Whether biking, skating, jogging or walking is your favorite outdoor activity; River’s Edge Trail is the perfect setting. Extending over 40 miles along both sides of the Missouri River, this trail provides spectacular views of the river canyon and all the hydro-electric dams, reservoirs and waterfalls. The trail links many local parks and attractions along our scenic and historic riverfront and offers the chance to watch a wide variety of waterfowl feeding along the river.

Experience the Mighty Missouri, the heart and soul of Great Falls. From the panoramic overview of the City at Warden Park to the rugged landscapes at Dry Waterfall, River’s Edge Trail has something for everyone. It connects many of the fine parks and attractions in the Great Falls area.

Following along both sides of the Missouri, the urban trail is mostly paved and fully accessible. It is dotted with benches, tables, picnic shelters, rest rooms, interpretive panels and drinking fountains and is served by 13 convenient trailhead parking areas. The trail links the historic downtown with Broadwater Bay, the Mitchell Pool Complex, Gibson Park, the Skate Park and the new Trailside Dog Park.

You can cross a restored Milwaukee Railroad bridge and check out Garden Home Park and new developments on the west side of the downtown. You are always sure to see a variety of birds along the trail through West Bank Park, especially around Sacajawea Island. Don’t miss a visit to Black Eagle Memorial Island where you can cross the tailrace on a historic truss bridge, hear and feel the hum of the turbines and look up at Black Eagle Falls.
As the paved trail leaves the downtown area it follows along a former Great Northern Railroad line built along the cliffs near Black Eagle Falls. The trail leads to the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, Giant Springs State Park and the scenic overlooks of Rainbow Falls. The paved trail continues along the cliffs down to a spectacular overlook of Crooked Falls. A fairly sedate dirt single and double-track trail extends another 7 miles past Cochrane and Ryan reservoirs to an awesome view down on the Great Falls of the Missouri.

But, if you are a serious mountain-biker, you’ll want to head straight for “Mayhem”, a maze of technical and expert trails created by local bike enthusiasts and agency managers between Crooked Falls and Cochrane Dam.

More great hiking and mountain-biking can be found on the North Shore Trail component of the Great Falls trail system. The trail follows gravel service road along portions of Cochrane and Ryan reservoirs and then turns to single-track and ascends to cliffs overlooking the Great Falls of the Missouri and Ryan Island.

The single track splits into three separate trails near the old stone dynamite shed east of the Ryan Trailhead. One climbs up to the prairie bluffs and two follow contours along the canyon wall. They all come together at Dry Waterfall and the trail then follows along bays of Morony Reservoir to the Sulpur Spring Trailhead. From there a walking only interpretive trail extends to historic Sacagawea Spring.


FOR MORE INFORMATION CHECK OUT THESE LINKS:

2009 Great Falls Area Transportation Plan, Chapter 5:
Pedestrian, Bicycle and Transit Analysis – page 1-14 click here

2009 Existing Bikeway Network, Figure 5-1 click here

2009 Proposed Bikeway Network & System Improvements,
Figure 5-2 click here