Are you thinking of hiking to Avalanche Lake in Glacier National Park?
If you are visiting Glacier National Park in Montana with your kids, the hike to Avalanche Lake should be on your must-do list and added to your Glacier National Park itinerary. This trail is one of the best family hikes in Glacier National Park.
Avalanche lake is less than 5 miles roundtrip and takes you to the stunning Avalanche Lake, surrounded by mountains and waterfalls.
The trail head is on Going To The Sun Road, about 30 minutes from the West Glacier entrance, just past Lake McDonald.
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What to Know When Hiking to Avalanche Lake
🥾 Avalanche Lake Technical Information (from AllTrails) 🥾
Distance: 9.5 km (5.9 miles) loop
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation gain: 231 m
How to Get to Avalanche Lake in Glacier National Park
Start by entering Glacier National Park, where you’ll need to pay an entrance fee. Once you’re inside, drive along the main road through the park, called the Going-to-the-Sun Road, until you reach the Avalanche Lake trailhead. You’ll drive pass Lake McDonald Lodge.
There will be signs to help guide you to the trailhead. Parking can be busy.
Once you’ve parked your car, you’re ready to start your hike! Just follow the trail signs to Avalanche Lake.
Don’t forget to check the park’s official website or visit a visitor center for any updates or changes to trail conditions before you set out.
When to Hike to Avalanche Lake in Glacier National Park
If you’re ready for hiking the Avalanche Lake trail, know that the best time to hike to Avalanche Lake is late morning or in the afternoon.
Why is it better to hike Avalanche Lake in the afternoon?
Early in the morning, the mountains at the lake are in the shadows, so you don’t get the full effect of the beautiful scenery. The shadows also make getting good pictures more difficult. In addition, the lake is a gorgeous teal color and many people (especially kids) love to take a dip in the beautiful water. Mornings start off cold in Glacier National Park, but temperatures in the summer can rise to the 90s. It’s a little too cold to go for a swim first thing in the morning.
But, if you decide to go late morning or in the afternoon, parking at the Avalanche Lake trailhead will be an issue. To avoid the parking frustration, you can use the free shuttles that run through Glacier National Park.
If you are entering the park from the west entrance, park at the Apgar Visitor Center. There is a shuttle stop at the Visitor Center, and the shuttle will take you directly to the Avalanche Lake trail head (which is the Trail of the Cedars).
IMPORTANT REMINDER
From end of May to mid-September, you need vehicle road reservations to be able to enter Glacier National Park. These can be purchased on Recreation.gov on either March 1, April 1 or May 1, depending on which month you will be visiting the park. You can also try to get them 24 hour prior to your visit. The vehicle reservation is valid for 3 consecutive days. Also, you must have a vehicle reservation in order to enter the park, even if you intend to use the shuttle once inside.
Learn more on the vehicle reservation here
Hiking Avalanche Lake Trail in Glacier National Park
The hike to Avalanche Lake actually starts on the Trail of the Cedars, which is a 1 mile round trip loop through the cedar and hemlock forest.
Trail of the Cedars is mostly boardwalk and a very easy, family friendly trail for any age. Because it is a flat boardwalk, it is also handicap accessible.
From the trail head, if you go counter-clockwise around the loop, there is a bathroom building along this section of the Trail of the Cedars. Having a bathroom building on the trail is just one of the reasons this is the best family friendly hike in Glacier. You can see the bathroom building on this map, courtesy of All Trails.
Trail of the Cedars ventures alongside Avalanche Creek. You can hear the running water from the moment you start on the boardwalk. The sound of the running creek, the smell of cedar and the sight of the tall trees towering above you makes this part of the trail an experience for all of your senses. .
At just about the halfway point of the Trail of the Cedars loop, you will reach a footbridge that takes you over Avalanche Creek, with views of the beautiful Avalanche Gorge. Ice blue water cascades through the gorge and is really a sight to behold!
Shortly after passing Avalanche Gorge, you will arrive at the Avalanche Lake Trail turn off. No need to worry about missing the turn off, it is well marked with a sign. From here, you can either continue on Trail of the Cedars for the rest of the loop, or veer off onto the Avalanche Lake Trail, which takes you to the lake. You definitely want to take the Avalanche Lake Trail, warning though–stunning views ahead!
From the Avalanche Lake Trail turn off, it is only 1.6 miles to the lake. Unlike the boardwalk of Trail of the Cedars, Avalanche Lake is a dirt trail which can be rocky in parts and mostly uphill, although not steep. It is a steady incline.
Avalanche Lake trail is almost entirely through the woods, so you will be in the shade for most of the hike. This is great for families, no baking in the sun, no need for sunscreen and you won’t hear any whining of “I’m hot!” There is a comfortable breeze and you may even spot some deer in the woods along the path. Since it is shaded, if you start early in the morning it could actually be a little cold–just another reason why this hike is best to do in the afternoon!
PRO-Tip for hiking to Avalanche Lake
As with any hike in Glacier National Park, always carry bear spray with you and know how to use it. We did not see any bears on this trail, but bears do live throughout the park and can be seen on any of the trails.
