Avalanche Lake Trail: Scenic Family Hike in Glacier National Park

This is one of the top three hikes in Glacier National Park. The views are absolutely stunning! The reflection on the lake in the morning is especially beautiful. On the way to and from Avalanche Lake you get great views of the dark forest which is kind of unique to that trail as opposed to other trails in the park. Also, at the start of this trail, you will find Trail of the Cedars, which you absolutely should hike. The lake with the mountains and waterfalls in the background is absolutely beautiful. This definitely is a moderate hike though. You’re hiking up the entire way to the lake and then down the entire way back. It is totally worth it though! It is a very busy trail. Parking is extremely difficult if you arrive after 6:30 AM. There are pit toilets up by the lake, but from what I heard, they are not in the greatest state.

Beautiful trail, but the planning matters almost as much as the hike. Parking near the trailhead fills very early, so arrive with plenty of time and have a backup plan rather than waiting along the road. The Trail of the Cedars section is easy and scenic, but after the Avalanche Lake junction the path becomes narrower, rockier, and noticeably steeper, with roots and uneven footing. Avalanche Gorge is impressive, but the rocks beside the water are extremely slippery, so the safest views are from the maintained boardwalk and bridge. Much of the route stays shaded, although the rushing creek and blind bends make it important to stay alert and keep bear spray immediately accessible. The first lakefront is already a worthwhile destination. We continued farther along the western shore toward the head of the lake, which added roughly 1.4 miles round trip and gave us a different perspective of the basin. Before continuing, we checked the remaining daylight, weather, water, food, and our return pace. We stopped there for water, electrolytes, something salty, and a PROTABAR before heading back. It worked well as one compact part of the food we had packed, rather than being our only trail fuel. Overall, we would rate it moderate rather than easy. The scenery is outstanding, but expect crowds, parking pressure, wildlife awareness, uneven footing, and changing mountain weather.

Highly recommended hike in the west glacier park. It was hard to find parking because we kind of started late in the day, but with patience and persistence we were able to park in the campground area. We did not really know what to expect starting the hike. The hike is a 3mile one way with moderate elevation. As soon as you see the clearing and a glimpse of the lake, we knew that the hike was well worth it.

Took 2 hours round trip exactly. Easy trail but many slippery places when it's raining. Should add some bridges and or wood planks. The lake at the end was beautiful. We saw a mama bear with 2 cubs when leaving the park 😍

Can be a challenge but go at your own pace and you should be able to make it to Avalanche Lake. There are some uphill climbs and steep inclines and declines but overall it is a nice rewarding hike. Walking sticks or ski poles may help with balance throughout the hike. Pack plenty of water for the roughly 4 mile round trip trek. It can be longer if you go to the opposite end of the lake to see all around it. Use caution and take bells, bear spray and horn just in case of wildlife in the area. Be cautious but enjoy it!