Avalanche Lake Reviews

Such a easy fun hike, with a beautiful view waiting at the end. had a lot of people on the path so it was not secluded.

We started out around 7:30am to beat the fight over parking (which was in full force when we finished around 10am). Down side to starting so early was the lake was foggy in the morning with little/no view. When heading down 9-10am-ish there were TONS of people, and guided groups heading up. I highly encourage an early start to get parking without hassle and we had peaceful trek only encountering about 4 other people. Trail head has bathroom, there is also a porter potty style bathroom right by the lake which was a saver with young kids. There are log benches all along the beach allowing crowds to spread out nicely. Nice hike overall, plus you can do the whole Trail of the Cedars. There was a bear sighting by the trail while we were there.

This is a straightforward walk and it is busy so those there who carried guns and bear spray did look a little silly to be honest. The walk is a steady climb, and if you are fit, it is a gentle gradient. The non harmful wildlife was plentiful the day we were there. The lake views are fantastic and the walk to the head of the lake was worth the extra effort. A really good introduction to the area and well signposted.

This is an easier hike for older people such as ourselves or families with young children, and is much shorter than many of the hiking trails in Glacier.There are waterfalls along the way and the lake is gorgeous. A very good photo op.

This hike was nice and shaded, but not an easy walk. It's uphill most of the way and I found it difficult for me at times. I was glad I had my hiking poles. Part of the hike affords some amazing views or river down below. Once you reach the lake, it has a lot of area for you to talk off your shoes and play in the water, it has a sort of beach feel to it. There is also a pit toilet near the lake.

I am amused at some calling this an easy hike. I exercise daily and managed well but would suggest that you prepare for the length of the hike with the right shoes, plenty of water and expectations that the parking lot and trail will be busy. The terrain varied throughout the hike- consider hiking boots and a walking stick if you are hesitant or need to be careful with your balance. Some hills are steep and the ground was uneven in some places. The varied foliage and views were incredible and you will most likely see wildlife. We saw evidence of bears but did not encounter one. Plan to spend time at the lake once you arrive. The opportunities for photos were incredible. Be sure to use the restrooms near the parking lot before you head out. This hike takes considerable time for most so a snack might be a good idea too!

This is a beautiful lake not any prettier than some others in the park. It is very busy. Going early or later in the day is better. Parking is difficult. Try parking in the small parking lot on the way to the campground.

This is a perfect, relatively short and easy trek for those of us who don’t walk up in the morning, longing to climb mountains. It begins at the Trail of the Cedars Nature Trail, a flat boardwalk loop through a lovely Pacific Northwest Rain Forest and then heads uphill toward Avalanche Lake. While to total elevation gain is not substantial, the trail rises and falls along the way. Only the most out of shape in our party seemed to have any difficulty making the trip. We had bag lunches with us that we enjoyed, sitting on the short of the lake before our return trip to the parking area. There is a pit toilet once you reach the lake, and toilets at the campground at the base of the trail.

Parking can be a challenge, so as with all stops along the Going to the Sun Road, using the free shuttle or being a part of an escorted group is highly recommended.

This is the perfect first hike to do in Glacier National Park. However, you need to get there early to get a parking spot in the small lot. You will see waterfalls on your way to the lake. Arrive early, before 7 a.m., to have the lake to yourselves.

This approximately four mile round-trip hike exceeded our expectations! Here is some helpful information about this hike!

How long will this hike take us?
The hike from the lake back to the Avalanche Creek parking lot took us just under three hours. That included us stopping to take many photos and spending about fifteen minutes at the lakeshore. You can choose to hike to the end of the lake, but the ranger recommended that we don’t due to bear activity the day we visited.

How do I get to this hike?
You can choose to drive and park in the parking lot at Avalanche Creek, but it fills up very early in the day. We parked at the Apgar Visitor Center and took the shuttle to Avalanche Creek.

Should I drive to the trailhead or take the shuttle?
I would recommend the shuttle unless you get to the Avalanche Parking lot by 7:30 or 8:00 in the morning. However, keep in the mind the shuttle can be a long wait. We got to the Apgar Visitor Center and 9:00 and was found a parking spot easily, but we had to wait just over an hour for the shuttle. The shuttle ride to Avalanche Creek was around forty minutes. After the hike we took the shuttle back to Apgar at 1:30, and there was only a five minute wait for that shuttle! Plan your day accordingly and include shuttle wait time on your agenda. The shuttles stop running in the early evening, and you don’t want to get stuck. Get an early start to your day!

Can kids do this hike?
This is definitely a family friendly trail! I saw kids of all ages doing this hike.

How steep is the trail?
This trail has gentle ups and downs most of the way with a few small, steeper hills.

Do I need to be prepared for snow?
While there was quite a bit of snow up at Logan’s Pass in early July, there was no snow on this trail.

Are there restrooms available?
Yes! There are bathrooms by the shuttle line at Avalanche Creek, one by Avalanche Lake, and then a FLUSHING TOILET!!!! on the Trail of the Cedars path you take to get to Avalanche Lake (so close to the trailhead itself). However, bring hand sanitizer.

What all should I bring on this hike?
Water and bug spray are both necessary! If you plan on spending a lot of time at the lake, I would bring snacks and sunscreen as well. As always, make sure to wear layers! We were comfortable in our short sleeves and long pants, but many were also wearing a light jacket.

Well, you can arrive at 6am for a parking spot but won’t have a view of the lake once you arrive due to early morning fog or arrive later and fight the hassle of finding a parking spot. Have no idea why they don’t have better parking for the top rated hikes?! We arrived at 7:30 with nowhere available to park. Ended up parking further down on the road and walked about a mile to trailhead. Once we arrived at the far side of the lake (end of trail) the fog was so thick and we couldn’t see anything. There were trails that went toward the water falls which we took and enjoyed seeing those. Once we returned to the lake, the fog was lifting and the views were incredible!!!! You get the best pictures from the far side of the lake as the sunrise is behind you and the lake/mountains are on display! Maybe using the shuttle service would be best or arrive around noon to find parking. This is about the time all morning hikers are finishing and parking spots are opening up.

Okay....I'm sayin' what nobody else is saying. The hike up to avalanche lake felt like it was never going to end. The Cedars is very flat an infant can do it. The hike to Avalanche Lake felt like 7 miles straight up hill. It's not. It just feels like it. I'm not the only one. So many people kept stopping people coming back down the hill....how much longer? Is it much further? Like you want to ditch & run it takes so forever. Didn't help it was excessively hot that day. Okay....no more whining......once you (finally) get there, take out the single can of beer you brought for your "reward" and then enjoy that picnic lunch you packed. The views are beautiful. The water is super cold, but I sat in there for some time cooling off. At least 30 minutes. It was lovely!

We got to the trailhead parking around 7am, which is what you should aim to do in the summer. The first part of the hike is actually the Trail of Cedars loop hike. It is mostly flat. We went up the right side first. Coming back we went down the other side and there were a few interesting picture spots.

On the hike to Avalanche Lake the first half mile (once you spur off from Trail of Cedars) follows along a set of small cascades. I wish we had spent a half hour here. Many spots to just sit and enjoy the gurgling/roar of the water. The next part of the hike takes you up and in from the water a bit. We only saw a couple trail runners. It was a quiet walk for us. Nicely forested. We went by a nice raspberry patch on the left when the view opened out a bit.

Just before you get to the lake itself, on the right are a couple pit toilets if need be. We saw, and others who visited the area mentioned too, some deer in this area.

When you get to the lake, that end has a large rocky shore area. The lake is pretty flat wave-wise. Across the lake, at the other end where you see the mountains, notice the multiple waterfalls. You can hear them even though they are more than a mile+ away. After you take a few pictures, I recommend you continue counterclockwise around the lake. Maybe 15 minutes to walk to the other end. You will cross a little stream. There were some rocks/logs to get over without getting your feet wet. The area is quieter if you are looking to just chill and take in your surroundings. We ate our lunch there. There is no official trail after you get to that side of the lake, but I did see some folks walk up to the mountain a bit.

Overall a moderate hike that has some elevation change. Please, for those who take children on the hike, please take enough water. I saw folks with just a 16 ounce bottle of water. Some in flip flops. It is much better to wear proper footwear and bring enough water.

Tip: Bring some apples with you, and save one for the hike down, especially if it is a warm summer afternoon. It will refresh and perk you up if you eat it about a third of the way down.

Avalanche Lake via Trail of the Cedars is a great trail for a hike and swim. The lake is gorgeous and cool (but not iceberg-frigid). The entire trail is in the woods (not exposed) and shaded so is a good option for a hot day.

Our family hiked to Avalanche Lake on a Saturday morning in July. It's about 5 miles round trip but totally worth it! The hike is a moderate one if you aren't avid hikers. But we had a party of 11 people age 49-7 in various physical conditions and we all made it! The lake is stunning! Pack a light snack in your backpack as there's plenty of room to sit and take in the view once you reach the lake. We did only 3 hikes in Glacier because of our short stay and this was on my must-do list. It did not disappoint! We even hiked through a bit of a rain and thunderstorm on our way back. By the time we got to the car, it was done raining. - One word of caution- this trail is NOT appropriate for strollers. We saw some poor soul pushing a baby stroller near the beginning..... I don't think he got too far.

We stopped here and had a pleasantly amazing hike! Very doable for able bodied people. Some steep areas, but most of the hike is along the water. It is also shaded which is a huge bonus! Saw some deer, blue jay, chipmunk and other birds. Really breathtaking at the end!

In 1936 there was an avalanche. Now, we can not see anything from the Avalanche Lake.

The Avalanche Lake is very quiet and attractive.

A lot of people park here for exploring the Glacier National Park.

There are lots of restrooms here.

Worthwhile to see!

This is classified as an easy hike, and it was fantastic, mostly shady, but we would say it was moderate. It's very technical, you really have to watch your step and there is definitely steep parts. But when you come out of the forest and step onto the flat beach and look up, you are speechless. It was amazing. Roundtrip is 5 miles so carry food, water, bear spray.

Most of the hike is a gradual up and down through a wooded area. It's not really that strenuous and 90% of the trail is well-shaded. While the walk through the forest is not all that interesting, the lake is really pretty. I would recommend walking to the far side of the lake as well. We enjoyed this trail, but there are several better options in the park.

We hiked this trail early in the morning to avoid crowds- at 7 am we were just about the only ones on the trail, but by 9:30 am, there were lots of people at the beach already. We are from the eastern part of the country, so to us it was not an "easy" hike - quite moderate and hilly for us- but very doable. At the end, you come out on the beach with a spectacular view of the mountains at the end of the lake and you can hear the roaring falls. Like being in a calendar in my opinion. A must-do if in reasonable good physical shape.

Avalanche lake trail was pretty good although very crowded. One of the most popular trail in glacier national park mainly due to the high level of accessibility provided and the amazing views that are an hour away.

Must do hike while in Glacier National Park - just a few easy to moderate miles and you get absolutely breathtaking views. One of our favorite spots!

This hike was fantastic. It was a under five miles round trip past waterfalls and through a forest to a beautiful interior lake. The views were stunning!

The hike was relatively easy. There were quite a few children who made it to the end with no problems. Dogs are not allowed on the trails.

This is a popular hike so you need to go early, late or be patient to find parking. We arrived on a Sunday around 2:45 and found a spot pretty easily.

I'd highly recommend this hike while in Glacier!

This is a beautiful hike that follow a stream for part of the hike with some beautiful small cascading waterfalls near the first part of the hike. During the entire 2 miles up to the lake you are hiking through a beautiful forest. We saw a mule deer with a doe following. The hike wasn't bad or difficult at all. The only disappointing part of this hike was arriving at the lake itself. The smoke from the wildfires was so thick and had settled into the Avalance Lake Valley that you could hardly see the waterfalls on the other side of the lake. I was disappointed because I had heard how gorgeous the lake was but it was hard to see it because of all the smoke. I am sure when there is no smoke it would be a beautiful destination but unfortunately not the day we went.

We visited Glacier National Park in late June before Going to the Sun Road was fully opened. As a result, many of the upper elevation attractions were not accessible. The only major hike on the west side of the park was the trail to Avalanche Lake.

The trail is just over two miles from the parking lot up to Avalanche Lake. The hike is moderate with only mild inclines and some rocks and roots to step over. It was a bit muddy at the time we visited.

The trail itself doesn't have much of a view. Mostly you can see a nearby stream and the forest, but you don't get to see much until you get to the lake. The views at Avalanche Lake are pretty. There are delicate waterfalls running down the sides of the mountains, and the water in the lake is extremely clear.

We visited early in the morning. This was good for parking, but it meant that the lighting was not ideal for photographs. Much of the lake was in shadow, but part of the mountains were extremely bright.

Although Hidden Lake and Logan Pass are more interesting areas with cool hikes, if you wants to try something less crowded or if the upper elevation attractions are not open, the Avalanche Lake hike is relatively short and pretty.

We came here with a local who suggested this hike on our first day exploring the park. It was an easy drive from Whitefish. We arrived at 10am and parking was already full. So we had to park one mile up the road. Not a big deal for us as we got the chance to get in some more exercise! The hike climbed its way up the hills along a beautiful creek complete with small waterfalls. It took us about an hour to reach the top and when you come around the corner you are greeting with an absolutely stunning view of the crystal clear lake surrounded by mountains and waterfalls. There’s a nearby area where you can have your picnic lunch and even take a dip into the ice cold water! This was a wonderful introduction to Glacier National Park and the hike was fit for anyone who can handle a moderate hike. Definitely worthwhile! What a fun day!

You start out on the little "Trail of Cedars" loop, and then head off (and mostly uphill) to Avalanche Lake, so roughly a 5 mile round-trip. Most of the time you are in the woods, although part of it is along a pretty creek. But it is all worth it once you get to Avalanche Lake, basically ringed by cliffs, with multiple skinny/tall waterfalls coming off the cliffs. More water in Spring and early Summer, of course, versus late Summer. Parking is very tight at the Trail Head, so either plan on very early, or perhaps later in the afternoon (or take the shuttle from the Apgar Visitor Center).

The lake was stunning! Beautiful waterfalls coming down the mountain into the lake. Nice, easy hike for an active family. Hike early in the morning before crowds get there. The hike back was crowded. Not as peaceful as the hike to the lake.

Definitely one of the prettiest destinations I have seen. The lake has broad pebble beaches- with a number of log benches. So a nice place to picnic. However, a very popular hike so go early to minimize the crowd experience.

