Trail 1: Trail of the Cedars Trail Use: Day Hiking, Child-Friendly Wheelchair Accessible Length: 0.95 mile, 30-45 minutes Vertical Feet: +32'/-32' Difficulty: 1 Trail Type: Loop Surface Type: Pavement and boardwalk Start & Finish: N48° 40.822' W113° 49.145' Features: Flora, Secluded, Birds, Wildlife, Views Facilities: Restroom, Water, Campground, Ranger Residence, Shuttle, Picnic Area, Phone Here, you are among the ancients. This loop trail circles through a grove of western red cedars, some of which are 80 feet tall and 15 feet around at the base. These lacy-leaved, coniferous trees are one of Glacier's 20 tree species, as identified by botanists who also recognize about 90 shrub species in the park. Count the rings on a recently fallen giant next to the boardwalk, and you'll find that these trees were saplings when Thomas Jefferson signed the Declaration of Independence. They stand among the easternmost groves of this water-loving species--not a true cedar but an evergreen cypress and the only Thuja species native to western North America. The flat and filigreed foliage is fragrant when crushed. Trail of the Cedars is a must-do hike for all visitors and a fine choice for the first hike of a park visit. It exemplifies why Glacier is unique; the 1.2-million-acre park encompasses three very different ecosystems. The microclimate here is more akin to the Pacific Northwest's wet and temperate forest, while just 30 miles east, over the Continental Divide, begin the vast semiarid prairies of Montana. Best Time Spring, summer, and fall, this trail is popular because of its gentle terrain and accessibility from Going-to-the-Sun Road. During hot summer days, the trail remains cool under the western red cedars, which act as an umbrella for hikers during inclement weather. During winter, access for cross-country skiers or snowshoers is from the winter trailhead at Lake McDonald Lodge for an 11.6-mile round-trip. The Trail of the Cedars tends to be icy in winter, so caution is necessary. Finding the Trail From Lake McDonald Lodge, drive north on Going-to-the-Sun Road 5.8 miles to the Avalanche Campground, and park in the day-use parking either on your left or along the road in designated day-use parking spots. If you're taking the free shuttle (available July 1-mid-September) from Apgar Transit Center, the trailhead will be 14.7 miles northeast on Going-to-the-Sun Road. Listen for the shuttle driver's announcement for Avalanche Creek. The trailhead sign at the junction of the road and Avalanche Creek will direct you to walk east along the mixed pavement-and-boardwalk trail. Trail Description The trail can be hiked in either direction; this description details a counterclockwise loop beginning on the south side of Avalanche Creek and walking east, you can glimpse the frothy creek with its moss-covered rocks and fishing holes. You will encounter a campground, an amphitheater, and a restroom on the south side of the trail. Thriving near streams or other bodies of water, western red cedars have a fire-resistant quality, thanks to their thick bark and the moist soil. Some trees in this grove are estimated to be nearly 500 years old. Although lightning has started fires nearby, these hardy cedars have managed to remain protected. Interpretive signs offer some insight into flora and fauna. Mostly, however, you'll see fellow hikers, walkers, and wheelchair and stroller users. Near the halfway point, the trailhead for Avalanche Lake leads east and is clearly marked. Stay on the loop for a magnificent view from a large footbridge at Avalanche Creek gorge. Eons of icy waters have scoured the rock smooth. Beware of the very cold and very fast water: As noted by signs at the Avalanche Lake Trailhead, more people die each year in Glacier from drowning than from any other cause. The canopy from the cedars and a few hemlocks and cottonwoods is so thick that few shrubs grow here. Notice, however, the fungi and saprophytes (organisms that live on decaying organic matter) that do not rely upon photosynthesis and therefore thrive in the subdued light. Milestones 0.0 - Start from Going-to-the-Sun Road at Avalanche Creek and Avalanche parking area. 0.03 - Trail of the Cedars Trailhead 0.28 - Where there's a break in the trees, look left and up the cliffs of Mount Cannon, and you may see white mountain goats. You'll also see Avalanche Creek and get a full view of the giant western red cedars across the creek. 0.46 - Just past the Avalanche Lake Trailhead is the Avalanche Creek footbridge, which provides an excellent opportunity for photos of the gorge. 0.6 - Benches provide spots to consider the significance of this forest--you can see the massive root system of a windfall cedar. Try counting the rings on another downed cedar that has been sawn apart to clear the trail. 0.9 - Cross bridge on Going-to-the-Sun Road. 0.95 - Reach Avalanche parking area. Excerpted from Top Trails: Glacier National Park: Must-Do Hikes for Everyone by Jean Arthur All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
