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Activity Lake McDonald Valley, Glacier National Park

Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake Trail

An activity in Lake McDonald Valley, Glacier National Park, free to visit and worth about 3 hours. Best time to go: Morning.

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Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake Trail in Lake McDonald Valley, Glacier National Park
Photo: Michael Hall · Google

Why go

Flat boardwalk through old cedars, continuing 2.3 miles to a lake ringed by waterfalls.

It is one of 10 curated places we feature in Glacier National Park, alongside 5 activities, 2 places to eat and 1 place for a drink. The closest of our other picks is Hidden Lake Overlook Trail, 3.4 mi away as the crow flies.

Type
Activity · Nature
Neighborhood
Lake McDonald Valley
Price
Free
Time needed
3 hr
Best time
Morning

Nearby

The 6 closest curated picks in Glacier National Park, measured as straight-line distance.

  1. 1
    Hidden Lake Overlook Trail

    2.7-mile round trip from Logan Pass across meadows to a lake view, often with mountain goats.

    Activity · 3.4 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Russell's Fireside Dining Room

    Lake McDonald Lodge dining room with regional dishes like bison and huckleberry desserts.

    Food · 5.1 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Highline Trail

    Ledge trail along the Garden Wall from Logan Pass with huge valley views.

    Activity · 7.0 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Going-to-the-Sun Road

    50-mile alpine road crossing the Continental Divide at Logan Pass.

    Activity · 7.3 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Lake McDonald

    Glacier's largest lake, famous for colored stones visible through clear water at Apgar.

    Sight · 8.2 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Grinnell Glacier Trail

    Steep Many Glacier hike past turquoise lakes to the foot of Grinnell Glacier.

    Activity · 11 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake Trail is a stop on our Glacier to Yellowstone route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More things to do in Glacier National Park

Another curated activity in Glacier National Park. See the full Glacier National Park guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Glacier National Park run from 21°F in December to 70°F in July; June is usually the wettest month. For Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake Trail itself, we suggest: Morning.

Modelled monthly averages for Glacier National Park from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Glacier National Park weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake Trail, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
West Glacier, MT 59936, USA
Coordinates
48.67646, -113.81377
Destination
Glacier National Park, Montana

Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake Trail: quick answers

How much time do you need at Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake Trail?

Plan on about 3 hours at Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake Trail. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake Trail?

Our pick: Morning. Insider tip: Trailhead parking fills by 8 am in summer; use the park shuttle.

Is Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake Trail free?

Yes, we list Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake Trail as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Where is Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake Trail?

Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake Trail is at West Glacier, MT 59936, USA, in Lake McDonald Valley. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake Trail?

Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake Trail appears on Glacier to Yellowstone, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add it to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Glacier National Park.

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Also in Glacier National Park

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.