The hike to Avalanche Lake is one of the top 10 hiking attractions in the park (according to our Moon handbook on Glacier National Park). It is a popular hike because it is accessible, pretty easy, and the result is a fine view. This was our first hike upon arriving in the park. The hike is 2 miles one way, with 500 feet of elevation gain. If you go all the way to the far end of Avalanche Lake (and of course we did!), add an additional mile or so to the total.
I had a new camera - a Cannon S-2, which I used for all the pictures on this trip. It has image stabilization and a 12x optical zoom. Plus it has a neat panorama mode that allows me convert a sequence of photos into one giant image. The results here are pretty much straight out of the camera, untouched by Photoshop. I am quite happy with the results from the camera.
The start of the hike is the Trail of the Cedars - this is a .7 mile loop trail of pavement and boardwalk that allows wheelchair accessibility through some nice forests and ends at a bridge over Avalanche Creek. If you stand on the bridge, you get a nice view up into Avalanche Gorge. (It isn't a very deep gorge, but the book warns that fatalities have occurred when people slipped off the rocks and fell in.)
The hike is easy. Sure, there are lots of other people sharing the same experience, but that doesn't seem to bother the deer - we saw a couple standing unalarmed right beside the trail. If crowds don't bother deer, why should it matter to you? Besides, the end of the hike is a fine scene that you don't want to miss. At one point, you pass the junction of Hidden Lake Creek with Avalanche Creek, but we didn't notice it.
The trail officially ends at the north shore of Avalanche Lake. The lake is at 3900', formed by glaciers. It is surrounded by Bearhat Mountain, Fusillade Mountain, The Little Matterhorn and Mount Brown. Hidden Lake is on the opposite side of Bearhat Mountain. Several waterfalls were visible when we visited in July. The largest fall is named Monument Falls. It is formed by the melting of Sperry Glacier, which is not visible from the lake shore.
We talked to a friendly ranger at Avalanche Lake, asking on advice on what to see. She suggested the Ptarmigan Tunnel, No Name Lake, and Grinnell Glacier Trail - these are terrific places which aren't as heavily frequented as Hidden Lake and Elizabeth Falls. She told us that the doors to the Ptarmigan Tunnel always reminded her of the Gates of Moria!
We walked to the far end of the lake. This gave us much closer views of Monument Falls. Also, we could look back across the lake and see Heaven's Peak. With the sun at our back, the color of the water was beautiful. We stayed for a bit to admire the view, and then we hiked back.
Perhaps the best time for this hike is late afternoon. On the north shore, we were looking into the sun. I am guessing that by late afternoon the light on the waterfalls and mountains gives a better view. I would think all visitors to the park would want to make this hike.
Click on any thumbnail to open photo in new window. My favorite photos have blue frames
