Avalanche Lake vs Grinnell Lake: Which Hike Is Better?

Choose Avalanche Lake if you want a classic forest hike through old-growth cedars ending at a waterfall-ringed lake — it’s the most accessible and family-friendly trail on the Glacier National Park west side. Choose Grinnell Lake if you want open alpine scenery, a surreal turquoise lake fed by glacier meltwater, and the best wildlife-watching in the park.

Both trails are moderate and doable in a half-day. The main differences come down to location (west side vs. east side), crowd levels, and how much elevation and distance you want to cover. Per NPS.gov, Avalanche Lake is 2.3 miles one way with 741 ft of gain; Grinnell Lake is 3.9 miles one way with 462 ft of gain — or just 0.9 miles from the upper boat dock if you take the Glacier Park Boat Company ferry across Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine.

Avalanche Lake: Trail Overview

Avalanche Lake sits on the park’s west side, accessed via Going-to-the-Sun Road roughly 5.5 miles east of Lake McDonald Lodge. The hike begins on the Trail of the Cedars — a paved, wheelchair-accessible boardwalk loop that passes through a cathedral of 500-year-old red cedars and western hemlock trees. This 0.8-mile boardwalk section is stunning on its own and requires almost no effort.

Some links below are affiliate links.

Kelty Wireless 4 Person Family/Car Camping Tent

$179.95Kelty

View at Retailer

From the Trail of the Cedars junction, the Avalanche Lake Trail climbs steadily alongside Avalanche Creek through cool forest. The trail gains most of its 757 feet of elevation in the final mile before the lake. When you emerge from the trees, the payoff is immediate: a glacial cirque ringed by cliffs with multiple waterfalls (including Monument Falls) cascading hundreds of feet into vivid blue-green water.

Per NPS.gov, the lake sits at approximately 4,000 feet elevation and is fed by snowmelt from the alpine basin above. The lake is accessible from late June through October, depending on snowpack. It’s consistently ranked among the top three most-hiked trails in Glacier — expect company.

KingCamp NUOVA AIR Inflatable Tunnel Tent 4 Person Camping Tent

$799.99Kingcamp

View at Retailer

Grinnell Lake: Trail Overview

Grinnell Lake is in the park’s Many Glacier area on the east side — a 30-minute drive from the St. Mary entrance. The trailhead starts at the Many Glacier Hotel, one of the park’s most iconic lodges. From here, the trail winds through subalpine forest and meadows before opening onto sweeping views of the Garden Wall ridge and the U-shaped glacial valley.

CAMP USA Inc Minima 2 Sl Tent

$379.95Camp Usa Inc

View at Retailer

Grinnell Lake’s famous turquoise color comes from rock flour — microscopic rock particles ground by the glacier and suspended in meltwater. Per HikingInGlacier.com, this suspended sediment scatters light in the blue-green spectrum, creating a color unlike any other lake in the park. Even the clear blue water at Avalanche Lake cannot match the vivid iridescence.

The standout option here is the boat shortcut. The Glacier Park Boat Company runs two consecutive ferries across Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine. Taking both boats cuts your round-trip hike from 7.8 miles to just 1.8 miles with minimal elevation gain — turning an all-day effort into a 1–2 hour outing suitable for young children. Boat tickets must be purchased in advance and often sell out in peak season.

UST UST House Party 4-4 per Car Camping Tent – New 2021

$364.99Ust

View at Retailer

Trail Experience: Forest vs Alpine

These two hikes look and feel completely different despite similar difficulty ratings. Avalanche Lake is a forest immersion — tall trees, filtered light, the sound of rushing water, and the cool damp air of old-growth cedar. The payoff is dramatic but enclosed: a cirque bowl that feels intimate rather than expansive.

Big Agnes Wyoming Trail 4 Camp Tent – 4 Person 3 Season Olive

$999.95Big Agnes

View at Retailer

Grinnell Lake is an alpine panorama. The trail opens up early and stays open, with views of glacier-carved peaks, the Continental Divide, and the Garden Wall — a jagged ridge dividing the park east to west. You can see Grinnell Glacier itself from the upper trail, a visual reminder that this landscape is still being actively shaped by ice. The lake comes into view well before you reach it, building anticipation.

If you’re visiting Glacier for the first time and only have time for one hike, Avalanche Lake is the more reliable “wow” experience — it’s shorter, more accessible, and still stunning. If you’ve done Avalanche before, or want the bigger landscape, Grinnell Lake is the upgrade.

Difficulty & Access

Avalanche Lake has more elevation gain per mile (roughly 130 ft/mile) but is shorter overall. The Trail of the Cedars section is paved and flat — accessible to wheelchairs and strollers — but the Avalanche Lake trail itself is a natural dirt path with some roots and rocky sections. Suitable for most fitness levels; kids 6+ typically handle it well.

Grinnell Lake has less total elevation gain and a gentler gradient. The trail is wider and more open, with clear sight lines. The real differentiator is the boat option: with both ferries, the remaining hike to Grinnell Lake is only 0.9 miles each way with negligible elevation change — making it accessible for very young children or hikers with mobility limitations. See the Many Glacier with Kids guide for boat timing tips.

Crowds & Parking

Avalanche Lake is one of the busiest trails in Glacier National Park. On peak summer days (July–August), the parking area fills by 8–9 AM. The trail itself can feel congested — hundreds of hikers make the trip daily. The lakeshore fills with groups by mid-morning. If you want a quieter experience at Avalanche, plan to arrive at or before sunrise.

Grinnell Lake sees significantly fewer hikers. The longer distance (for those without boat tickets) naturally filters the crowd, and the Many Glacier area on the east side draws fewer day-trippers than the west entrance corridor. The Many Glacier trailhead parking still fills early (often by 7 AM in peak season), but once on trail the hikers spread out. After the boat dropoff, the path to Grinnell Lake is relatively quiet even in summer.

Wildlife

Grinnell Lake wins decisively for wildlife. The Many Glacier valley is one of the best places in Glacier — and arguably in North America — to see grizzly bears from a safe distance across open terrain. Per Glacier Guides, it’s common to see grizzlies, moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats on this trail during peak season. Mountain goats frequently appear on the rocky ledges directly above the lake.

Avalanche Lake’s dense forest canopy limits sight lines. Large mammals are present but harder to spot. You may see songbirds, Clark’s nutcrackers, and the occasional black bear, but the west-side forest doesn’t offer the same wildlife-watching opportunity. The creek is reliably excellent for spotting American dippers — small birds that walk underwater along Avalanche Creek.

If wildlife is a priority, Grinnell Lake and the Many Glacier area is the clear choice. Bring binoculars and read the east side vs. west side guide for more on how the two halves of the park differ.