Palisade Falls Trailhead
4.8(155)google
HikingHiking TrailOutdoorFamilyWaterfall
Overview
Moon Falls, also spelled Moonfalls, is a waterfall located on the west edge of the Umpqua National Forest in Lane County, in the U.S. state of Oregon. It totals 100 feet fall in one wide veiling cascade and is 1.5 miles from Spirit Falls trailhead.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration1.5-2 hours
Best TimeLate June through September is the prime window to tackle this mountain trail. Heading out at 10:00 AM on a clear summer morning is ideal to escape the mountain valley chills. The fully paved, wheelchair-accessible 1.1-mile round-trip trail winds through the Gallatin National Forest, leading straight to the base of an 80-foot drop splashing over vertical black basalt rock columns.
Getting ThereTucked deep inside the scenic Hyalite Canyon recreation area. To drive, head south from downtown Bozeman along 19th Avenue, merge onto Hyalite Canyon Road for a winding 15 miles, cross past the Hyalite Reservoir, and follow the gravel East Fork Road to its dead end trailhead lot. The winding mountain road can be hazardous in winter; seasonal self-driving is advised as no buses run here.
Travel Tips
- Hyalite Canyon Road experiences heavy seasonal dynamic gates and closures; check the Forest Service portal before driving to verify upper canyon motorized access.
- While the trail is paved and accessible, the active talus slope at the base of the falls is highly unstable; climbing past the terminal safety viewing barrier is barred.
- Cell service drops to zero inside Hyalite Recreation Area; the trailhead offers no digital amenities or landlines, necessitating pre-downloaded offline trail maps.
Reviews
Positive
- The trail leads to a magnificent 80-foot waterfall cascading down unique basalt columns, offering a highly unique and scenic visual experience that fully lives up to the hype.
- The entire trail is paved with smooth asphalt and features a very gentle slope, providing excellent wheelchair and stroller accessibility, making it ideal for the whole family.
- The trailhead parking lot is well-planned and equipped with basic vault toilets; the path is nicely shaded by tall pine trees, offering fresh air and a very clean, pristine environment.
- Completely free to access, offering unbeatable value! The canyon scenery on the drive from Bozeman or Big Sky is beautiful, making it perfect for a cost-effective half-day outing.
Heads up
- The last few miles leading to the trailhead consist of a bumpy gravel road full of potholes, causing a rough ride and heavy dust; low-clearance sedans will struggle.
- Because the trail is famous and extremely easy to walk, it gets packed with visitors between 10 AM and 3 PM, leaving the narrow viewing platform at the base crowded with people.
- Aside from basic trail signs, there is a lack of multilingual safety warnings or detailed ecological plaques; during winter freeze, the asphalt becomes slick without enough warnings.
- There are absolutely no dining, retail, or cell signals nearby; it's a total wilderness area, which can be highly inconvenient if you don't bring your own water, snacks, and trash bags.