but not impossible.
Dogs
The trailhead and picnic area are a developed recreation site, where federal rules require dogs to be on a leash of six feet or less. Some local lists describe Hyalite in general as off-leash; follow the posted signs at the trailhead, and keep dogs leashed on the paved trail.
Practicalities
There is no fee. The trailhead has an accessible vault toilet and a picnic area, but no drinking water. The path can be icy in late autumn. The drive up Hyalite Canyon passes Hyalite Reservoir and many other trailheads, making this an easy add-on to a longer day in the canyon.
Hiking tips for Palisade Falls
- Check road status — Hyalite Canyon Road closes to vehicles every April 1 to May 15.
- Bring the whole family; the paved trail suits strollers and most wheelchairs.
- Keep dogs on a six-foot leash at the developed trailhead and on the paved path.
- Store food properly; a bear food storage order applies across the forest.
- Carry water — there is none at the trailhead.
Nearby trails to explore
- Lava Lake
- Bozeman M Trail
- Drinking Horse Mountain
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Palisade Falls is an easy, accessible outing in Hyalite Canyon. Use TrailMates to find Bozeman hikers to pair it with a bigger canyon day. Download the TrailMates app to connect.