Avalanche Lake Glacier Hike

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When we visited Glacier National Park over the summer, hiking to Avalanche Lake was on our absolute must-do list. It was the hike recommended by so many people, and the pictures I had seen looked amazing. It didn’t take long for me to see why this hike is one of the best hikes in Glacier National Park. It’s definitely one that I highly recommend to others as well. Here is everything you need to know about hiking Avalanche Lake Glacier N.P.

Even after a full travel day, we chose to hike Avalanche Lake on the day we arrived in the park. We visited Glacier National Park in mid-June, and there was a lot of rain in the forecast. It wasn’t raining when we arrived, so we figured we might as well start there and check off one of our must-dos in case the rain prevented us from doing it later.

Where to Stay Near Avalanche Lake Glacier

Avalanche Lake is on the west side of Glacier Park. The closest lodging to this hike is at the Lake McDonald Lodge. Apgar Village is about a 25-minute drive away and has two other lodges: Apgar Village Inn and the Apgar Village Lodge. Check out this list of the best places to stay inside Glacier National Park.

There are also more affordable options just outside the park. These include:

• Great Northern Lodge – West Glacier hotel just minutes from the entrance into the park
• Paddle Ridge – Cabins with kitchens just outside of the West Glacier entrance
• Cedar Creek Columbia Falls – Great lodge about 15 miles outside of the park
• Hampton Inn & Suites – Whitefish – lots of amenities nearby, but about 35 minutes from west entrance
• Marriott SpringHill Suites – Kalispell – about 45 minutes outside of park
• Hilton Garden Inn – Kalispell – about 45 minutes outside of park

Trail Overview

• Trailhead: The hike begins at the Trail of the Cedars trailhead, which is located along the Going-to-the-Sun Road just past McDonald Lodge. There are a couple of parking lots, but they can fill up quickly. We went right after a downpour and had plenty of options to choose from even though it was later in the afternoon.
• Distance: The round-trip hike to Avalanche Lake Glacier N.P. and back is approximately 4.6 miles (7.4 km).
• Elevation Gain: The hike has a moderate elevation gain of about 730 feet (222 meters).
• Difficulty: This hike is considered moderate, making it suitable for hiking with families and children. My kids were 12, 10 and 8 when we went and they did great on this hike.
• Restroom Facilities: There are pit toilets on the trail.

The Avalanche Lake trail follows the Trail of the Cedars for the first part of the hike. This is a very flat and accessible stretch of the hike, as you follow a raised boardwalk along the creek. It’s also very beautiful. You’ll walk through trees that are as old as 500 years and up to 80 feet tall. There is also strikingly blue, crystal clear water in the creek that you walk along.

After you break off from the creek, you’ll be in a more forested area and that is where you will start gaining some of the elevation, although it’s more of a gradual incline for most of the hike. We heard birds that sounds like a whistle when we were hiking. At first we thought maybe it was to warn people of a bear sighting, but we later figured out it was the sound of a bird in the area.

The chipmunks at Avalanche Lake Glacier N.P. are not afraid of people at all and would come right up to us. We set the phone up to take our picture and the chipmunks even came up to the phone and tried to take it away.

Wildlife at Avalanche Lake Glacier N.P.

• Wildlife Sightings: I think the rain kept a lot of the wildlife away while we were there, but we did see deer right away at the trailhead. There were also signs warning of active grizzlies in the area. Other wildlife sightings may include black bears, mountain goats, and various bird species.

Hiking Tips for Avalanche Lake

• Trail Crowds: This is a very popular hike, so starting early in the day can help you avoid crowds, especially during peak season.
• Parking: The parking lot at the trailhead can fill up quickly, so arriving early is recommended. Late afternoon or evening also tends to have smaller crowds.
• What to Bring: Comfortable hiking shoes, water, snacks, and bear spray are essential. And of course don’t forget your camera! Check out my complete list of hiking essentials.
• AllTrails: I use the AllTrails+ to help navigate trails, even when I don’t have any service. This trail is well-marked and easy to follow, but the app still gave me insights about current conditions and animal sightings from reading the reviews before we went.
• Bear Spray: Be sure to carry bear spray and know how to use it, as Glacier National Park is bear country. There were signs about recent grizzly sightings when we visited.

If you finish the hike around lunch time or dinner time, you can head over to grab a bite at the McDonald Lodge. We grabbed pizzas for dinner and headed back to Apgar Village, where we were staying, after our hike. It was a great end to our first day in the park.

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