Black Eagle Dam is on the Missouri River in Great Falls, Montana, where it forms Black Eagle Reservoir. The dam and nearby falls make a distinctive river landmark, with a viewpoint identified at Black Eagle Memorial Island Park below the falls.
- Location: Missouri River, Great Falls, Cascade County, Montana
- Falls: 26 feet high; first dammed in 1890
- Viewpoint: Black Eagle Memorial Island Park, below the falls
Where Black Eagle Dam Is
Black Eagle Dam stands on the Missouri River in Great Falls, in Cascade County, Montana. It creates Black Eagle Reservoir, while the nearby falls mark a stretch of the river that has long shaped the city’s landscape.
Black Eagle Falls are 2.5 miles above Rainbow Falls and drop 26 feet. They are the nearest of the Great Falls Missouri River falls to the city limits. The falls were first dammed in 1890.
What Visitors Can See
You can view Black Eagle Falls from Black Eagle Memorial Island Park below the falls. The park offers a close viewpoint of the falls and river.
The falls are part of the Missouri River’s series of falls around Great Falls. For a wider geographic reference, the Black Eagle Dam overlook is 1.5 miles by highway from the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center; Black Eagle Island is 4.0 miles by highway from it.
A one-day Great Falls itinerary for museums and local sights can help you combine the dam with other stops.
Access, Viewpoints, and Safety
Black Eagle Memorial Island Park is identified as a viewpoint, but access details can change. Montana rules prohibit boating, sailing, floating, and swimming in the waters from 500 feet above the dam to 100 feet below the waterfalls.
The rules also close river and stream channel areas below the ordinary high-water mark from the dam to 100 feet below the waterfalls; signs or fences mark these restricted areas.
Before setting out, check the official sites for Great Falls tourism and NorthWestern Energy for current access information. Stay out of closed areas and follow posted signs or fences.
How do you get to Black Eagle Dam?
From Central Motel, Black Eagle Dam is about 3.0 miles away, with an estimated eight-minute drive. A Great Falls visitor guide identifies Black Eagle Falls (Black Eagle Dam) at 5401 River Drive North.
The guide to getting around Great Falls covers transportation around the city.
FAQs
Where is Black Eagle Dam?
It is on the Missouri River in Great Falls, Cascade County, Montana, and forms Black Eagle Reservoir.
How tall are Black Eagle Falls?
Black Eagle Falls are 26 feet high. They were first dammed in 1890.
Can you swim or boat near Black Eagle Dam?
Montana rules close the waters from 500 feet above the dam to 100 feet below the waterfalls to boating, sailing, floating, and swimming.