We absolutely loved this trail. Our favorite hike closest to the West Glacier entrance. The trail is about 4.5 miles round trip & starts within the Trail of Cedars. Arriving early is key for parking. We arrived around 10am & were lucky to park in one of the pullouts. There is limited street parking but I happened to notice some inconspicuous limited parking on side roads near the trail head. The trail is considered moderate due to the trail ascent. The path is very popular & well kept. Since we already walked the trail of cedars we took the path towards the restroom for a shortcut to Avalanche trailhead. As soon as you walk up the stairs & start the path you are in awe of all the beauty. Mostly shaded dense lush forest with Avalanche Creek & its water rushing over pretty river rock toward the gorge. When we finally reached the lake through the narrow entry between the trees the landscape opened up into the most magnificent view of Avalanche Lake’s beautiful blue waters surrounded by Mountains & waterfalls. Absolutely gorgeous views. There is a nice large beach like area with several log benches to enjoy lunch or just sit & enjoy the incredible scenery in such a peaceful setting.

We did this hike Sunday our first day in the park. Because of the fires I suggest going early to avoid the smoke that fills in as the day warms. Also hike to the very end of the trail best views of the mountains.

While the hike is listed as easy it is a climb uphill for two miles. Avalanche Creek runs along for some time, it's beautiful. Upon arriving at the lake it's worth every step. The view is stunning with the lake and waterfalls. The chipmunks are accustomed to humans here, they beg...

I highly recommend this trail and for those that need a shorter and gentler trail, try just the Trail of the Cedars. Once on the Avalanche Lake Trail you will quickly come upon a series of waterfalls which are beautiful to see and photograph. The trail meanders back to Avalanche Lake and the view there is wonderful. For photographers, I suggest going later in the day as the side with the two waterfalls above the lake are in shade in the morning. If going in the morning, be sure to go to the end of the trail at the far end of the lake as you will have a spectacular view of the mountains with a reflection in the lake.

This is a short hike to a beautiful lake surrounded by 1500 foot cliffs with waterfalls. You need to hike just a little past where the lake meets the trail at its foot to get to a pretty beach with benches. The view of the lake is iconic. The start of the hike is through the nature trail, which is pretty with a stream plunging through a gorge. We went in the late afternoon when we could park and the lake was quieter.

Stunning beauty! The vegetation is lush and diverse. This hike was easy enough for my 6-year-old to accomplish without difficulty. The distance was perfect- especially since everything is so beautiful. There are plenty of fallen logs by the lake so you can stop and have a snack before heading back down.

We were a group of 15 people with 5 kids under the age of 7 years. We had wonderful time hiking through the Avalanche Lake Trail - I certainly recommend this to families with small children;
A few inputs that could help you plan this hike:
1) The trail head is about a 30 minute drive from the West Glacier entrance. I suggest you go there early in the day - otherwise, the parking lot could become full and you may be forced to take a shuttle from the visitor center or Lake McDonald Lodge
2) This trail connects to the Trail of the Cedars and adds .75 miles to the 2 Mike hike up the valley. The elevation makes this a "moderate" hike; but the elevation is gradual
3) Avalanche Creek runs close by the trail at times. Makes it interesting for pictures; most of the trail is largely shaded - is a great spot for picnic lunches.
4) Overall, you should budget for 3 hours if you doing this with small kids

I believe this hike ended up being my most favorite experience of the entire park. The hike is a round-trip of 5 miles from the parking lot to the lake. The elevation gain is around 600 feet. Overall the trail is good and is appropriate for beginner to intermediate hikers. It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or in advanced hiker. This hike is a big pay off. I had to pinch myself when I looked at the lake and the waterfalls. The trail is shade covered for the majority of the trip and is a very comfortable hike. Get to the parking lot early before 8 AM. Or show up later in the afternoon to catch open spots in the parking lot. I showed up at 2 PM and Was able to pick up a parking space fairly easy.

Great hike. Moderate difficulty, good for all hikers. Parked at trailhead. Staying left on trail of the cedars takes you past avalanche creek just before the avalanche lake trailhead. The other side of the TOTC has bathrooms with running water. The lake was nice despite being overcast and we had lunch here. We enjoyed walking along the lakeside rather than the trail after reaching lake. Everyone in our party enjoyed, would recommend.

It's one of the more popular hikes so it's very busy. It was a lot higher than we anticipated, but we made it and it was well worth it. It's mostly shaded so it didn't get too hot. Make sure to go early so you're not waiting for parking and shuttles.

A short hike, not too difficult, of about 2 miles to get to the lake where the sceneries were just spectacular. I recommend to go to the end of the lake, the reflections in the lake were stunning.

Took a hike up to Avalanche Lake. Saw only one deer. The wildflowers were just beginning to come up, so splendid vistas. The lake and reflection of the mountains from the sun were spectacular! We went up early to miss the crowds!

My family did this hike in July, it was pretty busy. There were no parking spots available close to the trailhead, so we ended up parking almost a mile down the road and waking back to the start. It was well worth it. We did the entire hike, out and back, in a little over two hours. Plan to spend some time at the lake as the bugs really weren't that bad. The pictures from other reviews say it all. It's a must see!

A nice little uphill hike for the whole family. The reward is a beautiful lake with many mountain peaks... a true photo-op. Trailhead parking can be sparse at times due to the crowds. Very popular, and worth the trip.

This hike is the best one on the West Side of Glacier. The Trail of the Cedars leads the way to the Avalanche Lake Trailhead. The entire 6 mile hike does require some steep ups and downs. The trail typically fills a minimum of 4 hours...plus more if you meander taking photos and/or stop at the lake for a snack or rest.

Bears frequent this hike because it's a water source and later in the year...berry bushes. Be bear aware. Carry bear spray and know how to use it on any trail you take...not just this one.

This is a nice hike but parking is a bit challenging. We parked up the road and walked about a mile before getting to the trail. The view at the end is just pristine. The lake is gorgeous and you can walk around it to get away from the tourists that enter at the first beach. It’s a great spot for a picnic so be sure to pack something and enjoy the peace and quiet :)

It is an alpine lake up in the mountains.It will required a climb on a good trail. It is walkable for most healthy people. kids can walk it also. The lake is so beautiful and the views are amazing. Worth the climb.

The lake is absolutely stunning and there was a grizzly foraging in the logs at the lake, an amazing surprise at the end. Only bummer was this was more crowded than the hikes I take at home, and it wasn’t the busy season yet.

The first time we have been to GNP and this is the first trail we took and ended up going on it twice. Left thru the Trail of Cedars which is a nice sort hike. Trail was up an down on the way up with beautiful views of the steram on the way up. Got to Avalanche lake early in the morning to beat the crowds. The lake was a beautiful color with the three falls in the background and crystal clear. Hiked all the ways to headwaters. Would highly recommend this hike. Leave early in the morning to beat crowds. On the way back down the was a lot of hiker traffic from the shuttles dropping people off in park and people starting to drive in.

Had a 6 year old and a 1 year old on my back so this ended up being a much harder hike to the lake than I had anticipated having a incline for the majority of the way there. But it's beautiful and worth it, seeing the wreckage of a avalanche all along the trail, and huge boulders everywhere give you a sense of how much force they have. Along the way you get great views popping out of the trees. And finally the lake that appears out of no where, it's like a mini Lake Louise, but feels more like the mountains around you are right on top of you which added to the dramatic. Was really busy on the trail and at the lake when we did it though.

We enjoyed avalanche lake hike. We did this later in the day and thought the light was perfect. It’s an easy hike- 5 miles with less than 1k elevation. We hung around the lake for a few hours and hiked back at dusk. The hike is VERY popular so going later in the day helps with crowd. Be sure to attach trail of cedars to this hike. Rumor has it a Grizzly was sighted the day we hiked.

Must go early to ensure parking. We arrived 0630 without issues. Easy walk for first mile some mile elevation but easy done. Beautiful lake at end. No wildlife seen here.

The hike to Avalanche lake isn't too strenuous and well worth it. The water is so clear and the area surrounding it is beautiful.

we hiked this trail on July 3rd. I was with my husband and 7-year old boy. We were not prepared for this hike as our packs were heavy and had just finished a 6 hour bike ride along the valley.
The trail head is found along Trail of Cedars. It is a steady 700-ft gain along a 2 mile route. The beginning of the trail has spectacular views of the Gorge, after that it's a mix of deep cedar forest with opening to a view of the mountain face.
there is a pit toilet/outhouse at the very end of the hike.
The lake opens up with the pile of logs, but follow the trail some more for the beach.
I didn't follow the trail to the very end to get to the other side of the lake.

Here are my tips:
1. lighten your back packs to as light as possible. your back will thank you for it
2. wear sensible shoes. i bought Merrell hiking shoes - some parts can be muddy and slippery. These shoes made the grip on the rocks possible and kept my feet dry. It was raining when we hiked so it was cold too.
3. pack water. if you know how much you consume per mile then allot for 2 miles
4. Pack your camera. if you have a camera phone, make sure you have enough space in your phone's memory. you may want to transfer some files out of your phone before you go. I took videos and pictures.. 230 in all.
5. come very early or very late - this is one of the more popular hikes in the park due to the Trail of the Cedars is very easy and families with kids congregate here. Parking is full by 9 am. we got here at 4 pm and had to circle twice to get a spot. if you are taking the shuttle it may be too full for you to hop on coming back.
6. know the weather for the day. we knew it was going to rain so we had rain gear on.

It took us about 2.5 hours to get to the lake. We stopped a lot. My pack was way too heavy for me. We could have been faster if we planned it better.
Going down, it took us 1 hour.

If I could change anything, I would come here early, and get parking, hit the Trail of Cedars and eat a picnic lunch near the banks of the river.. there were benches there... then after lunch.. I would like up to the lake at my leisure... I would only bring half a bottle of water (thaT's all I need) and a camera an a walking stick. i would take my time at the summit and just take in the view. there are benches at the beach too.

We didn't encounter any bears or moose but we did see a buck up close.

Nice hike of about 4 miles to go to the lake from the parking area. Parking area gets full in a hurry so can be very difficult, if not impossible to find parking. We gave up first day and went back at 7:30 AM on our second day. Was already getting full.
Hike is pretty easy and leads to a beautiful spot on the lake. Well worth the hike

While this is a more traveled trail, it retains its sense of solitude and mystery in the mountains. It largely follows a creek as it winds up to the lake. The elevation wasn't bad at all for four 40-somethings in decent shape. The view once you get there is stunning, with the brilliance of the glacier water and the majesty of the mountains surrounding it. I recommend starting early to get a parking spot and packing a rain jacket as we hiked through sunshine, thunderstorms, and sleet all within about 30 minutes.

This is a gorgeous hike of about four miles round trip -- give it an hour to get there and an hour to return, plus whatever time you spend at the lake. The first half-mile is very scenic alongside rapids and a few roaring falls. Overall, on a Friday afternoon at about 3 p.m. the trail was uncomfortably crowded, which is why we give it 4 stars and not 5. Go earlier or later and avoid the crowds.

We arrived at the trailhead, Trail of the Cedars, for Avalanche Hike and parked for the day. We hiked and came back to the car to eat lunch. Then we caught the shuttle up to Logan Pass. You MUST pick it up at the shuttle stop. The shuttle is free and runs every 20 mins or so. The ride to Logan Pass is absolutely gorgeous. There are hikes from Logan Pass but we were too tired to do another hike. PS: early in the morning, before 7 AM, the drive time from Whitefish to Trail of the Cedars was 1 hr and 15 minutes.

You must be able to walk up a mountain, for a hour, to get their, but it was worth it. It is 2 1/2 miles up and the same down. The lake is waterfalls fed, very scenic

It's a nice and beautiful place to visit. The safari around the lake is awesome. If u are lucky enough u will see wild animals.

BUsy place, but we did the trail of the cedars walk which was very pretty and worth the time out of the car to wander around the woods

We are not hikers and my family of 5 are in different stages of physical fitness. This took about 75 minutes to hike, on a warm clear day. My 9 year-old did it no problem, my 16 year-old found it more strenuous. Trail is well-defined, it has some elevation. It's mostly shaded, with beautiful scenery most of the way. The lake was beautiful -- we felt it was worth the time and effort. Definitely take snacks and water -- round-trip plus time to admired the view, it's at least 3 hours.

This lake is accessed by taking the Trail of the Cedars Nature trail which hikes through a very beautiful, pristine hemlock and cedar forest. Great picnic spot with lovely views.

the water was so clear the mountains reflected right off of the water. The hike down was well worth the breathtaking views. The only problem was I couldn't build my forever home right there with that view.

We enjoyed the 4.8 mile (5.6 if you walk to the beach on the other side of the lark) round trip hike to Avalanche Lake. We started on the west side of the Trail of Cedars, and after about .4 miles the Avalanche Trailhead is present. After a very short steep climb you start the hike to the lake. The first section after you leave the Trail of Cedars follows Avalanche Gorge and the creek for a bit. The gorge is stunning and I would recommend following it even if you don't want to walk the entire distance to the lake. After you leave the creek you begin the ascent to the lake. Going up (besides a few sections) did not seem that challenging, but when we hiked back down we realized we had pretty much done an almost two mile hike up to the lake. In the morning the trail was mostly in the shade so it was a very pleasant hike and we met very few people on the way to the lake. When we started the descent around 10:00 the trail was very crowded. Tip: bring your own toilet paper for the pit toilets near the lake.

The hike to the lake is 2 miles long but it sure felt longer because it’s uphill. There were a lot of people on the trail and a lot of people with children. The lake is gorgeous.

We took this hike through the trail of the cedars. Hike was a little rough but well worth it! Some ups and downs but the ending is magnificent! A little over 6 miles round trip beginning at the trail of the cedars.

This was a longer hike than we had anticipated. There were lots of up and down parts. But once we got there is was beautiful. There are like 6 streams of water feeding down from the higher mountains into the lake.

2 mile hike one way, some steeper inclines, passes a gorgeous waterfall and final stop is just breathtaking. No toilet facilities but towards the end (an outhouse type) available.

Started hike at 8 AM. Parking was available at avalanche campground since that is closed this year. It was really peaceful and such a beautiful ending at avalanche lake. Highly recommend.

A 2-ish-mile steady climb up a well-graded trail that culminates in a spectacular cirque lake. This was a very worthwhile hike, despite the crowds we met along the way. I recommend that you arrive at the trailhead as early as possible. We got there at 8am and had a tough time finding a place to park. The large number of people at the lake detracted from the experience.

This was an amazing winter hike. I have looked forward to doing it for a long time and it was all I had hoped for. It was 11 F (-12 C) when I started and stayed that way the entire time. Fortunately it was a sunny, brilliant day. The trail starts off easily to include a boardwalk for a short distance. At the spot where the Trail of the Cedars and the Avalanche Lake Trail split the elevation gain begins. The gain is about 500' ( 152 m) and winds through majestic evergreens. For the most part it follows Avalanche Creek. There are numerous spots where the walls of the canyon are visible. Once at the lake the view is mesmerizing! Bring plenty of supplies and be careful of icy spots. Bear spray is a good idea as they are not all asleep. Between three and three and a half hours is a reasonable  time frame but you should plan on stopping for pictures. 

