Day 111 Glacier National Park-Trail of the Cedars to Avalanche Lake

Sat., Sept. 7

Glacier National Park Drive Trail of the Cedars to Avalanche Lake

Another great day!  Any day is great when there are blue skies and the forecast was for rain.  We got out a little later but there were still cars lined up to get into the park.  The traffic was worse yesterday.  We even got parking at the Trail of the Cedars.  We started out on the boardwalk that was blocked off in June due to a tree crashing down on it.  The trail is through a cedar/hemlock forest.  Nice moderate hike and lots of people on the trail coming and going.  Arriving at Avalanche Lake there were people everywhere relaxing having lunch.  We walked half way around the lake and saw fish jumping, cutthroat.  There are three great waterfalls cascading a few hundred feet into the lake.  The lake is very shallow at one end with lots of deadwood.  Crystal clear and gets very deep going towards the waterfalls.

Enter park, Friday had twice as many vehicles

Avalanche creek

People on the beach

We headed back to Apgar Village for lunch and had some huckleberry/peach pie.  Very good!  After walking around the village we drove to Fishcreek just a few miles up the lake.  The campsite was already closed but the picnic site had people enjoying the beach and sunshine.  We drove up to Apgar Lookout but didn’t realize it was a 2 mile hike and we didn’t feel like it anymore today.  Well, back to the campsite to walk around and read. 

View McDonald Lake from the Village

Daily Stats: 
Today's distance:  89 km
Weather:  Blue skies, sun/clouds; High: 24 degrees; Lo: 17 degrees
Wildlife: Ground squirrels, chipmunks, grouse
Campsite:  Glacier Campground $27 w/e
Walking: 9 km