Sometimes it’s good to revisit an old friend – in this case the well-traveled trail to Avalanche Lake on Glacier National Park’s west side. The trail begins near the Trail of the Cedars, 5 miles east of the Lake McDonald Lodge and takes hikers to Avalanche Lake for stunning views of the mountains and surrounding waterfalls. Not only is it accessible to the entire family – from the parking lot to the lake and back is a gradual 4.5 mile round trip – but there are some stunning views along the entire route. You can also see evidence of some recent avalanche activity, with broken trees scattered about on distant hillsides. It’s a firm reminder of the awesome power of Mother Nature.
How to get there: From West Glacier, drive 15 miles east on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. At Avalanche Creek, park and find the Trail of Cedars. About halfway around the Trail of Cedars, take the turn to Avalanche Lake.