This is our favorite hike on the West Side of Glacier. However, its not nearly as good as what you will hike or will have hiked at Logan Summit, St Mary/Virginia Falls, Many Glacier or Two Medicine Valley. The Trail of the Cedars hike at the front end is easy and goes through some seriously big, beautiful beautiful trees with a ferny, mossy forest floor.

It is the extension of the Trail of the Cedars and the middle part of the Trail of the Cedars/Avalanche Lake combo hike that winds along the creek after passing over the little bridge and its frothy/misty falls. There is a middle section of trail which goes through the cedar and fir trees that is boring for us, and which gets steep in places and full of stones and old tree roots. Its a snap for youngsters and fit hikers but for those with mobility, balance or orthopedic issues I think it is not worth the wear and tear.

But if you are fit, be sure to take the entire combo hike. Once the lake comes into view...wow, it is really a beautiful sight. It is actually a great way to spend time on the west and get your hiking legs and lungs ready for the hikes to come. Avalanche Lake is also one of the few trails to open up in the late Spring or early Summer before others on either side of the park become fully accessible.

If you end up on the west side at the end of your trip, you may be somewhat let down by this hike after the others at Logan Summit or on the east side.

This hike should be on every visitor's list. It's fairly short, about 2.7 miles including the Trail of the Cedars at the beginning and can be steep in sections. The trail follows Avalanche Creek with it's many rapids, so stopping to get a view and catch your breath is easy. The lake is clear and, on a calm day, reflects the distant waterfalls that feed it. A great hiking experience. BUT - get to the trailhead early, 7:30 AM or so. Parking is limited and much later, you will not find a spot.

A great family-friendly hike with stops along the way, Avalanche Gorge is truly a breathtaking sight, walking along the Cedar groves were amazing too.

We hiked to Avalanche lake. Its a challenging hike but well worth the effort when you get to the lake.

Although this trail is steep in sections, it can be traversed by people of all ages. Lots of families with young children hiking on the same day as us. Beautiful view of the lake is your reward! Take the opportunity to walk along the shoreline, sit on the rocks and enjoy nature at its finest. We saw a black bear on the main trail on the day of our hike, and his disinterest in humans added an extra hour to our hike, as he wouldn't move off the trail!

It is a strenuous hike in places but well worth the view when you get their. Take plenty of water, wear appropriate shoes and clothing, Also take bear spray and bells (or just talk a lot) to alert the bears you are coming. We saw families with young and older children, older adults enjoying this hike. On the way up everyone would say it is worth the hike and it was. I will do it again, hopefully some day.

Great hike to beautiful lake with views of waterfalls. Pretty easy and flat trail- I’d say moderate. We were there after shuttles stopped running and parking was a challenge- we got lucky. Either have to go early or time it for someone leaving.

This hike was an easy and quick hike to the top. There were a bunch of people hiking the trail as well. The view at the end is a very nice opening with a lake surrounded by mountain faces.

Shortish but beautiful hike up a river to avalanche lake. Just under 5 miles round trip with some elevation but easy trail mostly. Mixed scenery ideal for all age groups.

Avalanche Lake is a great hike. The only thing to keep in mind is while it is a family friendly hike, it does gain a fair amount of elevation. Our kids have done it while preschool age, but don't be surprised if you huff and puff a bit.

Do the boat ride and hike, but plan extra time. We booked a ride and tour on the vintage boat. We took the guided hike to a beautiful double waterfall. The hike is about an hour round trip, however, when we got back to the boat dock there was nearly 75 people waiting to get back on the boat. We waited over 90 minutes to get back across the lake. They don't run the boats frequently enough in the afternoon to get people back. You can walk but it's about a 2 hour walk back. At least the views are spectacular along the way so it's still worthwhile

This a great hike and family friendly! You can see Trail of the Cedars and then Avalanche Lake all in one hike. By entering West Glacier, follow the road until it ends and park. The trail head is visible! We went early and enjoyed the reflection of Avalanche Lake as the sun came up. AMAZING!!

I was worried this hike would be too hard for me, but the elevation was sporadic, so I had plenty of time to catch my breath. It wasn't that crowded on the trail, but it was crowded at the lake. It was easy to find a spot a little ways down to be more private. The blue of the lake is just so pretty.

Beautiful lake on top of the mderately hike 1000ft up/down with a 500ft elevation gain . The trail is from the Trail of the Cedars after crossign the birdge. Park at the Avalanche Creek.

Avalanche lake is a scenic, fairly easy hike. The path is heavily wooded, and it provides peek-through views of the mountains and interesting river watching. The gem is the lake near the end. Many people stop there and turn around after a few photos. After soaking up the lake view, if you’d like to feel a little more remote, continue on the path past the lake. It goes on another .5 or .75 miles or so. Try to arrive early or you’ll have a difficult time getting parking by the trailhead. It’s popular… for good reason.

This about 6 mile hike round trip, with no internet of research we stumbled on this trail. This is a pretty populated trail kid friendly and is not strenuous. Totally worth getting to the view of avalanches lake with its 4 waterfalls. It was alternative for Grinnell lake trail and as it is currently closed.

This trail connects to the Trail of the Cedars and adds .75 miles to the 2 Mike hike up the valley. The are other routes but we didn't take them. It is largely shaded but the are no facilities after the trailhead and parking is challenging. I walked another 1/2 mile easily just to get to the trailhead. Avalanche Creek runs close by the trail at times. Rangers patrol and there are plenty of people around. Some wildlife is present. I saw various small critters and a deer. There were reports of a bear on the far side of the lake (far from people). The path up is a modest grade that can challenge little legs or out of shape ones but you don't require a Sherpa. Once up the views are shading and the water is brisk and refreshing. Not many jump in. There is a lot toilet at the lakeside trailhead but it seems popular. It's well worth the effort.

This is about a 3 + mile moderate hike each way. The lake is amazing. There are 5 waterfalls at the far end of the lake which are fed by 3 lakes that are fed by one of the 25 active glaciers. Did not want to leave but wanted to make sure we caught the shuttle back.

Certainly one of the best hikes in Glacier, but for parking you better be there at 5:00 , or you will be walking a long ways from other lots. Trail is always well maintained, and the lake at the end is worth the moderate 4.3 mile round trip hike...

At 82 and 72 my husband and I have been in all states but Iowa and hikes MANY trails over 30+ years. Avalanche Trail remains my personal favorite. It is not too strenuous but does get the blood pumping to reveal this beautiful lake at its end. The late Spring of course has it so full and fresh from newly melted snow but September is glorious as well.

Definitely worth the hike in! Our kids (10 & 12) would have endured the hiking better if we'd had an earlier start in the cooler part of the day. There is quite a bit of up-hill hiking! But that makes the hike back a lot easier. Lovely scenery along the way. Views at the end make you glad you hauled up all the hills. Well-traveled, so lots of traffic. Our kids loved playing in the lake. One of our favorite hikes!

Of all the trails we did in Glacier this was our least favorite. It's a short 4 mile hike and a good one to take in the evening as a 2nd hike or the day after a brutal hike, but I wouldn't recommend it being a primary destination. You will see a lot of younger and older people on this trail that you won't see on other trails and I think the high reviews must be based on this being the only trail they went on.

The guide lists this as an "easy" trail due to distance and accessibility, but you're on an incline or a decline just about the entire way. Parking here is not good and they only small shuttle between here and Logan's Pass (back east). They reserve 2 of the 11 seats for hikers and on July 17th just before noon we had to wait over an hour to get on a shuttle.

It is a little bit challenging to hike a little over 2 miles to the Lake, but well worth the trip for the beautiful views. There are places to rest by the lake, so pack a snack for the hike back.

This is a relatively short hike that has a little of everything. Starting with the the Cedars and ending at the beautiful Avalanche Lake. Along the hike you’ll see stunning mountains a pristine stream running through the gorge and a forest that looks like a movie set. Don’t miss this hike!

Gorgeous stream leading back to a spectacular lake with three waterfalls. Relatively mild trail, which is pretty heavily trafficked. Go early to avoid the crowds and find parking.

We hiked Avalanche Lake trail on July 1. Arrived at 7.45am and parking lots were full. Managed to get our small rental car into a tine space and off we went. No bears on this trail, but mostly hordes of humans. Most crowded trail we hiked during our trip.

The trail of the cedars was so relaxing and peaceful. There was a serenity there that people respected.

Once on the trail to Avalanche Lake, there were waves of people on the way up and on way down. Mostly shade with occasional photo opportunities.

The lake itself and environment were stunning. We hiked to end of the lake for our picnic snacks to get away from the hordes.

Despite the parking challenge and crowds, this hike is worth the effort.

The hike itself was very nice with some amazing views of the mountains. Avalanche lake is gorgeous. The water is very clear and there are great views. I'd recommend to hike the right side of the lake if you have time as well.

The views are incredible once you finally reach the lake. A lot of people stop once they reach the one side but if you go a bit further to the other side of the lake it is so much better and less crowded. The hike is pretty serious so take your time and bring snakes .water, and bug repellent in the summer. Oh and don't forget your phone or camera.

Moon's 2017 edition of "Glacier National Park" rates this as one of the best day hikes in the park. 6.1 miles round trip with just a 477' elevation gain. Easy slowly ascending uphill hike to the lake that most people will complete in 75 to 90 minutes. Trail is completely through forest canopy until arriving at the lake. Trail was quite crowded when I did the hike mid week the last week of August.

It's a tough hike with quite the elevation. I saw a lot of kids and families trying and giving up. I walked there and back with my five year old and we were beat but it was so worth it, we hiked a lot but this was the best reward. Nothing compares to that lake.

We hiked this along the Going to the Sun Road. It was a nice hike on the west end of the park. Beautiful trees and when we got to the lake it was gorgeous!

This round trip hike of about four miles was moderately difficult but totally worth the effort. I’m not in the best of shape and we hiked with two young kids so it took us about an hour and a half to reach the lake. The hike is through beautiful, old woods, mostly next to Avalanche Creek. Once you reach the lake, the views are stunningly beautiful. We spent about half an hour at the lake just enjoying the views and having a snack. Be careful the little squirrels next to the benches, they are not afraid of humans and have clearly been fed by people! The hike back was mostly downhill making the return trip a little easier. It only took us about half an hour to walk the 2.3 miles back. The trail is a busy one as it is one of the most popular in the park but be sure to bring bear spray as bears to frequent the area.

This was our second hike of out trip and is an absolute must. The trail starts at Trail of the Cedars and gradually increases in elevation. The trail is 4.6 miles round trip and offers many nice views of the stream and surrounding mountains. At Avalanche Lake you get breathtaking views of waterfalls coming from the top of the mountains. The lake is crystal clear and gives perfect mirror like reflections.

To begin, we did this hike with a group of 12 people, aged 4-65 and all of us had so much fun doing it, it’s a very busy trail, so fairly safe, lots of water to play around in on the way up, and then once your at the top the view is unbelievable! It’s like your looking at a huge painting, it’s just the most beautiful thing to see, please do yourselves a favor and take this hike! You won’t regret it!

The path is over 3 miles long, not the 2.6 the sign indicates. All uphill going to the lake. The lake is fed by waterfalls and is stunning. Pathes are well groomed. It's very busy on the path. We started at 6:30am and it was already teeming with people.

Mid August 2017, weekday, late morning

Part way up this hike, the river that runs along the trail has carved through the stone to create some fantastic canyon formations. Terrific photo opportunities here with moss, red stone and blue water. We somehow missed it on the way up, so do keep an eye out for it.

The full trail and lake itself was a little bit too busy for us (even on a weekday). It's a popular and family friendly hike. There is a bit of elevation gain but not too much.

The lake is nice, with three or four small waterfalls pouring down in the background.

We probably would hike only part way up and then back down, next time.

This is hike is beautiful, but it is all UP HILL the majority of the hike. It says 2miles to the lake, but felt a lot longer since it's all incline. Took us about 3.5 hours to complete this hike and we took breaks. We're both young, but not experience hikers. Maybe we would hike once or twice a month. Coming down was obviously easy, but you can see the misery of the hiker's faces coming up and feel a sense of relief that that is no longer you lol. Wear lots of bug spray b/c they will bite you through your clothes. The view was amazing, but can get crowded. Would recommend for people who are somewhat fit or have some endurance, but overall beautiful lake!

So I'm a flight attendent and sometimes I have decent layovers and this was my first time in Whitefish, MT. I made the most of 19 hours there.

From the town it was an hour drive (book rental car in advance). We stopped off at Lake MacDonald and took some lovely pics and picked up water bottles, gifts and supplies. The bear spray we didn't get but of course we ran into a Grizzly and black bear on the trail. Luckily everyone else had bells and spray and the bears ran away. Deer however are super friendly and came up to say hello.

The treck was moderate from others I have done in the past but the actually steep parts were bareable for the most part. Trail of the cedars being the easiest part. But wonderful smell of pine and cedar trees filled the air.

The finale being avalanche lake was beautiful. Moutains and far off waterfalls fill the background and tons of people were around to share the beauty of it all. 5 miles total in hiking and my friend and I enjoyed it all. Everyone says hello and it was a great experience. Easy compared to other hikes in Glacier Park and best for those on a time budget.

This hike is not easy but can be done by younger adventurers. Hike runs beside a river, great spots for photos. Avalanche Lake is amazing at the end, at least 3 waterfalls on the mountain side from the lake view. It's easy to recommend this hike, don't miss it.

At our recent visit to Glacier National Park, my wife was recovering from a total hip replacement and was in her ninth week post-op with rehab. She decided we wound try the hike up to Avalanche Lake about 2 plus miles each way, coming and going. From the parking area where we arrived by shuttle from Lake McDonald Lodge, we began the hike on the short flat trail called Trail of the Cedars. We came to the junction and turned toward Avalanche Lake. The beginning of this trail has multiple small rapid and falls with white water that was just great for photos. After a gentle incline we then started upwards and away from the water into the cedars. As you go along there are multiple openings through the trees where you get great views and photo ops of the mountains and cliff walls. Wildflower and wildlife are abundant, but since you are supposed to be making noise to alert the bears so you don't both have a bad surprise, we probably didn't see everything that was there. You eventually reach the outflow end of the lake where lots of fallen trees have accumulated in the water. You can continue the hike to the far end of the lake to where as many as seven waterfalls come down from the upper snows and glaciers. All in all we took a slow pace and stayed at the far end of the lake for half an hour. Our total trip was 5 hours. There are outhouse facilities at the near end of the lake. This seemed a very popular trail by the number of hikers we encountered. It was a totally worthwhile experience.

