Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Montana Columbia Falls Shepard Memorial Fountain
AO Edited

Shepard Memorial Fountain

Crystal clear, drinkable mountain spring water by the side of the road.

Columbia Falls, Montana

Added By
scottdfrank
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The spring and memorial marker   scottdfrank / Atlas Obscura User
A pipe provides easy access to the spring water   scottdfrank / Atlas Obscura User
The memorial marker.   scottdfrank / Atlas Obscura User
An offshoot of the spring tumbles down the mountain nearby.   scottdfrank / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

In a large turnoff across from the beautiful Flathead River near Glacier National Park, a pipe sticking out of a mountainside provides cool, clear water for locals and tourists alike.

A nearby stone marker names it the Shepard Memorial Fountain, "Dedicated to the memory of Lion Don Shepard of Kalispell"; a second nearby historical sign notes that for decades, "[this] natural spring provided water to locals and, during the early days of automobiles, helped cool more than a few overheated radiators." 

The pipe is there to make the local springwater more accessible, and water tumbles from it into a small pool full of colorful local argillite stones. And while a small, bullet-riddled sign warns "drink at your own risk," you'll often find the parking area full of locals carrying multi-gallon jugs to fill at the spring (perhaps the sign was shot up for questioning their water source). This author filled a few themself, and drank it continuously for a week with no ill effects.

Related Tags

Fountains Spring Water

Know Before You Go

"Highway 2 E" Columbia Falls may be difficult to find. It's about a half-mile east of the intersection of Highway 2 and Berne Rd, and very easy to spot as you're driving towards Glacier Park. The Google Maps plus code for the spring is 9VPX+73 Columbia Falls, Montana; map coordinates are roughly 48° 23.143 N, 114° 6.142 W.

Community Contributors

Added By

scottdfrank

Edited By

Collector of Experiences

  • Collector of Experiences

Published

August 23, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Shepard Memorial Fountain
Highway 2 East
Columbia Falls, Montana, 59912
United States
48.385659, -114.102293
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Montana Vortex and House of Mystery

Columbia Falls, Montana

miles away

Lake McDonald

West Glacier, Montana

miles away

Wreck of the Steamship Helena

Bigfork, Montana

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Columbia Falls

Columbia Falls

Montana

Places 2

Nearby Places

Montana Vortex and House of Mystery

Columbia Falls, Montana

miles away

Lake McDonald

West Glacier, Montana

miles away

Wreck of the Steamship Helena

Bigfork, Montana

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Columbia Falls

Columbia Falls

Montana

Places 2

Related Places

  • Fontaine Intermittente de Fontestorbes

    Bélesta, France

    Fontaine Intermittente de Fontestorbes

    Every half hour, the flow of this unusual spring cycles between a rush of water and barely a trickle.

  • Brow Burn, Scotland

    Brow Well

    Mineral well linked to the final days of a beloved Scottish poet.

  • Mumbai, India

    Flora Fountain

    An iconic fountain dedicated to the Roman goddess Flora stands in the heart of Mumbai.

  • A tiny remnant of the “vegas” for which Las Vegas was named.  The Boy Scout chimney is in the background.

    Las Vegas, Nevada

    Springs Preserve

    The birthplace of Las Vegas is now preserved as a historic and natural area.

  • Bronze hen near the spring.

    Sønderborg, Denmark

    Hønekilden (The Hen Spring)

    This enchanting spring, steeped in local lore and a touch of royal history, was said to be the place where newborns were collected, rather than being delivered by storks.

  • The Fountain of the Twelve Months

    Turin, Italy

    Fontana dei Dodici Mesi

    See every month of the year personified at this opulent Turinese fountain.

  • Collins Temperance Fountain

    Glasgow, Scotland

    Collins Temperance Fountain

    A warning against "the demon drink" adorns the northwest entrance of Glasgow Green.

  • The Indian Drinking Fountain, Yamashita Park.

    Yokohama, Japan

    Indian Drinking Fountain

    A memorial to the Indian victims of the devastating 1923 earthquake, built in glorious Mughal style.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.