Avalanche Lake

We combined this with the trail of the cedars. My alltrails said 7.1 miles and my wifes apple watch said 7.5 when all was said and done but I had heard it was 5.9 beforehand. Either way, all ages and sizes were accomplishing this hike although most everyone we saw were taking breaks. We were able to do this without taking breaks besides photo ops and spent some time at the lake, exploring. The incline is slow and steady, totaling around 600-700' when done, with barely any of it on the way back. I highly recommend hitting the fishing trail as soon as you see the lake, but also walking to the other side of the lake. The views from both ends are breathtaking. We got here around 630am on a Wednesday morning in early August, the lot was over half full with cars parking every few seconds. This is one of the more popular hikes. The lot is always full after 7am and you have to wait for spots.

6-11-25, Sunny and warm, started after 9am. Plenty of parking in the campground. Scat on the trail but no bears. Dry trail except near the water. We hiked past the Trail Ends sign to the snow field. About 4-5 falls past the lake are in view depending on your location on the lake edge.

Beautiful, well-maintained trail with stunning views from start to finish. The hike winds through lush forest along Avalanche Creek, and ends at the breathtaking Avalanche Lake — crystal-clear water, towering cliffs, and waterfalls. We even spotted a deer and marmot along the way. A must-do in Glacier National Park!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Absolutely Worth the Hike Avalanche Lake was one of the highlights of our trip to Glacier. The hike is about 2 miles each way—super manageable—and the trail is well maintained with beautiful trees and shaded spots throughout. You follow a creek for a good portion of the trail, and the sound of the water makes the hike feel peaceful the whole way. Once you reach the lake, the view is incredible. Crystal-clear water surrounded by massive cliffs and waterfalls pouring down in the distance. It’s the kind of spot that makes you want to just sit down and take it all in. Definitely recommend packing a snack and staying for a bit. Easy to see why it’s a favorite—don’t skip it.

Amazing hike. Around 5 miles round not much elevation. Loved the views!

Avalanche Lake Trail Location: Avalanche Creek Roundtrip Length: 4.5 Miles Total Elevation Gain: 730 Feet Avg. Elev Gain / Mile: 324 Feet Highest Elevation: 4031 Feet The hike to Avalanche Lake begins from the Trail of the Cedars trailhead, located 5.5 miles east of the Lake.

Our 16 yr olds favorite hike! Started via trail of the cedars after driving around the parking areas at avalanche campground for about 90 minutes to finally get a spot (so prepare to have patience!) Great for a hot afternoon hike as it is shaded for the majority of the trail. Would recommend bringing a picnic lunch and enjoying God’s majestic beauty at this lake. It’s vibrant blue and just glorious! There was also a Stellar’s Jay Bird! Loved it! 😊

It's a beautiful lake in Glacier National Park. You have to climb up on the trail for 1.6 miles to reach here. Moderate trail. Beautiful scenic point. I enjoyed the trail as well as the small stay at the lake.

Trail is 5.9 miles out and back. Beautiful waterfalls on our way. End point is so mesmerizing.

The Trail of the Cedars is an easy hike that is wheelchair-accessible through 500-year old red cedars, black cottonwoods and hemlock. This loop is less than a mile, no elevation and starts by the Avalanche Picnic area. This is an easy, popular hike and the little available parking is soon filled. We had to double back and wait with our signal on for a spot to open up. Once on the trailhead it's quiet and peaceful surrounded by towering and massive trees, and the lush and green all around is quite relaxing. I was heartened to see several people in wheelchairs, walkers and crutches enjoying this trail. It was amazing. The beauty of nature replenished our souls.

Relatively easy trail with amazing views. Walking through the cedars is so peaceful. Everything is so lush and green. Beautiful view of the gorge in the first mile. The trail is well marked and gets busy so go early. Trail arrives at the beautiful lake.

Located on the West Side of the Glacier, you start the hike through Cedars Trail and then pivot up to this. It was a fairly easy hike, a little over 5 miles round trip. We were in a time crunch so we did this in about 2 hours. Trail is mainly in the forested area but then opens up to a beautiful turquoise color-ed lake. You can choose to walk around the lake or head back but either angle, there's a great view!

5-6 mile hike that's totally worth it! Beautiful view things to keep in mind take water, snack for food, it's a up hill climb there and all down hill coming back! Took us a total of 2 hours from the parking lot to the lake.