This hike I would classify as moderate. It was a fairly steady incline all the way up to the lake with a few places in the trail with roots and rocks to navigate your steps. The middle section has some leg buster areas, but it’s only a little over 3 miles in to the lake. Bring plenty of water and food and you’ll be fine. Such great views at the lake!

Incredible. Get there early, because parking fills up (as in 7:30am, especially with the Eastern side of the park closed. So it's busy but absolutely beautiful.

We hiked to Avalanche Lake during July. My husband and I are normally on more secluded trails when hiking so this one seemed really crowded. There were a LOT of people on the trail. When arriving at Avalanche Lake we followed the trail on around to the other side of the lake. It was less crowded there. We stopped for some fishing, and caught a few trout. This trail would be good for families. I saw a lot of small children hiking it, and it didn't seem like a problem for any of them.

This was a great hike. My husband and I are in average shape and made it just fine. Glad we had hiking poles, though. We were on the trail by 6:00 a.m. and got to spend 45 glorious minutes by ourselves watching the sunlight come over the top of the mountain into the bowl of the lake. Beware of the chipmunks...they will try to get in your back pack if you leave them on the ground!

The day was overcast and chilly, which made the hike that much easier. The grade is easy to moderate. Plenty of evidence for why the area is called Avalanche. The lake is surrounding mountains, even on cloudy day were fantastic to see.

My friends and I were here in August of 2016. The hike was absolutely lovely and I remember feeling a deep sense of awe the moment the trail spilled us out to the beach and view of the lake.
We entered the shockingly cold waters of the lake not intending to stay in for too long. This was changed, however, when some of my friends decided to take a mud-bath and another friend lost her hiking sandal in the mud. We waded and searched for a long time in that frigid water before finally pulling up her Chaco from the muck. Certainly memorable, but I'd advise other hikers to tighten their straps before getting in the water... :-)

A moderate hike; when arriving at the lake, do not stay at the beginning (what most people do), walk to the other end; the view is much better, and significant less people. A great spot for a nice lunch. A great first hike at Glacier, to get to know it.

Hike to Breathtaking Avalanche Lake ! Parking is tricky and unpredictable at the Trail Head ! Recommend and we used the free Park Service Bus, which stops near the (some convenient rest rooms too) Trail Head ! Avalanche Creek little waterfalls along the way ! We saw Deer with two fawns along the trail just before the lake ! Must bring Water... it's only a little over two mile hike each way (about 5 miles round trip), but the trail elevates up to 500 - 600 feet before the slow descent to the Glacier waterfall fed Lake !

The hike is around 4.5 miles but parking here is super limited so I would get there as early as possible otherwise you're going to have to park down the road about .5 mile like we did. Plenty of space to hang out at the lake too!

Relatively easy trial with amazing views. It begins at the parking of cedar loop trail. Beautiful view on the gorge in the first mile.
The trail is well marked and normally full of people. Trail arrives at the end of the Lake, view is simply amazing, but you can continue on the right side of the lake till the end and it is possible to take different type of pictures.
Amazing trees on the way, cedars and red cedars are amazing.

40 something year old parents, 11 and 8 year olds made the trip with grandma. Takes some work to get there, but the end is worth it. Beautiful views at the top. We would make a point of doing this one every trip.

The Avalanche Lake trail is a moderately difficult 4.6 mile round trip hike to Avalanche Lake with beautiful views of cascading waterfalls and Gunsight Mountain. It begins from the Trail of the Cedars Trailhead, located 5.5 miles east of the Lake McDonald Lodge. This trail was the first trail constructed in Glacier National Park. You can hike an additional .7 miles to the far end of the lake to get a good view of Heavens Peak.

Amazing view! The hiking trail was moderate. Not too difficult. If you’re not a fan of hiking uphill or hiking rocky trails you may not enjoy this one. It’s about 2.5 miles to get to the lake and it is so worth it!!!! GORGEOUS. Quiet and relaxing. You’ll see and hear the beautiful super blue rapid springs along your hike. Watch out for bears 🐻 I didn’t see one but I’ve heard stories! Other than that only other wildlife I encountered were Blue Jays, cute little chipmunks, mountain goats, and a fox 🦊 Enjoy!

A beautiful hiking trail suitable for young children. It’s a 4 miles return trip takes a couple of hours. Get there early for parking as the lake is very popular.

Would highly recommend taking the hike to Avalanche Lake. While the trail steadily climbed toward the lake, it was a gradual ascent and not too hard to manage. The trail was not too crowded and well maintained, but watch for roots! You will be rewarded with a beautiful glacier lake smiling at you. :)

Just amazing! as you reach the end you walk out of the woods and are hit with such an amazing view. There are no photos that can do it justice. This is an absolute must do if you are visiting the park.

Beautiful scenery. You’re allowed to swim in it so be sure to bring your swimsuit and towel. Great hike for kids

Lovely hike with a light incline following a rushing creek over rocks and lovely landscape. Trip is roughly 6 miles round trip but well worth it, The lake is so tranquil with views of distant waterfalls and peaks. Make sure to bring lots of water...much needed on a hot day,

We went this past weekend and it was very busy. We did have to park down the road, as the parking lot was full. I advise going early or maybe later in the day as there may be more parking spots available. Immediately on this hike you see amazing canyons on the side in the forest with orange curvy rock carved out by the river. There are interesting trees, large boulders and you get a decent workout for pretty minimal effort.

There were people of all ages and our only complaint would be that it was pretty crowded. However, when you get to the lake, the views are absolutely spectacular with several trickling waterfalls in the distance coming off of the mountains. We walked around the lake for a few minutes to have a more private lakeside view for our snacks. About a 3-3.5 hour hike roundtrip, so water and snacks is perfect for packing. 10/10 would recommend, but it is a popular spot, so lots of foot traffic!

After a beautiful hike with the whole family, we got to the most beautiful, inspiring lake. Glaciers all around. Amazing views the whole way. Our family of 8 all made it. From 8 years old to over 50.

Our first hike in Glacier National Park was Avalanche Lake. This was a relatively easy, beautiful hike to Avalance Lake. The elevation is quite low so oxygen was not a problem for those of us who live at sea level.

What a beautiful hike!!! We seen people of all ages, toddlers/infants in carriers to extreme elderly ok this hike.
The hike was like a roller coaster, up the flat, then down, back up. It was a moderate to strenuous hike for me.
The water at the lake is that beautiful greenish color. It also had 3 beautiful water falls coming down the mountains into the lake.
But don’t take my word for it try it for yourself.

Moderate hike to Avalanche Lake is accessible for everyone. Leave EARLY as parking is somewhat limited and this is a popular hike. Also shares a trailhead with Trail of the Cedars which is very popular. Again - get there early. Along the way, we say families with kids, older folks and even multiple pregnant women hiking this trail.

It is so worth the hike uphill to the lake. The lake opens up from the forest and is a stunning view. There are multiple places from which to see the lake. My husband and son continued hearly full cirle around the lake and their assessment was that it was flat and only added about another milde to the overall hike. This gives you an up-close look at the bottoms of the multiple falls that empty into the lake. Photo ops from that vantage point were varied and interesting.

Seems to be staffed by multiple rangers during the daytime hours who are eager to answer your questions and even take those mandatory family photos.

We took our time and truly enjoyed the rushing waters of Avalanche Creek along the way. All in all, we took the better part of the morning to complete the hike and enjoy a short stay at the lake.

This hike is AMAZING! You are going up an incline the whole way up, but it is do able. The trail is wide and you are in the woods. The trail does open up to an amazing view halfway. There are vaulted toilets at the top of the trail. We did not use them. Wish we would have packed a picnic to eat at the top. !!Bring bug spray!! The bugs at the top are bad. We had the pleasure of seeing a grizzly across the lake and up the mountain, so bring your binoculars and bear spray. We had the pleasure of playing with some chipmunks and a blue bird at the top. Make sure you feel the crystal clear water, it is chilly. The trail is highly traveled. We went in the evening and though it wasn’t busy, we were not by ourselves, this being a huge plus being in bear country. Bring water, bear spray, binoculars, bug spray, and a snack. Took us about 3 hours round trip.

This hike is just beautiful! It’s rated moderate, but is more like a moderate easy. The hike is in the woods which was cool on a hot day. At the end, the lake is just gorgeous. We spent time at the lake eating our lunch. Some people wore swim suits and went swimming.

We traveled to the park in early July. Avalanche Lake was our first hiking adventure. We were a threesome (two of us in our fifties and a twenty-something single). We took our time and it was so worth it. The trail is primarily ascending on your way to the lake and took us about 2 hours to get there. I am somewhat disabled (rheumatoid arthritis) so we took it slower than most, I think. The views along the way are stunning, then when you walk out of the woods and see the reward of the view at the lake, you will be so grateful you made the trip!! The lake is surrounded by mountains on all sides and the viiew is absolutely amazing. Be sure to continue on to the small beach further down the trail. Pack a lunch and take the time to rest and eat while you visit the lake. There is always a ranger on site so take advantage and ask all your questions right there!

This hike is appropriate for all ages and we saw infants through elderly folks using walking sticks. Go in the morning so you beat some of the crowd. I cannot express how beautiful this hike was - every step of the way:)

This is a must experience trail. It is not easy but it is worth it. It is part of the Trail of Cedars trail.

This place is a very crowded are of west glacier! Picture haven just about everywhere you go (river, cedars, lake). This is a semi long & uphill hike that one might think it never ends, but the pay off at the end is worth it!! Took about 2 1/2 hours to hike with several water breaks along the way. We counted 7 waterfalls and the view is breath taking, stop and relax after a fairly strenuous hike up. The hike down is a breeze!

The hike up to Avalanche lake is over two miles and most of it is uphill. There are many places to stop and rest and a lot of photo opportunities along the trail. Not going to lie it was tiring but the pay off when you get to the top is well worth the effort.

This is probably one of the easier trails (4.5 miles, fairly level) with a spectacular view at the end. You walk through the woods and see dozens of trees on the ground from previous avalanches (as we were told and how it got its name). When we could view the lake, with lots of trees down, we thought that was the end, but no, keep following the trail to the right and it will take you right to the edge of the lake, where you can still see snow on hillsides that don't see any sunshine and 2 waterfalls leading down to the lake. Once there, find a place on the shoreline to sit and admire the view!

Taking the moderate hike to Avalanche Lake was very enjoyable. The sound of running streams, waterfalls and other aspects of nature is breathtaking and calming. We were lucky enough to see some deer and a moose nearby the trail and a black bear across the lake. The snow top mountains were beautiful. This is a popular trail so parking can be quite difficult. Would recommend arriving early morning.

Go early to start the hike on this trailhead. My wife and I headed out on the trail about 7:30am and only saw a few people going in and coming back. We hiked to the end of the lake - beautiful - but saw over 100 people on the trail who were heading in. Everyone was in good spirits, but still quite a few of your fellow hikers in one spot.

We did this hike with our 3 kids, ages 7, 9, and 11. The trail is a little challenging and is 5 miles round trip, but so worth it! Most of it is in the shade while you are walking, make sure to bring plenty of water.

We had to park down the road because the lot was small. Suggest going early. Hike was uphill to the lake but not too hard. We had lunch at the lake. It was very pretty.

Hiked the 3.5 mile hike to lake. Beautiful! We went to the other side which added an additional 30 minute (back-n-forth), but was less crowded and the water was more clear & it was the side where the glacier water went into the lake so it was really cold. But nice to have another perspective of the mountains! Beautiful!

Just like other parts of Glacier National Park, Avalanche Lake is pretty awesome. Water is too cold for me, but kids seem unaffected by it. Pictures don't do the view justice.

The hike to Avalanche Lake is about 4 miles RT and the elevation gain is about 500 ft. This is a moderate hike. The trail follows the creek for a large section. The lake is a nice peaceful end to the hike. We did see Grizzles on the hill next to the lake. Go early (8 AM) to avoid the crowds and to find parking.

Beautiful trail. Very popular, easy trail with lots of hikers. Good for kids. Beautiful lake. Bring a snack and sit by the lake. We went to leave the lake and there was a black bear walking along the trail following another couple. Some kids came running down the trail and we yelled "bear." Not sure why parents let their kids run wild.....we have 2 kids ourselves....this could have had a different outcome. Arrive early.....before 830am
Additional parking across the street near pit toilet and bus stop.

The trail is 2 miles back to the lake from the parking area. I'd say 85% or so is up hill to get to the lake. There is a pit toilet right before you get to the lake as an FYI. The gorge at the start is wonderful. I'd go early is at all possible as parking WILL be an issue as the day goes on. Also the trail will get more crowded. It took us an hour to get to the lake but my wife was slow and rested several times. You will be glad you did it in the end as the view is just wonderful. Remember it's all down hill on the way back.

This hike is crowded but it's a beautiful view at the top. We went in June so there were multiple waterfalls at the top. We were group of 12 (ages 8-82) and everyone made it.

A 4.6 mile return walk. Beautiful scenery all the way. Can be strenuous but well worth the effort. Go early or late afternoon as parking is limited at the trailhead. Take bear spray and stay on the trails.

This was my favorite hike during our 6-day visit to GNP. After having been surprised by the challenge of Hidden Lake a few days earlier, which is ranked as "easy" (see my separate review), I was afraid this one, as "easy-moderate," might be beyond my capacity (I'm 5'5" and a regular walker but kinda gluteless). A helpful ranger at Apgar Visitor Center suggested simply going up the trail as far as I was comfortable then coming back. Well, I did the whole thing (6 miles) without too much discomfort 👏 because the elevation gain is spread across a much longer distance (3 miles rather than 2, kinda counter intuitive). As others note, there are some tree roots and rocky areas along the way, but the entire trail is shady (😁) and the gain happens over a series of ups and downs instead of one gigantic steep upward climb on a boardwalk designed for giants. Worked for me!

This is a wonderful hike, good trail, moderate elevation gain. And Avalanche Lake is particularly beautiful in late May/early June when the six or so waterfalls are cascading into the lake.

This is a very nice lake, well worth the relatively short hike up to see it. To get to the trail head for the trail leading to Avalanche Lake, you'll need to hike up the Trail of the Cedars first, an interesting (and also very easy) walk. The trail up to the lake is interesting at first, running alongside the creek as it splashes its way down through a narrow ravine, with waterfalls and deep pools. After that, the trail hikes up through the forest, with occasional glimpses of the mountains through the trees, until it reaches the lake. The total hiking distance up to the lake is about 2.5 miles with a vertical elevation gain of maybe 500-600ft, so a pretty easy hike. Once you're at the lake, and you've had your fill of looking at the mountains, lake, glacier-fed streams and waterfalls, you should walk to the other end of the lake (less than a mile to get there). The view and pictures seemed much better there, perhaps because the sun was behind us when we looked out over the lake from that end. The natural beauty on display is just stunning.

