About this spot
Mission Falls tumbles through the Mission Mountains Tribal Wilderness on the Flathead Indian Reservation near St. Ignatius, reached by a moderate roughly 4-mile round-trip trail off Highway 93 past Mission Reservoir. Non-tribal visitors must buy a CSKT conservation/recreation permit (about $10-17) before hiking; rough, narrow, steep sections lead to close-up cascades over rock ledges into a pool at the base, confirmed by satellite imagery and multiple independent trip reports of hikers wading and swimming there. The real hazard is algae-slicked rock underfoot: wading too far into the pool has caused slips toward the falls, and multiple sources note this is reportedly the only trail in the tribal wilderness with recorded fatalities. Check flow and footing before entering the water, and always carry your permit.