My first hike at Glacier National Park was at Avalanche Lake which is a moderate level hike. It's about 6 miles round trip and there is not much elevation or incline. There's a very small parking lot along the Going to the Sun Road. I came at about 6:30pm and there were a couple spots open. I'd recommend coming very early or later in the day as spots fill up fast. At about 0.2 miles into the hike there is a restroom in case you need it. Along the hike you get lots of shade from all the trees. There's a waterfall and stream of river along the trail. You don't even need to go the entire way that it says on AllTrails to get beautiful views of the lake. You probably just need to go a little more than 2 miles rather than the entire 3 miles. The lake itself is beautiful and you can see two huge waterfalls on the back of it. It's great for taking panoramic views and I'm sure it's great for sunsets as well. It's a good moderate hike for the entire family.

It's one of the most travelled trails but so worth it. Saw waterfalls, bears, amazing lake, incredible cedars. Doesn't matter that there were others there and not secluded. Was one of my all time favorites. Recommend hiking up and brining lunch to have at the lake before hiking back.

This is such a beautiful hike! We thoroughly enjoyed the pleasant scenery while making the trek up to Avalanche Lake. If you aren't able or wanting to hike to the summit, trail of the cedars offers plenty of pretty backdrops! Now, if you DO want to make it to the lake summit, come prepared. It's moderate to challenging depending on your level of fitness. Come prepared with plenty of water and fuel, sunscreen, layered clothing, and sneakers or hiking boots with good traction. While the trail is typically crowded with people and noisy enough, you still might want to carry some precautionary bear spray. The total distance seemed to be somewhere between 4-5 miles total. There is a restroom available on trail of the cedars before the path leads to avalanche. This is the only opportunity for the restroom so use it. Final thing to note is obviously the parking situation. It's tough as you'd expect but don't give up! People come and go and we were able to grab a spot after about 5 minutes of a wait. If you want to avoid a wait, you need to start EARLY! The gorgeous views though...

Pleasant boardwalk with interpretive signs through a lush rainforest. Nice to see towering Western red cedars, black cottonwoods and hemlocks along the trail. Very peaceful way to end a long day of hiking. Note: The parking is very limited. Come either early or late in the day. We had no trouble finding a spot at 8 PM, but the lot was full by 7 AM when we drove by earlier in the day. This is also the starting point for the Avalanche Lake Trail.

I have to say that this was a nice introductory hike in the park. We hiked up to Avalanche and were in awe of the views when we got up there. The hike itself is pretty quick compared to some of the others and you won't be disappointed by the views at all.

WOW!! Just WOW! This is an incredibly gorgeous hike. An easy and short 5+ mile out & back, trail, but what awaits you at the end is simply BREATHTAKING!

Trail of the Cedars is not too memorable. It's basically the starting point for the hike to arriving at GORGEOUS Avalanche Lake! Trail of the Cedars has a boardwalk as you meander 8/10's of a mile in a loop inside the forest. I mean, yeah, the setting is quiet, quaint....and you feel like you're in the woods, but that's pretty much all. There is one small waterfall along this trail that's sort of worthwhile seeing, but it's quite small and nothing of grand stature. So, if you would like a sort of mediocre change of pace setting among all the places to explore at Glacier National Park, then Trail of the Cedars may be for you. THE REAL REASON TO HIKE TRAIL OF THE CEDARS IS TO ARRIVE AT THE AVALANCHE LAKE TRAILHEAD!!!! That's why I came here. Because I had heard through word of mouth and even from viewing postcards at random gift shops....that Avalanche Lake is very beautiful! The trail starts roughly about 1/2 mile along Trail of the Cedars. There'll be clear signs for the start to Avalanche Lake. It can't be missed. From this trailhead, it's 2 miles each way for a total 4 mile trek to and from Avalanche Lake. Including elevation, I'd say this is a moderate hike...nothing too strenuous for the average hiker, like myself. Going on the trail, there is a spot or two that's worthwhile for a picture of the majestic mountains in the distance. Otherwise it's a pretty straight forward hiking, again like Trail of the Cedars, through the woods arriving at Avalanche Lake. Once getting here...yeah the backdrop is stunning! The view of the lake and lush green terrain w/ a waterfall centered in the middle of it all is certainly worth the time getting here! The setting combined with the crystal clear lake all meshed together made for MEMORABLE IMAGES! Here when you arrive right at the lake shore, you're entangled with such impeccable surroundings. QUICK NOTE AND VERY IMPORTANT - I arrived at Avalanche Lake in the morning time, roughly 10am, and the problem was that THE SUN WAS SHINING AGAINST MY VIEW OF THE LAKE AND BACKDROP. IT MADE FOR IMPOSSIBLE PICTURES. IF YOU DO HIKE TO AVALANCHE LAKE, DO IT IN THE AFTERNOON!!!! I wish someone would have warned me. So although I could appreciate where I was and the worthwhile hike it took to get here....my memories and pictures could have been 100% PERFECT had I visited in the afternoon. The sun would have been situated at my back....then I could have received those OPTIMAL PHOTOS I WAS CRAVING! Oh well, can't always win. Sometimes you just have to be in the moment and appreciate the nature and beauty of the lake regardless. In all, on my trip at Glacier, I was fortunate enough to snap plenty of other great photos, and.....coming to terms with the sun being an unfortunate factor against me was understandably out of my control. For others....please, you'll be well served hiking to Avalanche Lake in the AFTERNOON. Also, you can leisurely hike along the lake shore. You can get closer views to the waterfall in the distance, and there are plenty of angles to treasure just how perfect and turquoise green the waters are here. I actually ventured all the way towards the other side of the lake. And, although the views weren't nearly as wonderful as when you first arrive gazing upon the postcard-esque backdrop, still it was nice to get a glimpse of this place from all sorts of perspectives. Ultimately, the "money shot" photo is when you first arrive at Avalanche Lake and observing the mountainous vista and centerfold waterfall. REMEMBER...VISIT IN THE AFTERNOON! Finally, just to mention....this area is located along Going to the Sun Road near the western section of the park. To be exact....Going to the Sun Road is 50 miles long...I'd say Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake are about at Mile 12 when going from west to east. AND....this section has VERY LITTLE PARKING! There's just a few spots or so combined with the whole area filling up by early morning. Grrrr....so for those who are interested in seeing Avalanche Lake....I'd recommend exploring other sights at Glacier and then returning here in late afternoon (around 4pm) to not only finding a parking spot, but to arrive at the jewel of it all - Avalanche Lake - with the sun in perfect spot setting for capturing flawless pictures.