Make sure you take this hike early in the morning. There weren't many people hiking in at 7:45, but on the way out, there was a continuous line of hikers on the trail.
Incorporate the Trail of the Cedars on your way to Avalanche Lake. Be sure to park before 8am. We arrived at 7:45 and took the last parking space. It's a relatively easy hike into the lake, mostly shaded. The lake is beautiful and a great place to enjoy a meal.

We took our daughters (ages 5, 7, and 9) on this hike (about 2.5 miles one way, I believe). We took the shuttle from Apgar Visitor Center to Avalanche and then took the hike. The views were stunning!

My fiancé and I had such a wonderful time at Avalanche Lake. We both agreed it was one of the best things we saw in all of Glacier. The hike to get there is quite manageable (although somewhat uphill), but the views at the end are so worth it! You also follow the bright blue Avalanche River on your way to the lake, which is a nice bonus. There is such a unique combination of landscapes throughout the hike, including coniferous forests, rocky river landscapes, incredibly lush (almost jungle-like) ferns, and a breathtaking lake landscape (surrounded by mountains and waterfalls) to top it all off. We also enjoyed the Trail of the Cedars loop on our way back, which is wheelchair accessible. I would recommend this hike to anyone visiting Glacier!! :)

Really enjoyed the hike up to Avalanche Lake. It's a little steep in parts but nothing overly strenuous.

The hike starts in forest with plenty of gorgeous fast flowing brooks and streams to enjoy as you climb ever higher.

And there is plenty of wildlife too. We saw a black bear feeding on berries on the far bank of the lake and plenty of deer, chipmunks and stunning birds too.

And the vistas are just amazing.

If you go to Glacier NP do this hike, it's so worth it but be warned, it is popular and finding car parking at the trail head is sometimes difficult so prepare for an early start.

This hike takes about 2 1/2 hours and is just shy of 6 miles RT. Some of the hike is uphill but, the elevation gain is only about 800 feet. The first 1/2 mile or so is on a wood boardwalk. Once you arrive at the lake, don't just turn around. Walk to your right around the lake 1/2 mile to get a better view of the falls and get away from the crowd.

This is the hike that I wish I had bear spray on.

My husband and I are not in the greatest shape and we are in our 50’s but we took our time and completed this hike successfully. It was so worth every step! Just do it, you won’t be sorry!

This was our first hike in the national park. Fantastic experience! Not super difficult, plenty of shade, and the payoff was perfect. We went on around the lake for better views. Don't stop walking when you get there! Parking is really difficult, and in July when we were there, the parking lot was full and all the overflow at 7:20 a.m. We ended up parking 0.8 mi up the road and walking back. Not sure of any way to avoid this except going in right at 6:00. A.m.!

Avalanche Lake is a great and very popular hike. Come early because parking fills up very fast, especially during touristy season. Allot of up and down traversing on the trail but well worth it. Once you reach the lake you can hike about another 3/4 mile to the end of the lake if you want more distance and better pictures. We have seen wildlife on this hike and even bears occassionally.

Could not really find accurate info on this. Conflicting information from different sources. IF You start from Trail of The Cedars, it is 5.7 miles (per iPhone/Apple Watch pedometer).
First, pull into the parking area for Trail of the Cedars... we found plenty of parking there (when roadside parking was “full”).
Trail of the Cedars is all boardwalk. Easy.
At the end of the boardwalk is the option to go on to Avalanche Lake..
‼️IF YOU ARE ELDERLY OR OUT OF SHAPE..
Consider the distance & the fact that IT IS HILLY & STRENUOUS‼️
We took my 86 year old mother who was determined to go. The hills & physical exertion took us 2.5 hours out & 3 hours back. We stopped often as did many people on the trail.
It is beautiful, but it was super windy at the lake the day we went, so the Lake was very turbid looking.
Would I do it again? Yes! But not with an elderly person.
There are pit toilets off to the right of the trail in the overgrowth just before you get to the lake.
If you are in shape, this hike can probably be done in 1.5-2 hours.

The hike to Avalanche Lake is a wonderful hike. It is very popular so you need to get there as early as possible. Many families walk along the trail and there is a ranger guided hike which I hilghly recommend.

Our family of 4 started this hike at about 6:30 p.m. The crowds had thinned our and there were plenty of parking spaces. It starts on the Trail of the Cedars and then branches off toward Avalanche Lake at a waterfall. Total hike was about 5 miles round trip, and it was well worth it! My 13-year-old son thought it was the most beautiful place he had ever seen. The waterfalls from the mountain running into the placid lake were breathtaking!

I've done this hike countless times in my youth, I grew up in the Flathead Valley. It is still just as lovely as accessible as it was then. Great hike for families of all ages. Trail is in better condition than previous years. Parking is still a bit of a challenge, take advantage of the shuttles if you can.

We hiked Trail of the Cedars and then on to Avalanche Trail to the lake. It is definitely a beautiful hike and well traveled. We had lunch along a log at the lake and the views were absolutely gorgeous. I highly recommend and would consider the hike moderate.

Avalanche Lake was one of our visit’s highlights. The three mile hike was moderate. The first mile on the Trail of Cedars was flat but there was a gradual incline for the next two. My only complaint was that we should have gone either earlier or later… we arrived about one and the sun washed out the photos.

A little bit challenging hike for 5-years old and under. Perfect hike for kids 7 and up. If you’ve got toddlers plan on packing them around. Beautiful ever-changing scenery. Amazing vistas. Wildlife if you look for it. And the best finish to a hike I’ve had since half-dome at Yosemite. The lake was epic.

This hike was absolutely perfect for us and our six year old. He didn’t have any issues with the hike, and it’s somewhat close to the west entrance to the park. It’s mainly shaded, which was so nice on a hot day. There is some uphill, but nothing terribly strenuous. The views at the lake are wonderful. We packed a swimsuit for our son and he thought it was fun to get in the freezing cold water for a quick minute.
This hike is doable for most people and still super rewarding at the top. Though we did not, we met several people along the trail who did see a bear, so definitely be aware of that.

Its a good family friendly hike but most of the hike is through a dusty forested area with no view. If you are in Glacier, there are way better hikes to do. The parking gets full fast and it is a very crowded hike. The lake at the end of the trail is pretty and a nice place to sit down and eat lunch. Not a hard hike but not easy either. My 10 year had no problem doing the hike at all.

We did the hike with kids from age 6 to 15. It is a nice walk and entertaining for kids as they could climb rocks and also play with water along the trail. It is also shaded which seems really rare in Glacier National Park. The lake at the end was just ok

The contrasts of the water, mountains, snow, and sky are truly amazing! This lake is the true epitome of Glacier National Park.

We made the hike up to Avalanche Lake on one of our days in the park. This hike is a little uphill, but overall, not a difficult hike. The payoff is a beautiful lake surrounded by mountains. Unfortunately for us, we had a little mist and rain that day so it was not as clear, but still a beautiful location.

The trail in to the lake is very well maintained and marked much better than trails in my part of Wyoming. the only issue we had was parking. avalanche tail head shares parking space with the only handicapped accessible trail in the park, so it was always insane trying to get into or out of the parking area. we had to try two different days just get a parking spot to hike in.
the hike took a little longer than anticipated but was well work it! so remember to bring snacks and enough water for the group!

the lake is incredible and in late July is just barely warm enough to swim in if your not afraid of some chilly water!

We thoroughly enjoyed this hike. It is a moderate event, with the trail only a little strenuous. The Lake is beautiful with numerous places to stop and enjoy the views. Young children will enjoy the hike. I recommend this as a great family event. Get there before 8:00am due to parking issues

We enjoyed this hike so much! It was absolutely beautiful and the lake was breathtaking. Make sure to see this trail to the end and walk around the lake! We did see some wildlife and loved seeing the changing foliage from under the canopy and outside of it.

I won’t duplicate my 2011 review of Avalanche Lake, but I will say that the hike to the lake is definitely worth a second trip. Once again, we enjoyed the cascading water in Avalanche Creek, and the mountain-surrounded lake at the end of the trail is beautiful! This time, we gave ourselves more time to walk further along the lake to see it from two different angles. Don’t rush it – take your time. Photographers will find many images to capture along the trail as well as at the lake. Be sure to make noise as you walk; bears frequent the area.

I will add that the trail has plenty of rocks and a 500’ elevation gain. It’s really not a trail for trail running; we saw a runner go down with a break or very bad ankle sprain – lots of pain. We recommend just hiking this one.

Arrive early to get a parking space. For both trails, we spent 3 ½ hours roundtrip from the parking lot with plenty of stops along the way.

Challenging but family friendly trail through a fairyland of cedars that ends at a beautiful lake. Trail is adjacent to beautiful rushing streams along the way. Get up early to get a parking spot.

Well worth the drive - perfect in September with all the beautiful color - even snow on the mountain peaks.

This was the first hike we (family of 4 with two boys, 18 and 20) did during our one week stay near Glacier, and what an introduction it was! We had read the Tripadvisor forum and learned that the best time to go hiking was in the early morning or late afternoon (in order to obtain parking). For this hike, we arrived at the Avalanche Lake campground parking area around 7:45am. It was already starting to fill up, and we did have to drive around, but we did find a place. The hike is on an incline most of the way, but it is a gradual incline, and the distance isn't too long (around 2.8 miles one way). Along the way you will see gorgeous blue water rushing through boulder gorges. Once you arrive at Avalanche Lake, it becomes quite windy. The turquoise lake is surrounded by mountains that still have snow on them in July. It is incredibly beautiful.

I thought I was in better shape than I was. This hike is shady though trees and is scenic. Lots of inclines. Bring water & snacks. I would be hesitant of bringing small children or seniors. Once you finally make it to the lake, the lake is stunning.

This was one of our favorite hikes of our trip. This 4.5 roundtrip hike would be categorized as easy/moderate. The trail starts at the Trail of Cedars. The scenery at the lake is nothing short of breath taking! Recommendation: have bug spray in. The mosquitoes were very hungry!

Hiked with 5 kids into the lake. It was pretty, but in my opinion Lake McDonald was just as beautiful without the 5 mile round trip hike.

This was a great hike! We had a wonderful time with our kids. Just a heads-up, this is a busy trail! We were not expecting the amount of people we met on the trail.

This trail is little bit over 2 miles and it goes up and downhill. Nothing hard but be ready! Avalanche lake on the end is really beautiful and it is worth it!

Take the chance to do this hike if you visit Glacier. Its not too long and not too difficult, and even if there are rather a lot of other hikers it doesn't take away at all from the splendor and natural beauty of Avalanche lake and the far waterfalls. If you can plan to get up there early and you may miss some of the heavy traffic.

The lake was beautiful. We got to the trailhead at 7:00 am to get parking and got one of the last spots. When you start the hike if you go counterclockwise at the fork (so not on boardwalk) you will pass a bathroom building along the way. Then you can take the fork the other way on way back to car when you leave. The hike itself is through the woods and shaded the whole time, with no real views of any mountains until you get towards the end. But the end is amazing. We picnicked at the first lake/beach area. When we got there the sun was just coming up over the mountain and cast a shadow over most of the “picture opportunities” at the lake. It would’ve been prettier later in the day. I’m hindsight we would’ve taken the shuttle to go later. Highly recommend to keep walking the extra mile or so to the very end of the trail on the other side of the lake. The lake views were just gorgeous from that side, the mountains reflected on the clear water and no shadows from that side.

Hard walk mostly uphill for an inexperienced hiker but once you reach the lake...WOW!!!! What a view! Incredible, unforgettable, breath taking! Didn't see any bears anywhere near the area, so do not panic. There were lots of people on the trail so chances of running into real bear induced danger are one in a million. Parking was hard to find but they opened the campground for people to park in and once we realized that we found one almost right away.

i have been on this trail 10 times over the years,,,,,some how i have never made it to the lake BUT the trail is so cool its easy it been fixed up over the passed few years LOTS OF RUSHING WATER very very cool

Hiked in peak season in August, before the fires. Took the shuttle bus from Apgar Village. Good move because parking is tight at the trailhead. The hike is about 500 ft elevation gain to a very nice lake. Go to the end of the lake and sit on the pebbled beaches and enjoy some solitude from the crowds on the trail and the near end of the lake. FYI, there is a privy at the lake.

This hike was nice and easy after we concurred the Grinnel Glacier trail but still a little work. The view is gorgeous once you get there. There were a lot of families with young children on the trail and lots of people sitting by the water at the edge of the lake.

We've done this trail a couple times when we didn't have much time. Most of it is uphill along a river through a forest. When you reach the lake, there is a beach that gives a great view of the mountain across the lake. There are lots of people there (and all along the trail) so if you're looking for solitude, keep going or find a different hike! Hot tip - the bathroom at the bottom of the trail is a flusher!

Superb hike for families and not difficult. We took our baby in a hiking backpack in July 2019. Certain portions are on walkways, there isn’t much elevation gain or challenging terrain, and there are varied landscapes (forest, creek, opens up to Avalanche Lake). You can sit on the shore and picnic before turning back. We were fortunate to see 2 black bears across the lake that day watering themselves.

What the trail lacks in solitude it makes up for in essential glacier experience. I think we parked a bit off the road across the street to get to the trailhead (bit of chance to find a spot like always). There is nothing available to purchase along the way; take the food and water you require.

I would consider this a moderate hike, but worth the effort to get to Avalanche Lake. Most of the trail is shaded, which was welcome on this unusually hot day. Once you arrive at the end of the trail, WOW! Breathtaking views. We stopped for a while to rest, cool our feet and have a snack. Could have sat here all day and never tired of the scenery! Consider this a must do hike!

Starting at the same place as the Trail of the Cedars, you branch off further in for the Avalanche Lake Trail. There are some flush toilets near the bottom along with a fresh water tap. I highly recommend that you ensure your water bottles are full and your bladders are empty before you start climbing. (There is no more water sources on this climb but there is a pit toilet very close to the top.) Listed as a moderate walk it is mostly uphill the entire hike but it is also mostly in the shade due to all the enormous trees around you. It starts off by the river and there are plenty of places for the kids (and adults) to investigate along with huge boulders for the kids to climb. It took us a while to actually make much progress due to them stopping frequently but eventually we did. With all our stops and playing in the lake at the top, it took us approximately 5 hours of which 2 1/2 of that was actually hiking.

All of us agreed it was a truly beautiful walk. (There were 10 of us ranging in age from 5-52.) The scenery is amazing. This hike is NOT smooth. You will also meet a lot of other hikers. Once you reach the lake though you realize the hike was worth it. STUNNING!