Avalanche Lake is one of the most popular hikes in Glacier. There will be a lot of families and hikers on the trail with you, although it never seems crowded. We even passed a bride and groom in their wedding dress and tuxedo hiking the trail, along with their wedding photographer, in search of spectacular wedding photos!
Unlike some of the other hikes in Glacier National Park, there are not gorgeous views every step of the way. You will get some amazing sneak peeks of the gorgeous mountains in several clearings along the way, but the real views are towards the end of the trail when you reach the lake.
When you reach the foot of the lake, you will be greeted by gorgeous blue water, surrounded by stunning mountains, streaming with multiple waterfalls. It is truly a breathtaking sight that almost looks fake.
The waterfalls that you see straight ahead come from the Sperry Glacier, which is above and behind the mountains in the background.
There are several benches around the beach area at the lake, which makes this a great spot to rest, have a snack or picnic lunch and just take in the spectacular view. There are no trash cans, so take any trash back out with you.
There is the cutest little chipmunk family who resides near the benches and they are very comfortable and friendly with people. The kids will love watching the chipmunks play around them. Just make sure you don’t put your food on the ground–they are quick! My daughter sat her lunch bag down for a second and the chipmunk crawled right in it!
The beach is sand, we saw a few families with kids playing in the sand. If it’s warm enough, they can dip their feet in or go for a swim. Pack water shoes and a lightweight towel in your backpack.
PRO-Tip for hiking to Avalanche Lake
The biggest mistake would be making this beach the end of your hike. After you are done at the beach, be sure to continue on the trail until you reach the head of the lake, which is another beach on the side of the waterfalls.
The color of the water becomes a gorgeous teal green along this last stretch of the trail.
The trail ends once you reach the beach on the other side of Avalanche Lake. The views from this side are really beautiful. It is a completely different perspective, and the reflections of the mountains on the crystal clear water is unbelievably stunning.
At this side of the lake, you are looking back at the beach where you had your picnic in the distance. If you turn around, you are directly in front of the mountains and waterfalls that were in the distance from the first beach.
From this side of the lake, you can hear the waterfalls cascading down the mountain. It is such a beautiful sound. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can venture back on a small trail towards the waterfalls. We did not, but talked with a family on the beach who had walked to the waterfalls and said it was beautiful.
We sat on the beach at the head of the lake for almost an hour, just relaxing and soaking in the gorgeous views.
The hike back to the Avalanche Lake trailhead is mostly downhill so it takes less time than the way up. When you get back to the Trail of the Cedars, you can go the opposite way you came, so you can see the whole loop. Or, if your family needs another bathroom stop, you can go back the same way you came.
This was our first hike of many that we did the week we were in Glacier, and it was one of our favorites.
Why is Avalanche Lake the Best Family Hike In Glacier National Park?
There are many reasons why Avalanche lake is one of the best family hikes in Glacier National Park. Here are a few:
- There are no dangerous drop offs or exposed cliffs.
- It is not a strenuous hike.
- It is one of the only trails in Glacier National Park with a bathroom building in the middle of the trail.
- Almost the entire hike is shaded through the woods, so you won’t be baking in the sun and the kids won’t be complaining about being hot.
- The beach at the lake is great for a picnic, playing in the sand and swimming in the water.
- The views are just spectacular!
F.A.Qs Avalanche Lake Hike
How long does it take to hike Avalanche Lake?
All Trails says it takes about 2 to 3 hours to hike to Avalanche Lake and back. But you might want to plan for at least half a day (if not an entire day) when hiking with kids, especially if you want to enjoy the beach. And also depending on their speed.
How hard is the hike to Avalanche Lake?
The Avalanche Lake trail is considered moderate on All Trails. It has an elevation gain at 231 m. The hike is not too hard, but there are some uphill parts.
Can you swim in Avalanche Lake in Glacier National Park?
Yes, you can swim, but the water is very cold! So, be ready for a chilly swim.
Can you camp at Avalanche Lake?
No, you can’t camp at Avalanche Lake by the lake. Camping is not allowed there. But there is a campground, Avalanche Campground right next to the trailhead.
What to pack to Avalanche Lake?
In addition to your regular hiking gear (water, snacks, good hiking shoes, camera, sunscreen, bear spray, …), you’ll want to pack for Avalanche Lake:
Final Thoughts: Avalanche Lake in Glacier National Park
First, thank you to Carrie from Postcards from Carrie for this great guest post. Carrie is a mom of 3 teens passionate about planning travel adventures for her family. Her motto is “Making memories, one trip at a time.” Check out her blog at www.postcardsfromcarrie.com.
There are many great family-friendly hikes in Glacier National Park and Avalanche Lake is one of them. It’s a relatively short hike, leading to a beach, a waterfall, and a lake. There is plenty on the trail to keep the kids entertained and engaged that they won’t even realize they are hiking.
Make sure to add this hike to your things to do in Glacier National Park list.
Emilie is the founder of Love Life Abroad. She helps moms plan epic road trips and outdoor adventures with their families. Because who said adventuring had to stop once we have kids? She’s based in the Canadian Rockies and shares her love for the region as well as other unique places in Canada & USA. She works with tourism boards and outdoor brands to inspire families to experience new unique destinations and outdoor activities.