The road to the sun closed the week before our trip, but this trail and the turnouts around Lake McDonald have great views of the mountains. The restrooms were closed and lots of people were eating around their car, standing picnic style. There is so much range on the trail, a river, rock formations, trees. It was a great little walk and we will definitely be back in the summer for more hiking and a dip in the lake.

This trail was about 5.9 miles long with a little less than 800 ft in elevation. The trail started off beautifully paved with a wooden bridge. There were several spots along the beginning of the trail with views of a creek, which had such a pretty blue color with rainbow rocks at the bottom. The middle leg of the trail didn't have as much variety in views, mostly dead fallen trees. However, the view at Avalanche Lake was SO worth!!! My friends and I came during autumn so we could see all the pretty gold, orange trees dotting the mountains across the lake, my pictures just didn't do it justice. We could also see waterfalls running down another face of a mountain. We sat on a log along the shore to enjoy our lunch and saw chipmunks scampering about and beautiful birds flying around. The scenery was so beautiful, but it did get rather windy, so definitely bring a windbreaker! Also, beware that this is a heavily trafficked trail so parking can be rough.

The Trail of the Cedars is one of two wheelchair accessible trails in Glacier National Park. This trail is truly accessible, and with a little better parking availability, could easily be 5 YELP STARS. Unless you arrive early to find a spot or are on one of the bus tours like I was, be prepared to search for parking, especially during the peak summer season. The Trail is really a loop hike that begins and ends on the Going-To-The-Sun Road, located 5.5 miles east of the Lake McDonald Lodge. Most start their hike here by proceeding along the eastern portion of the loop--along a raised boardwalk, and passing though a forest of soaring ancient western hemlocks and red cedars, some of which are over 500 years old! It is amazing and surreal! I breathed in the earthy smell of nature and trees and felt a jolt of divine consecration with Mother Earth. When I visited on the Red Bus Tour in June, it had been windy and some big trees had blown over--one blocking part of the trail but I managed to enjoy a short hike here nevertheless. I also noticed Bear Warning Signs and if you have bear spray, bring it. Also no dogs allowed here. I am happy to see the National Park Service having and maintaining an accessible trail such as this. Those who may not be in the best of shape or mobility-challenged will welcome the opportunity to drink in the beauty of nature here at the Trail of the Cedars.

We hiked here our first day. Nice mellow hike to Avalance Lake. Always have to expect a lot of people at National Parks. We started early and were glad we did. It was a pretty, easy hike, and saw deer along the way as well. Even at the lake there was a pretty skiddish deer. We did talk to a ranger who was there as well. Rangers are very helpful and can tell you which trails are open and give advice as well. I find them to be very important resources, so be kind to them!!

We hiked Avalanche Lake and figured we might as well complete the Trail of the Cedars since we were already here. So glad we did not pass up that extra footage! Beautiful trees and amazing view of the gorge!