We stopped at the main first entrance to the lake but you can continue around the lake for a ways to where it is much deeper and closer to the waterfalls. There are FOUR waterfalls cascading down the majestic rock face. There is plenty of flat beach-like area and benches for hikers to sit/rest on.

This is definitely a MUST DO/SEE if you are visiting Glacier.

Loved this trail to Avalanche lake, very easy and not too long. Saw a black bear from the other side of the river! Eventually you get to the lake and it is a wow feeling. It also so calm there and many spots to sit and just have a snack or rest. Suggest to stay there for a little while and take it in. Can really recommend this.

We visited on June 20 and it's a GREAT time to visit... before the crowds descend. Parking worked well because we were allowed to park in the camping parking lot. Going to the Sun Road was enjoyable: and on June 20 it ended at Avalanche Lake. The hike goes by the creek, a beautiful gorge area, and at the end you are rewarded with the lake! Some in our party went another 3/4 of a mile each way to see the other side of the lake. It started pouring when we got to the lake, but as we often found out, the rain was short lived and we were prepared with our raincoats. We only took photos with some fog but it was exhilarating to do the hike! We are NOT hikers and managed well with our new hiking boots and rain jackets.It was an incline up to the lake so coming back was easier. There were quite a few people on the trail and rangers were around the parking lot.

Pretty hike with rewarding photography of the mountains reflecting in the lake at the end. Keep your backpack closed - chipmunks try to steal snacks.

There are 3 waterfalls on the mountain sides on the far side of Avalanche lake. These water falls rival any water fall in Hawaii.

By the way, there are washrooms at the lake but very stinky.

You take the Cedars Trail and then the Avalanche Trail to get here so you need to add both distances. Our phone said we went 7.1 miles on this hike. The lake was pretty.

There are many better short hikes in Glacier than the trail to Avalanche Lake. It's a popular walk, so the trail gets very busy and you'll need to set off early to avoid the crowds in high season. Almost all of the trail is through mature forest so the views are very limited until you get to the lake itself, which is not the prettiest in the park. The hike is neither steep nor long and is doable by anyody with a reasonable level of fitness.The trailhead is from the even more popular Trail of the Cedars, so parking can be difficult if you're not there relatively early.

We really enjoyed this hike. It is very picturesque with most the trail running alongside the creek. Avalanche Lake was a perfect lunch spot, although we had to watch out for the ever-present chipmunks. We saw a male grizzly on the trail, but he was calm and headed up the mountain away from people.

The hike to Avalanche Lake was well marked and it isn't the easiest hike. It is all uphill and it gets a bit tiring towards the end but it is so worth all the effort! When you get to the end you are greeted with a stunning view of the lake with huge whitecap mountains in the background. You can see multiple streams coming from the mountains making there way down. There are some benches around the lake for you to take in the view. We didn't travel with bear mase but we should have. The path is well traveled but there have been plenty of bear sitings in this area and it is better to be safe than sorry. I would definitely recommend doing this hike if you are in the area. We passed by several families with small kids that were doing the hike so it can be done fairly easily. Just take your time and enjoy the climb :)

The hike to the lake has about a 700 foot increase in altitude. That said the trail is in good shape and there were people young and old all along the trail. The one negative if you like solitary hikes is that there are a lot of people on the trail with you. The hike takes you through forest and for part of the trip you are walking next to a stream with rapids. When you arrive at the lake the view is stunning. It is set at the end of a canyon with multiple waterfalls on the far end. It is absolutely beautiful.

We did this hike with extended family (2 adults & 3 kids and then 2 adults). The kids (4,6,8) were tired but did very well. The whole hike is beautiful and mostly through trees. The lake at the end is a great reward and we did not go further on the trail once we got to the lake. Make sure you do go right after you reach the lake to the “beach” area.

Took this hike on Monday. I wish I had taken my walking poles. Up and down, but really good scenery and beautiful photo ops.

This hike was recommended to us by another family and we're so glad we did it! Very well maintained (and very well known) trail that is do-able for the entire family, even young children. There are some inclines heading in but nothing an inexperienced hiker couldn't handle. It's a beautiful hike ... passing along streams and waterfalls ... and the actual destination (Avalanche Lake) is beautiful. I was thinking the lake would be something we could all jump into but it's very shallow and you can wade in to your knees. I probably would have figured that out had I looked at pictures in advance. Definitely be BEAR AWARE - this trail has been closed numerous times because of bears - which is surprising since it is so well traveled by people each and every day. 4.5 miles roundtrip. You hike back out the way you came in. Located in West Glacier perhaps 40 minutes from the West Glacier entrance. There are restrooms at the trailhead and a decent amount of parking.

Highly recommend!

Loved this hike and the beautiful lake. Worth every step you take to reach it. Go all the way to the end of the trail for maximum beauty of the water.

This was by far our favorite hike. It is absolutely beautiful. Plus, the hike itself is picture worthy at every turn.

My wife and me and our adult kids took this hike on August 31. Along the way there are canyons with rapid water rushing through which is a must see! This trail is about 80 percent uphill so being in our 60's we stopped three times on the way up. We didn't give up and we were glad we didn't! The lake with the surrounding mountains with three waterfalls were amazing! The hike back was way faster!

This is one of my favorite hikes in the park. It is a trail that fits all abilities. The first part is very woody and follows the creek. Spend some time at the lake and walk around to the other side. Early in the day is best as it tends to get crowded during the middle of the day. If shuttle service is available, that is the best choice so that you don't fret over parking.

This is one of Glacier NP more popular hikes. Its about 2.3 miles to the head end of the lake where tributaries feed the lake. Many falls surround the lake. Around noon about 20 people were relaxing along the shoreline when a 400 pound black bear, one of the largest boars I have seen in quite some time sauntered up the lake to the happy hikers. This was a classic case of how things can go south and terribly bad for people's lack of understanding wildlife. Rather give way to the bear, people continued to fish and eat their lunch as the bear approached within a hundred yards (I paced the distance later). A couple of young men (teenagers) were clueless as they ate their sandwiches. It was about this time I told them to put the food away and back up slowly away from the bear. I had bear spray in hand but slowly backed away and allowed the bear to continue his journey as he was foraging for berries. Wildlife is unpredictable. Be alert and give way to wildlife. Bear spray should be carried in the park. They rent canisters of the stuff for $10/day and should only be used as a last resort. Rangers give talks about bears and how to avoid them as well as how to use bear spray.

This is one of the shorter hikes in the Park, about 4 miles out and back. The trailhead is maybe a few miles from the Lake McDonald Lodge. There is limited parking so we were directed to park at the campground. I'd rate this as a moderate hike, depending on your fitness level. We had a 60 yr old, 53 yr old, and two young adults and took our time, stopping to take photos, and it was no problem. It's a beautiful trail that rewards you with stunning views at the lake near the end of the trail. I would recommend taking a hiking pole or two. You can get them on Amazon for $15-25 and they also sell them in the Park - very helpful especially coming down and when the ground is wet.

We walked the Trail of the Cedars at this lake and were surprised at the abundance of plants and trees that are in the park, it is a rainforest after all. Everyone looks at the mountains but do this trail and take the time to see another type of scenery.

I included this hike in my itinerary two days before my trip. It takes about 2.5 miles of walking through a dense cedar forest with a beautiful stream of water flowing right next to you. It has about 500ft of elevation gain, so it isn't that challenging. I did this with a couple of my friends, started at around 7.30 AM and it was still heavily trafficked and the parking lot was full (we got lucky). Its fed by beautiful waterfalls, rewarding views once you complete it. I highly recommend doing this with any member of your family. I saw kids doing it without breaking a sweat.

When in Glacier Park you must take the Walk through the Cedars then the hike up to Avalanche Lake. Its about 1.9 miles though at times seems a little longer. Bring you water and take you time. Make sure you camera is charged cause at the end you will be taking lots of pictures

My husband and I did this hike on July 17th, 2018. We're both 40 years old, in decent shape. It's an easy-moderate hike. The moderate part I threw in because it is uphill much of the way. But there are beautiful areas to to stop, take a quick rest and take pictures. We were at the parking area for the Trail of Cedars (where the hike begins) by 7:30am. You will want to do the same if you want to park. The lot was filled by 8am. When we were done with our hike and back at our car, people were walking from another parking spot over a half mile away to hike to Avalanche Lake. There are real bathrooms by the start of this hike. Wear bug spray. Take snacks to eat by the lake. Wear the right shoes that don't slip. Watch where you walk, the rocks are covered by dust and make it easy to trip. I'm so glad we did this hike, it was beautiful.

Went just after the Park was open. We entered The Western entrance . The road ended at the Avalanche trail head. For beginners like us this was a moderate hike. Yes We encountered a bear on the trail . And saw another off trail . Walked with deer and saw goats on the cliffs overlooking the lake.

Recommend this hike but bring bear spray and enough water.

Great hike for the whole family. We braved the trail with children aged 9, 6, 4, 2, and 15 months, and everyone enjoyed it. The Trail of the Cedars at the beginning of the hike is very flat/shady and was an ideal place for "hike" with a stroller (no all-terrain wheels needed). The 2 mile (one way) trail to avalanche lake begins at the furthest point of the Trail of the Cedars loop. It has a moderate uphill grade and mildly rough terrain (no strollers), but even the 4 year old was able to hoof it with minimal complaint. If you can't do the whole thing, the first stretch along the creek is lovely and well worth it in itself. There were quite a few people on the trail, which likely scared wildlife away. The lake itself is very picturesque, with multiple waterfalls cascading down the surrounding cliffs. My children were determined to "swim", but the lake is very shallow, and the bottom is quite muddy (my 6 year old was up to her knees in silt at points). The shore is a nice place for a picnic lunch and some pictures, before the downhill hike back to the car. There are primitive pit toilets just before you reach the lake if anyone is desperate enough to use them.

The hike there is moderately strenuous, but pretty doable for anyone in decent shape. The view at the lake is amazing with a lake surrounded by mountains and multiple waterfalls emptying into the lake. Well worth an afternoon.

Such a great trail! We hiked with teens in August 2020. It has a fair elevation gain so it is a bit of work and seems to take longer to reach the lake than one might expect, but it is worth it for the views and beauty of nature. It would be possible to encounter bears along the trail so be prepared. However, the trail was pretty busy so that is very unlikely. The horseflies were really bad while in the trees. We did encounter a doe with her fawn and the came pretty close to us. It was really cool! The lake is beautiful and the water is crystal clear. Many waterfalls that feed the lake are visible as well. It was a nice place to relax for an hour or so before returning back down the trail.

This trail was very busy with all ages of hikers. We were lucky to find parking within minutes. The day was rainy and cloudy but that didn't stop us. Once you reach the lake it's breathtaking. Would be great to pack a picnic out for but we didn't stay long due to weather. The trail goes through thick forest with lush growth and boulders all around until you reach the lake. Loved this hike!

We continued on to avalanche lake after walking on the trail of the Cedars. The water was cold but not super freezing. My sons got into it for a while, and there were a few other people in the water as well.

The hike to the lake may only be about two miles, but much of it is uphill, so it is more difficult than I thought it would be. Nonetheless, it was a nice walk through the woods and a pretty scene at the end point.

Avalanche Trail in Montana Glacier National Park to the lake is a must hike!! We went August 24th. 2024. The weather was perfect!! In the low 40s- 50s. High was 60s. You do need a jacket, we wore our rain jackets which was sufficient. It was extremely windy at the lake. The hike was 5.9 miles total.

The trail was moderate and wide mostly shaded & very well marked. We did see bears on the trail a mama & her cub as we cornered the trail they were right there. Was too close for comfort!! We just slowly backed away & shouted out bear, tapping our hiking sticks as other hikers were coming up behind us. Once they continued on their way we proceeded to the lake. Later on in the hike we seen another bear, this one was eating berries so we slowly kept walking the path. She didn’t seem worried about us lol.

Once we reached the lake we seen deers. Also to mention they have a lot of logs as benches to sit & have some lunch which is what we did. The views are breathtaking to say the least. You don’t have to be in perfect shape to hike this trail, but it will have you huffing and puffing in some spots. Hope this helps fellow hikers. Happy hiking!!! 🥾 🥰

All ages shapes and sizes on this trail, good trail for most people. Go early to get parking it is popular. Lake at end is pretty but not outstanding. Lake a good place for a lunch.enjoy.

One of our favorites, with our group of 5, 6, 7, 8, and several late 30 to early 50 year olds. Beautiful rewards along the way and at the end.

Each way took about 40 minutes. I’m not the most in shape person but found this 4 mike round trip hike very doable. Just bring some water. There are some nice picture opportunities along the way but most is through forest and not all that special. Once at the end the lake is outstanding. When I got there it was rather cloudy but still remarkable. Can’t wait to see what it looks like on a gorgeous day. Went in early June and they were parking people in a closed campground around 10:30 and it was difficult to find a spot there too. Don’t know what they do when the campground is open because it didn’t look like there was much parking. For that, I’d say the earlier you can get there the better.

With the East side closed do to the 3 feet of snow over there, everyone was on the west side and in the morning, this was the place to be. Their were several bus trips from local schools, like up in Eureka. The kids were well behaved, and this is a long enough trail so that you will have private time.
As you ascend the trail up to the lake, you will have some really nice views of the mountain, and you can take some pictures of the rushing mountain stream. Their are some really cool big rocks there too.
This is a trail that can easily be combined with the Cypress Grove trail.

We hiked from Trail of the Cedars up to Avalanche Lake. The hike was 5.7 round trip. Well worth it!! I would say easy/moderate hike depending on the age and health. We saw many ages hiking the trail. Take it at your own pace. Everyone we saw all made it. You're going UP to Avalanche and then come DOWN to the Cedars (if that gives you an idea on your hike.) If you want to find a parking spot then I suggest you get to GNP EARLY. Anyone showing up after 7:30-8am will be driving around looking for parking spots and that is most of the park depending on where you want to do.

Only 500 ft of elevation gain inverse 2 miles. The entirety trail is in densely forested canyons. Trail is very popular so solitude is not available here.

Took this hike in late June when the GTS road was still closed to vehicles beyond this point with my 19 and 17 year old daughter and son. Even though it was sprinkling and cool when we started the hike, it was worth getting a little wet to enjoy the spectacular scenery along the way and at Avalanche Lake. We got to the parking area at 8am and had no trouble finding parking, because earler in the week, the parking area was full by 8:30am. The hike was uphill most of the way to the lake, but not difficult. A little slick because of the rain, but not bad. The lake itself is beautiful, surrounded by snow capped mountains, towering waterfalls, and crystal clear waters. Huge bonus on the way back down, we saw a baby moose come out of the forest to the river! Flowers were just starting to bloom and we heard lots of different interesting bird sounds. Would highly recommend this hike!

