Avalanche Lake Falls Hike
Waterfall | Montana
4.6 mi round trip
500 ft
Moderate
Avalanche Lake Falls Hike at a Glance
The Avalanche Lake Falls hike via the Avalanche Lake Trail is 4.6 mi round trip with 500 ft of elevation gain.
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 5,850 ft |
|---|---|
| Trail | Avalanche Lake Trail |
| Distance | 4.6 mi round trip |
| Elevation gain | 500 ft |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
Your time: about 1 h 45 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 2 h 15 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 1,010 kcal.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 4.6 mi distance and 500 ft of gain for this hike are verified (nps.gov), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Avalanche Lake Falls
Avalanche Lake Falls is a waterfall in Montana, on land managed by Glacier National Park (National Park Service).
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Avalanche Lake Trail: 4.6 miles round trip with about 500 feet of elevation gain, from Avalanche Picnic Area. Distance from nps.gov. By the National Park Service difficulty formula (distance against climb) that puts it at Moderate.
Before You Go
- Pets are not permitted on trails, along lake shores outside of developed locations, in the backcountry, or in any building. (nps.gov)
- Avalanche Lake and Trail of the Cedars will not be accessible by park shuttle in 2026. (nps.gov)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Glacier National Park (National Park Service) for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Avalanche Lake Falls?
The Avalanche Lake Trail to Avalanche Lake Falls is 4.6 miles round trip with about 500 feet of elevation gain.
Where does the Avalanche Lake Falls hike start?
It starts from Avalanche Picnic Area.
Are dogs allowed on the Avalanche Lake Falls trail?
Pets are not permitted on trails, along lake shores outside of developed locations, in the backcountry, or in any building.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
1:00 PM (2:00 PM summer)
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The Avalanche Lake Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- nps.gov
- Distance
- nps.gov
- Falls location
- worldwaterfalldatabase.com
- Elevation
- ≈ Copernicus GLO-90 elevation model at the falls coordinates (via Open-Meteo)
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.
Nearby Hikes
Other hikes within 30 miles of Avalanche Lake Falls.