Hiking Trail Of Cedars to Avalanche Lake in Glacier National Park? This blog post will tell you everything you need to know, including trail stats, important tips, and whether or not the hike is worth it.
Trail Of The Cedars Hike
Distance: 0.9 miles
Elevation gain: 49 feet
Trail type: Loop
Difficulty: Easy
The Trail Of The Cedars hike (AllTrails map here), also known as “Trail Of Cedars,” is one of the only rewarding hikes in Glacier National Park under one mile in length. On the Trail Of Cedars, you walk among giant ancient cedar trees and miniature waterfalls in dense green forestry. It’s mostly flat, with only 49 feet of elevation gain. And, it’s one of the most accessible hikes in Glacier National Park, as a good portion of this loop trail is on flat boardwalk.
To begin this hike, you’ll park in the Avalanche Creek Picnic Area parking lots and start at the Trail Of The Cedars trailhead. However, these parking lots are extremely competitive and usually fill up by 7:00 a.m. I highly suggest you get to the trailhead before 6:30 a.m. to secure a parking spot. We arrived at the trailhead at 6:30 a.m., and the first lot was already completely full. We saw a lot of people parking far down the street for this hike, which adds quiet a bit of mileage plus walking on the extremely busy Going-To-The-Sun Road. Moral of the story, get there early.
Does Trail Of Cedars Lead To Avalanche Lake?
Trail Of Cedars does not lead to Avalanche Lake itself. Rather, Trail Of Cedars leads to the Avalanche Lake trailhead. The Trail Of Cedars loop trail passes, and therefore leads to, the Avalanche Lake trailhead. This means, the Avalanche Lake hike is a separate spur trail that is a great addition to the Trail Of Cedars if you want to do both. In fact, if you want to hike to Avalanche Lake, I highly recommend finishing the Trail Of Cedars on your way back to complete the loop. Although, hiking Trail Of Cedars to Avalanche Lake does add a significant amount of time, mileage and elevation gain. I’ll tell you everything you need to know about hiking both trails soon.
Is Trail Of Cedars Worth It?
The Trail Of Cedars loop trail is definitely worth it given its short distance, especially for families with young children and/or accessibility needs. It’s a very pleasant walk even if you don’t do the full hike up to Avalanche Lake. Although, to play devil’s advocate, if you’re an avid hiker expecting an epic view like other parts of Glacier National Park have to offer, you’ll definitely want to do the full Avalanche Lake hike.
How Hard Is The Trail Of Cedars?
Without the full hike to Avalanche Lake, the Trail Of Cedars is very easy thanks to its short distance and minimal elevation gain. If you’re looking for accessibility and only want to walk the boardwalk, start the Trail Of Cedars from the lefthand trailhead, taking the loop trail counterclockwise. At the parking lot, there are two trailheads at either end of the lot. Because the trail is a loop trail, you can start at one trailhead and come out from the other. The boardwalk is located at the left trailhead. Otherwise, you may need all-terrain wheels to complete the whole loop.
Avalanche Lake Hike
Distance: 5.9 miles
Trail Of Cedars to Avalanche Lake trailhead distance: 0.45 miles
Elevation gain: 757 feet
Trail type: Out-and-back
Difficulty: Moderate
Glacier National Park only has a handful of epic hikes that are under 10 miles in length. The Avalanche Lake hike is one of them. Considering Avalanche Lake will only take a few hours of your Glacier National Park itinerary, the jaw-dropping lake views at mile three are so rewarding. At Avalanche Lake, you’re surrounded by massive mountains, numerous waterfalls and gatorade blue glacial water. Additionally, the water at the shoreline is so calm and crystal clear that you can see through it like glass.
Although this hike is very popular, you can still find quiet areas of the lake if you hike down the shoreline about a quarter mile away from the trail opening. Down the shoreline, you’ll also see a better reflection of the mountains over the lake, especially if you go mid-morning. The hike’s popularity also means that you’re less likely to encounter a bear, but it’s crucial you carry bear spray anyway.
Is Avalanche Lake Worth It?
The Avalanche Lake hike is 100% worth it. If you are physically able, do it. Honestly, even though the hike adds a whopping five miles to the Trail Of The Cedars, as an avid hiker, I wouldn’t do Trail Of The Cedars again without adding the hike Avalanche Lake.
How Hard Is The Avalanche Lake Hike?
The Avalanche Lake hike has moderate difficulty, with a decent about of distance and certainly enough elevation gain to get your heart pumping. Most healthy, physically active visitors should not have an issue doing this hike, but keep the distance and elevation gain in mind. The elevation is fairly gradual, but take breaks if you need to. Avid hikers will find this hike to be one of the easiest lake hikes in Glacier National Park. After all, Avalanche Lake is one of the best hikes in Glacier National Park under 10 miles.
More Glacier National Park Guides
Driving Going-To-The-Sun Road: Everything You Need To Know
Epic 7 Day Itinerary For Glacier National Park
Lake McDonald Montana: Glacier’s Best Beach, Boating + Apgar Village
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