The beginning of this trail is on the Trail of the Cedars and takes you past some gorgeous and impressive waterfalls--really stunning. The end of the trail is beautiful Avalanche Lake which is a lovely emerald color, best seen if you continue around the lake past all the deadfall in the lake at the end you come to first. That said, there is a really long trudge upward through pretty steep trails through a darkish, nondescript forest that drags on for quite a ways before you get to the lake. Still, we are glad we hiked to the lake. Once you get to the lake, you can either use the trail to continue to the far end, or, there is an unofficial "trail" around the lake's edge to the far end that parallels the trail, but is right along the shore of the lake. We took the trail one direction and followed the shore the other direction which we thought was a nice way to do it.

This was our first hike of our trip. We had to wait a little bit for a parking place, but not too bad. The hike was easy and so beautiful. When we got to the lake there was a black bear on the other side and it was neat to watch him at a safe distance. He even went for a brief swim in the water. The scenery along the trail is nice and the view at the end is amazing.

Well, glacier was only open to the avalanche exit when we visited, but this hike was awesome! It took us about 70 minutes to get from the trailhead to the lake (good deal of uphill). We spent additional time picnicking and walking along the side of the lake, then about 50 min to return (more downhill on return!). Very busy with hikers, but trail is in good shape, and that view when you arrive at the lake makes it worth it!

You start off following the flat Trail of the Cedars route until you come to the Avalanche Lake loop and begin to climb. It’s not a treacherous hike, lots of children were hiking the morning we were out. Lots of gorgeous scenery along the way from large boulders to streams to rushing waters. Then you make it to the lake and wow beautiful aquamarine colors and don’t forget to look up and see the 3 waterfalls! Lots of people were in the water albeit too cold for my taste! You can walk a bit around the lake shoreside although it’s not a clean wide path as you fight the shrubbery. We didn’t have an issue with flies UNTIL we stopped to eat lunch lakeside. Definitely one of my favorite hikes we did in the park.

So beautiful, air so fresh and crisp, you can get lost in time with the scenery - so allow it to happen! My connection is to the people there which made my experience even more spiritual. The view is ever changing with the movement of daylight and moonlight, also amaizing under a star lit night. But be prepaired for the chilly air and enjoy this natural beauty.

A 4.0 mile hike both ways. Pretty easy hike. Good for family’s. One the way there was good views of the mountains, rivers and trees. At the end of the hike is a beautiful view you can’t miss. Defiantly worth it I highly recommend.

We hiked this very populated hike in the rain on last Monday but it was totally worth it. There are many waterfalls along the way and the forrest is very different from the east side of the park. We did see several families struggling with themselves or their children in sandals or slip on shoes. This is a hike, not a walk like the Cedar trail(which was pretty too), and sneakers at minimum should be worn. We had no issues in our hiking boots on the rainy rocky path but watched too many struggle in poor shoe choices.
Definitely recommend this hike even in the crowds.

Superb trail with plenty to see along the way. My wife and I were among the first in the parking lot and only saw three or four people before arriving at the lake before the sun came over the ridgeline to the east. There were maybe another half-dozen at the lake when we arrived. We walked to the head of the lake, took some more photos and then turned around to hike back. We passed literally hundreds of people on our way back. We're so glad we got up. The light was so much better before the sun came over the ridge and it was very peaceful. So, all hikers should not start their hike before about 9am so that people who really like the peace and quiet can enjoy it!

The hike itself is awful. A lot of dust, ugly trees (I know, trees are not supposed to be ugly, but these are dry to about 5 meters high). The trail is strenuous and overcrowded. I did not like the trail, but the view in the end is beautiful. Hidden lake trail was much better, as the views are everywhere - if you go to Avalanche lake be prepared for 2 hours of bore and pain before you see anything. Is it worth it? In my opinion it depends how healthy you are. My knee is not good, I really regret taking this trail.

We started hiking late afternoon (6ish) and had a great relaxing hike.
Very view people passed us in either direction.
Not to strenuous and not boring at all - maybe a little LOL
Some amazing views of Avalanche Creek along the way.
Had a great view of the lake and checked out the waterfalls then headed back.
Return was mostly downhill - nice !
Jerry D from Caledon

We did this hike with our 4.5 yr old. We weren’t sure if he will be able to do it. But we all had a lot of fun. The lake at the end is really beautiful and you can see 4-5 waterfalls. You go through waterfalls, rivers, and forest. Highly recommend.

It is really a great hiking trail. It is about 2.2 miles from the parking area to the lake and 2.8 miles if you go all the way to the end of the trail. You can walk right along the lakeshore for just under half a mile. There are a couple of waterfalls at the far end of the lake falling from a high cliff but there is no trail to get even close to them. In September the waterfalls flow was visible but they were not flowing very hard. The water in the lake was low with the outflow end of the lake mostly clogged with blown down trees.

The solitude on my early morning hike was good for the soul and made me more aware of my surroundings - the beauty, the majesty of nature, the potential danger. It was an exhilarating experience. Not a difficult hike, but not for the out of shape either. The payoff at the lake is magnificent!

This with trail of the cedars was PERFECT. Every hike will be compared to this one. And we saw a GRIZZLY. Oh, I want to go back!!

After hiking Trail of the Cedars, I highly recommend this hike. It has some elevation gain but is an easy hike that ends at a gorgeous lake surrounded by mountains.

We got up early to get there before the crowds we were about the 10th person to reach the lake that day. Gorgeous. The hike wasn't that bad, uphill but if you pace yourself it's not strenuous. We walked around the whole lake even though there's not a trail on the right side. Highly recommend!

This is a short trail but make no mistake - it will take you awhile to reach the lake as it's about 99% uphill. A good portion of it is shaded and it's connected to the Trail of the Cedars loop. We kept walking past where most people stopped and sat for awhile on a rocky beach at the shore of the lake, even dipping our feet into the bone chilling water.

If you have only one day of hiking while staying at the Lake McDonald Lodge, the Avalanche Lake is where to go. It’s only an hour to get to the lake, but the vistas are fantastic.

Be sure to arrive early to get a parking spot near the trailhead. It's a mostly uphill hike but it's scenic and culminates with a wide open view of crystal clear lake surrounded by mountains and waterfalls. Do this hike!

Avalanche Lake is a perfect hike for families who are willing to do some moderate uphill (sweat it out) for a very rewarding and picturesque payoff at the top. The exertion begins past Trail of the Cedars. My advice with kids is to pace it into thirds (0.5 miles, then break for water and photos). Give yourself about an hour to 90 minutes up, and about an hour down. The lake itself has great views, the water is ice cold but an experience to dip your feet into it for a bit. Take sandals in your backpacks. Rock skipping is fun along the shores (look for the flat rocks). Plenty of shade on this hike. Parking, like everywhere in Glacier, is a challenge, but just be patient and something will open up (no need to go crazy leaving early in the morning in my opinion).

Tip about Going-to-the Sun road passes: register on national park service, have your phone or tablet or laptop open at 7:58 am local time (have all of your family members do the same, logged in to same account), and load up the page where you apply for a day pass. Then right at 8 am, everyone click and hopefully one of you will get a pass (the rest will get a message saying unavailable, try reloading page). It can be frustrating, but you'll likely get something if you have a fast finger. Once you get a pass (its only $2.00), its good for three days, so you can try this process even two days before your planned hike. If that doesn't work, by a boat ride through Glacier Boat Tours for Lake McDonald and the GTSR pass is included. and the boat ride itself is enjoyable (but will cost about 25 bucks a person).

Great trail up to the lake but it is challenging with steep climb up. With the down trip, be sure you have good shoes and perhaps a pole. Take some flip flops for walking in the lake once you get to the top...a lot of stones. Great place for a picnic as well. Prepare for parking issues at peak time.

This hike isn’t that easy, but it’s so worth it!! The views are so beautiful!! We could even see some mountain goats up in the mountain!

The Avalanche Lake hike was one of the best hikes our group had. We'd had an arduous hike the day before and were looking forward to an easy hike after our white water rafting. The early part of the path was cool and shady alongside the creek. The smell of pine was in the air off we went. The path became steeper as we went but nothing someone in good shape couldn't handle. The best part of the hike was when we spilled out onto the beach, it was a glorious site. Avalanche Lake, with the mountains in the background was spectacular. A destination not to miss if you have a few hours! The only down side is that it is heavily hiked so if you are looking for solitude, this might not be for you. Fires raging in western Montana created a slight haze but it was beautiful nonetheless.

We hiked this July 2 and it was a rainy day in Glacier National Park. It still was fun to hike because most of it is in the trees so we didn’t get to wet. We still had a good view at the lake with the mountains. We didn’t see the tops of the mountains but could still see waterfalls. We walked to the end of the trail at the end of the lake. Round trip was just over 6 miles from the parking lot. Definitely glad we were early for parking. Only a few spots left at 9 am. Teenagers had fun and liked the hike. The first part along the river is really pretty too.

This trail is moderate difficulty—there is a fair amount of climb going to the lake. But, the hike through the forest and along the river is really beautiful and the lake is stunning with so many waterfalls coming off the surrounding mountains.

Beautiful hike located along a clear stream through tall trees. We saw a grizzly bear on the trail but he pretty much ignored us. it is a heavily trafficked trail so make sure to get there very early in the morning if you want to park there, otherwise it will be hit or miss. FYI... There is a pit toilet at the top near the lake. Bring toilet paper.

This trail was 5.8 miles out and back. It ended with the most majestic view of avalanche Lake with all of the surrounding mountains and the range. On your way there be sure and stop to see the massive rock faces on your left. There are lots uphills but it's rewarding on the way back with all the downhills.

We hiked this trail on Monday, 8/31. You can take the 5 mile round trip hike to Avalanche Lake through the Trail of the Cedars. The first part, Trail of the Cedars, is very easy where parts of it is on flat boardwalk. However, once the Avalanche Lake trail starts, it's not too difficult. And along the way, the views are great.

The most difficult part is probably finding parking. Our hotel was in Whitefish which was 1 hour away. We left at 6:15 am and arrived in the Avalanche Parking lot at 7:20 am and took the last spot.

We carried bear spray and luckily didn't need it. There seemed to be quite a number of people on this trail. When we visited Glacier NP, only parts of the park was open due to COVID.

The Avalanche Lake trail has been known to close due to bears. Luckily for us, the trail was open when just a week before, it was closed.

The entire round trip took us 3 hours and 15 minutes. Once we got to Avalanche Lake, the water was calm which made for great photos and you can walk along the Lake.

This is a stunning hike, with a superb scenic payoff. I did this on a rainy Saturday, on my first visit to Glacier NP. It's only about 5 miles round trip with a gain of about 650 feet. You head through lush forest next to Avalanche Creek, and ascend to breathtaking scenery, with several permanent waterfalls. There were many ephemeral falls as well because of heavy rains the past few days. I was lucky I did this hike when I arrived because the Park closed the trail for the next few days because of flooding.

This is a must-do hike in this part of Glacier NP. This is a hike in grizzly bear habitat, so it's prudent to carry bear spray and if you're alone, as I was, to make noise on the trail to avoid startling a bear. This trail is quite popular so there are many other hikers, but still, you'll be alone for short stretches.

The trail begins with Trail of the Cedars, which is a nice, flat trail on a wooden boardwalk. This section of the trail is actually a loop, so if you only wanted to do an easy hike, you’d walk the loop and be done. However, for some really awesome vistas, you would continue walking the trail to Avalanche Lake. There were tons of people here the afternoon we went. The dirt path was very muddy as it had been sprinkling most of the day. There are a lot of sections of the trail that are moderately steep inclines, but soon after most of the inclines, the path flattens out again for awhile. There were hundreds of downed trees all over the place. Once you reach the end of the trail, it appears almost like a pebble beach. The view of the lake and waterfalls at the end were beautiful!! Take the shuttle here if you do this hike as the parking lot fills up rather quickly early in the day.

We arrived just after 9am, and found parking a challenge, though we did find a spot. So early arrival is helpful for more certainty of a parking spot.
I saw this as three distinct experiences - a hike along a river that changed at every turn, arrival at the lake itself, which provided a wonderful setting for lunch, and then a continuation of the area beyond the lake which transitions into a very different scene. A very popular hike – one of the most crowded we encountered during our hikes in Glacier National Park (though the crowds thin if you make it past the initial beach area for the lake). Our day here was just under 6 hours - capped off with a stroll through the Trail of the Cedars, and then taking advantage of the multiple turnoffs on the ride back past Lake McDonald.

One of the most popular hikes inside Glacier National Park. Approx 2 miles to the lake with moderate elevation. Trail is mostly wide, maintained and many people travel it everyday the park is open in summer. The trail starts with the stunning Avalanche Gorge where the water cascades through smoothly honed rock. Great photo opportunity. We timed our hike with the sun coming over the eastern mountains of the National Park and it made for some stunning photos.

great hike for a beautiful view at the end. do not stop when you reach the lake, rather go on to the opposite end for a better view.

Fantastic trail, uphill the way there. Great views of Avalanche Creek for the first part of the trail, then through wooded areas with peak-through views of mountains. Trail gets crowded after about 9AM - best go early to get parking and have the trail more to yourself. Don't stop at the first beach you get to - walk all the way around ot the far side of the lake. The views are amazing! Take bear spray. Even though lots of people take this trail, we still ended up seeing a Mama grizzly and her cub (way too close for my comfort!).

Go early! It gets crowded! The hike is about a 5 hundred foot incline and just a little over 4 miles round trip. We went up around 8 am and had some nice quiet time for about an hour, then the crowds came in force. Recommend taking the shuttle bus up because parking can be a real challenge.

This is a great hike to a very beautiful lake. I went early (0700) to avoid the crowd and enjoy the solitude of the forest. It's about a 3 mile hike one way, and somewhat strenuous if you are not in shape. The reward however is an awesome lake, fed by several waterfalls, with excellent fishing opportunities for cutthroat trout and cutbows.

This wasn't my favorite hike in GNP, but I did enjoy it. I would say it was fairly easy and not a super long distance. The Lake is gorgeous - a great place to relax and have a snack. The trail is very busy. Going early or later in the day is a good idea.

This hike has one of the best reward views for relatively little effort. The 4 mile r/t trail is very well-trodden, wide and not overly steep. It rises from the parking lot off of the Going to the Sun Road and ends at the spectacular Avalanche Lake which is a pristine lake ringed by majestic mountains that plunge right down to the water's edge. When we visited in early July at least a half-dozen ribbon-like waterfalls of snow melt cascaded down the vertiginous slopes to the lake.

