Fantastic Feathers: Avalanche Lake Trail in Glacier National Park

27 October, 2025

Avalanche Lake Trail in Glacier National Park - Everything You need to know

This is part 3 of our itinerary of Glacier National Park. The following are the links to other posts:

Grinnel Glacier Trail is an 11-mile round-trip hike with 1500 ft elevation gain. It is moderately challenging. So, the next day, we just drove the Going-to-the-Sun Road from the east side. We covered all viewpoints on the way and gave a break from hiking to rest our legs. There are two more important trails on our list: the Avalanche Creek Trail and St. Mary and Virginia Falls. Both are around 6 miles round-trip.

📍 Trail Overview

Location: West side of Glacier National Park, Montana
Trailhead: Avalanche Picnic Area / Trail of the Cedars
Round Trip Distance: ~5.9 miles
Elevation Gain: ~730 feet
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Time Needed: 2–4 hours, depending on pace and time spent at the lake
Best Season: Late May – October (snow can linger in spring; access may be limited early in season)

🚗 Getting There

Start at Trail of the Cedars, a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk trail.
The Avalanche Lake Trail branches off about halfway along.
Parking fills up quickly in summer (especially mid-morning to afternoon). Arrive early (before 8 AM) or go later in the evening. Shuttle service is available along Going-to-the-Sun Road if parking is full.

🥾 Trail Description

Trail of the Cedars (0.5 miles):
- The first part is a shaded, flat boardwalk loop through old-growth red cedars and western hemlocks.
- You’ll cross a footbridge with a dramatic view of Avalanche Gorge—a rushing stream through sculpted rock.
Avalanche Lake Trail (2.3 miles one-way):
- From the junction, the trail begins a steady, moderate climb.
- The path winds through dense forest, with moss-covered trees and occasional creek crossings.
- Keep an eye out for wildlife such as deer, marmots, and sometimes bears.
Arrival at Avalanche Lake:

The lake is a stunning turquoise gem, cradled by steep cliffs and multiple waterfalls tumbling down from the surrounding peaks (notably Bearhat Mountain).
There are benches and logs near the shoreline for resting.
You can continue along the shore to the far end of the lake for quieter spots and even better views.

Our Hike:

Avalanche Lake trailhead / The trail of Cedars trailhead is always busy, and it is difficult to get parking. We arrived at the visitor center in the morning, parked our car, and waited for the shuttle. The shuttle runs every 20 to 30 mins. Expect a waiting time in the queue. Still, the shuttle is well worth the wait over waiting for parking.

We started our hike from the boardwalk of the Trail of Cedars. It is interesting to watch the giant Cedar trees and read about them. This part of the trail is shaded.

Then, it branches off to Avalanche Lake Trail. After going for a few minutes, we hiked along the river and the Avalanche gorge. It is a pleasant experience with water rushing along the river.

Then, the trail starts climbing slowly with a few switchbacks. The trail seems very lengthy, but doesn't feel tough when compared to Grinnell Glacier. The trail is mostly shaded, and it is a walk in the middle of a lush forest.

Then, we reached the Avalanche Lake. A beautiful lake with emerald green water and a nice waterfall. We relaxed, had a snack, and started our hike back. The return was also not that challenging. Restrooms are available at the start of the trail.

We could get a shuttle with less than 30 minutes wait. We finished our lunch at Lake Mc Donald lodge and relaxed a bit at the beach of Lake Mc Donald. While returning to McDonald lodge, we saw many waterfalls and cascades on the way.

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