The lake side has many downed logs and rocks that you can use to sit on and picnic and enjoy the views. Our children waded into the cold crystal water and we really enjoyed the beauty of the site. The fact that tons of other people were there did not detract from the scene or the hike up on the trail. There is enough majesty to go around.

If you have any experience/practice hiking this trail is doable for kids and adults alike. We even followed an elderly couple up the trail who set a blistering pace! With our 8 and 11 yr. old daughters we hiked up in under an hour. The hike is popular for a reason and smiling and greeting fellow visitors makes the crowd more enjoyable.

Parking is the real pain for this hike. It fills up early and since can take a while to find spots, but if you keep trying someone will pull out and you can slip in. I suggest getting to the parking before 9am if you want to be sure to have a parking spot.

Go early or late in the day for parking and crowds are an issue. This hike has everything. Cypress and fern forest. Cascades waterfalls, Mountain View’s, beautiful glacier lake and even a flush toilet on the way back. Very crowded trail but being in our late 60’s we took our time and let a lot of people pass. Go early and enjoy.

A 2 mile up hill hike to a beautiful glacial lake with views of the continental divide. Bring a picnic lunch and some shoes for wading in the very cold lake.

We did this hike, along with the Trail of Cedars, with our 5 year old and 3 year old nephews. The 5 year old walked the entire time, about 4 miles roundtrip and the 3 year old enjoyed being in his backpack carrier, getting out to run around and dip his toes in at the lake. The elevation gain/loss is relatively gentle as you start in a dense forest of cedars and other evergreens and climb to more sparse vegetation, leading to a beautiful glacial fed lake. Enjoy a picnic on the rocky shore and take a dip in the cool water if you can handle the temperature. There are deer that frequent the area so be sure to give them, and other wildlife adequate space.

The parking lot at the trail head is one of the more popular ones so to avoid the headache of parking, get an early start.

Don't pass up a chance to hike to Avalanche
lake, but remember a towel so you can wade or swim. Four visible waterfalls were feeding this lake when we were there, spectacular views, super cold water. Worth the hike. Take the free shuttle to get there so you don't have to worry about parking..

I took my teenage grandkids to this hike. It was a great day and the falls as well as the lake at the op was absolutely beautiful. It was a Sunday so it was more crowded and no chance of wildlife around to be seen. Parking was an issue but we were there on a beautiful Sunday.
Highly recommend

I had read several great reviews for this hike and saw beautiful pictures. Unfortunately it wasn't that way when we went. The hike isn't as easy as you may think it is since it's almost all uphill with very little flat areas. While it's nice that it is shaded, once you get past Avalanche Creek, there really isn't anything to look at at all. When we got to the lake itself, sadly it wasn't all that much to see. There were lots of dead trees all around laying on the edge of the lake, no glacier or snow left to see, and it wasn't very green even. Now, maybe we expected too much having hiked to Iceberg Lake and Grinnell Glacier and they were breathtaking. But I honestly felt like I wasted my time on this hike sadly.

The hike is a good morning hike but the views at the end are totally worth it. Good shoes, small snack, water and CAMERA. The parking lot fills up early as there isnt as much to do with the Going to the Sun road still closed and the eastern part of GNP remains off-limits. Not easy but not strenuous either ( i did it and my BMI is 30)

We did this hike in July with our 6 year old and she managed to hike almost the whole thing herself with me carrying her for small bits. You need to get to the parking lot early if you want a spot and then you start off on the "Trail of the Cedars" which is a nice boardwalk trail then you head up onto the Avalanche Creek trail. You go gently up for most of the way there. It's definitely the moderate hike the park has it labeled. It's doable for most people of moderate fitness level if you take your time. We saw many different people of various ages doing it. It's definitely a busy trail so you won't be in the woods in solitude if you are in the park during peak season but we didn't find it crowded on the way up. On the way down it seemed like there were lots of people heading up. There is a pit toilet near the end (always important info!) and there are several places to stop along Avalanche Lake when you get towards the end to see the beautiful scenery. The view is gorgeous and the lake is freezing cold but we still saw some kids sticking their toes in. We got there right at mid day which was a terrible time for photography but still a beautiful view.

Nine of us in our group from one to seventy years old, tackled the three mile hike to Avalanche Lake. We were rewarded by mountains with seven waterfalls cascading down from the peaks into a calm lake that reflected the beauty. We started before 7am and took three hours to complete.

It was a warm day. Thankfully most of the hike is shaded. This is a moderate uphill hike. Lake is nice.

So we've hiked Iceberg Lake and Grinnell Glacier and both awesome hikes, but they were also over 10 miles each. Avalanche Lake via the Trail of the Cedars is a 5.7 mile hike which does include some a bunch of uphill hiking to get to the lake. Our 5 year old made the hike though with no complaining, so it's definitely doable for kids.

One amazing thing is the gorge you see, right after you pass through the Trail of the Cedars. If you're willing to climb down a little, you can see how clear and beautiful the water is. Don't drown though, because the current is very strong, so do what you're comfortable with. The hike after the gorge is a lot of uphill up to the lake. The good news is that it's all downhill on the way back.

The lake itself was still freezing cold even in August. So you don't see any people swimming in it. A few people jumped in, but it's cold enough where it's hard to stay in more than 10 seconds at a time. The beautiful mountains sky over the lake. Definitely a wonderful place for photos. You can explore different areas around the lake to hang out for a bit before heading back. The end of the lake did have an open beach area which some people were picnicking.

Parking is limited and the shuttle rides do have long lines. We drove by the parking lot twice. Once we came by at 10am and the lot was completely full. We came back on a Sunday around 8:45am and there were still 20+ parking spaces left. If you do take the shuttle, you can catch it either from Apgar Village or Lake McDonald (if you can find parking there). There are bathrooms in the main parking lot. There's one pit toilet right before the lake too.

It does get crowded, so if you don't like huge crowds, it's best to go early.

We did this hike after arriving in the park past noon while waiting for our house to be available. We had planned on Hidden Lake but with a fight delay, we didn't feel like we had enough time. We were so happy we did it. The Trail of the Cedars is really crowed as it is mostly a boardwalk. Once we got off on the actual Avalanche Lake trail, we were quite pleased, It was a lovely trail and a great introduction to the park. We were shocked at how stunning the views were when we finally arrived at the lake. We all took off our shoes to wade in (cold but not numbing). It was truly worth going on this hike. I do recommend you pick up a few good "skimming stones" on the trail before you get to the lake. The lake just cries out for multiple skips but with it being such a popular thing to do, finding good stones is not as easy as it should be.

To get to Avalanche Lake you start on the Trail of the Cedars. These are two very different hiking trails. While Trail of the Cedars is flat and mainly on a boardwalk, the hike to Avalanche Lake is an immediate uphill climb...that keeps going up and up and up. We knew it would be challenging but had no idea that it would be such a climb. But we kept telling ourselves...this is going to be worth it in the end. And we were right. Such a beautiful lake with wonderful views of waterfalls. We spent about 45 minutes just taking it all in before we started the considerably easier hike back down to the car!

It was a little crowded because it was early season with fewer hiking choices. The stream along the trail is beautiful and the view at the lake is fantastic. The trail was well groomed and wide enough to pass comfortably. Go early or later in the day for more privacy. Make sure to walk the Trail of Cedars at the bottom.

We had limited time in glacier ( IN July) and had our 10 year old and my 80 year old father in law with us, so we needed a hike that was not difficult or too long ( About 6 miles round trip). The first part of the hike ( the trail of cedars) is a handicap accessible trail with a wooded walkway that takes you to the river/falls. Its very popular, perhaps because of the view and the accessibility, not to mention it's fairly easy, so it's pretty well traveled. You wont be along. However, if you go early in the AM or later in the afternoon, you may see less people.
We decided to drop my father in law (POP) off at the Lodge at Lake McDonald ( Which is only a couple miles down the road from the Parking area for our hike and its a very cool place.. BTW). He packed a lunch and brought his newspaper and we dropped him off.
The hike was moderate. Not too hard but challenging enough that you felt like you were getting a workout! I am so glad that we did it. We packed our lunch and headed out about 11Am. We were back picking up POP by 3:30. We spent at least 90 minutes enjoying the lake, eating out lunch and exploring the area. What a site. Amazing pictures and there were fallen logs around that you could sit on. We brought a blanket as well! If you are looking to camp there is a large popular camping area at the base of this hike. Absolutely worth it. Plenty for kids ( 8 and up- my recommendation unless they are used to hikes) to see and explore to keep interested. We don't get any incline hikes in Florida so my daughter was a little winded at times but she did great and loved looking for critters and walking sticks... We saw a few dear on the way back and the river/falls that you encounter early in the hike is super cool! Great opportunity for family activity with enough challenge to keep adults interested and a rewarding end.. a simply magnificent view. A great starting point in Glacier as it's not too far in on the West Side.

You walk along the creek to get there wih really great little rapids and falls. Then it is Forrest before it opens up to the lovely pale blue lake fed by the glacier above. You can take the trail further to reach the other side of the lake which is a bit quieter since you have to walk say 20 mins further. It is cold water for swimming! Along the trail is a dugout toilet. Take water and snacks or picnic lunch. This trail is well traveled so we had no fear of bears with so many people about.

What an amazing trail. This was our first hike of the vacation. A great first hike; all of the family enjoyed it (5, 8, 10,15,& 18 year old's). The trail is about 4.5 miles round trip & starts within the Trail of Cedars. Arriving early is key for parking. We arrived around mid morning & had a tough time finding a parking spot. We had to park a ways away from the trailhead. The trail is considered moderate. Our 5 year old tired towards the end of the way back. The path is very popular & well kept. The trail has mostly shaded dense lush forest with Avalanche Creek & its water rushing over pretty river rock toward the gorge. When we finally reached the lake through the narrow entry between the trees the landscape opened up into the most magnificent view of Avalanche Lake’s beautiful blue waters surrounded by Mountains & waterfalls. Absolutely gorgeous views. There is a nice large beach like area with several log benches to enjoy lunch or just sit & enjoy the incredible scenery in such a peaceful setting. The kids got into the water after a short lunch. It felt so nice in the hot day. We had a deer walk through the beach. I would definitely recommend the hike; parking is the biggest challenge.

Fantastic short hike. We parked at the Avalanche Creek Picnic Area and despite it being off-season it was still busy (before 9am) so get there early for parking. The trail starts at Trail of the Cedars (a short flat loop) before splitting off and heading up hill. It’s a moderate walk but doable by anyone of reasonable fitness. We’re in our 50s and in good shape. Along the way we saw families with young children and older folk with sticks, and everyone in between, so it’s definitely accessible for most. The trail started with rapids and waterfalls, then moved up into some forest with amazing green mossy ground, before arriving at Avalanche Lake. On a clear blue sky day, it was just breathtaking. On the return leg, we did the Trail of the Cedars loop, which was an easy but interesting path. All up we were on the move for about 3 hours.

This 4+ mile (round trip) hike is a great one for the family! Parts are easy to moderate with lots of beauty along the way. During the hike you will walk through the Trail of Cedars, cross Avalanche Gorge, and travel beside Avalanche Creek with Avalanche Lake and its numerous waterfalls as your reward. A must do hike in GNP!

This was our longest hike for our kids 6,4, and 1, but worth it. The boys brought water shoes and had a blast in the water.

5-6 mile walk round trip. Moderate trail. Photos are best in the early am or late afternoon. Take the extra 15 min walk to work he far side of the lake - stunning

This was my 3rd favorite hike I did. I was worried about hiking, and forgot to buy bear spray, so I was going to do the ranger led hike. I couldn't figure out were to meet as the trail head is off the cedars trail.

So I met some nice folks, and asked if I could hike behind them. They said no problem, and kept a bit of a look out for me.

The hike is through the woods, along a river which is filled with waterfalls. Very cool wooded morning hike. The sun cuts through the trees at a great angle making you feel like you're in a Walt Whitman poem.

The hike is moderate. Some areas are vertical climbs, but there are areas of flat walking in the middle.

The view from the bottom of the lake is cool. I think you have to go in July to see the snow caps running into the lake. For me the Sprag forest fire was burning not too far away (2 days after my hike the trail was closed as the fire was too close) I hiked in what smelt like a campfire, and casted a haze over everything.

Definitely get here early (8-9am) there is limited parking and fills up quick.

PS - don't feed the wildlife!!

This is a decent hike in terms of elevation but the hike is beautiful.
The lake at the end of the hike was really serene.
We saw a deer on the way back.
If you are doing the hike in the afternoon be prepared for the rain

Some elevation but moderate. Gorgeous views over the bridge as you just about get to the turn off to do this hike off the Trail of Cedars. Really special. Saw deer on trail and fish in lake. A very popular hike

I bring all my visitors on this hike/walk. Be sure to get there early because the parking at the trail head fills up FAST! While on the hike you will pass waterfalls, streams, forests and end up at one of best views in the park! Bring water.

This 4.6 mile (round trip) hike follows a river to Avalanche Lake with views of the glaciers and waterfalls. If you vier off the trail (towards beginning of hike) at a foot bridge to your left, you will have a great view of Avalanche Gorge. The trail is intermittently uneven due to rocks and tree roots. Once you reach the lake there are benches if you want to rest, take in the views and have a snack. You can continue another 1/2 mile to the end of the trail as I did, but I found the best views were at the lake and most people did not continue that last leg. Flush toilets are located at the trailhead and a pit toilet at the lake. There is some elevation gain, enough to get my heart pumping. I saw families with young children and many seniors hiking this trail with no problem, just go at your own pace. Take the shuttle or arrive early to secure a parking space.

We love hiking to alpine lakes and find this one to be worth the effort--its not an easy hike by any means, but it is one that almost anyone can accomplish. On our recent hike we saw a man on crutches, an obviously pregnant woman, senior citizens, and a healthy young father with a child strapped on both front and back! There is a shuttle stop here (Avalanche Creek) to make it a convenient stop as well.

SInce the hike to Avalanche Lake is one of the most accessible day hikes in Glacier, it is frequently very busy - lots of families, especially. We recommend parking at Apgar, if you are entering the park from the west, and taking the shuttle to the drop off point for the hike. We were there at the end of the summer, and summer has been extremely dry. While we sat on a log enjoying the beauty of the lake and the mountains around it, smoke from wildfires to the west of the park filled the valley.

The hike is not difficult. We are two fit 60-somethings and we made the trip without difficulty, other than a tinge of vertigo when we looked straight down into a hollow in the colorful rock made by the water cascading from the lake. It was a good day hike, and on arrival at the lake, you can sit on logs at the shore and eat your trailmix or granola bars, closely attended by the very friendly chipmunks that continually watch for crumbs.