Trail of the Cedars Nature Trailhead
4.8(526)google
5.0(5)yelp
HikingHiking TrailWheelchair AccessibleFamilyKidsSenior-FriendlyOutdoorHealingForest
Overview
Situated in the heart of Glacier National Park, the Trail of the Cedars Nature Trailhead marks the beginning of one of the park’s most accessible and breathtakingly beautiful interpretive wilderness walks. The completely flat, raised wooden boardwalk loops through an ancient, primeval rainforest filled with towering giant western red cedars and western hemlocks, some over 500 years old. The path leads hikers along the gorge of Avalanche Creek, where pristine glacial meltwater has carved smooth, narrow passages through vibrant red argillite rock layers. It provides an ethereal, sensory-rich forest experience where the air is crisp, mosses drape from branches, and nature’s serenity is absolute.
Practical Info
Every dayOpen 24 hours
Suggested Duration1-1.5 hours
Best TimeSpectacular from May through October, this fully accessible cedar-planked boardwalk trail is suitable for all ages. Aim for a bright morning stroll between 9:00 AM and 11:30 AM; bright sun rays filter elegantly through the canopy of ancient, centuries-old giant western red cedars and hemlocks, casting dramatic dappled shadows onto the mossy forest floor as you cross the roaring, glacier-fed waters of Avalanche Creek.
Getting TherePerfectly positioned right off the Western span of Going-to-the-Sun Road at the Avalanche Creek campground area. Drive 16 miles from the West Glacier entrance to find the loop parking lot, which fills to capacity by 8:00 AM daily. A stress-free alternative is leaving your car at the Apgar Visitor Center and catching the free park transit shuttle directly to the dedicated Avalanche Creek station platform.
Travel Tips
- The Avalanche trailhead lot fills completely from 08:00 to 16:00; idling in live traffic lanes or stopping in blind curves waiting for spaces to open is strictly prohibited.
- Leaving the elevated cedar boardwalk to step onto fragile moss ecosystems is illegal; peeling or defacing historic tree bark triggers heavy federal environmental fines.
- Sharing a hub with the heavy-traffic Avalanche Lake trail, the wooden boardwalk collects fine glacial mist; reliable rubber-soled footwear is required after rainfall.
Reviews
Positive
- This is a premium boardwalk trail hidden within a giant red cedar forest; walking it rewards you with rich cedar scents, and the glacial gorge view at Avalanche Creek is amazing.
- The entire loop is paved with an incredibly smooth wooden boardwalk with zero stairs, making it the park's gold standard for accessibility, perfect for wheelchairs, strollers, and all ages.
- Trail management and ecological preservation are excellent; clear plants plaques are placed along the path, paired with clean restrooms and plenty of trash cans, keeping it spotless.
- Unbeatable value! No extra ticket needed, and the trailhead sits right next to the free park shuttle's Avalanche stop, making transit connections easy and a must-do short route.
Heads up
- As the easiest and most famous trail in the park, user density from 9 AM to 4 PM is high like a market; the tight boardwalk gets packed, making it hard to feel pure wilderness peace.
- Since this shares a trailhead with the highly popular Avalanche Lake trail, the nearby parking lot is tiny; arriving after 7:30 AM forces self-driving cars into endless loops.
- The entire loop is under 1 mile and usually takes just 20-30 minutes to finish, which may feel too brief and plain for hardcore hikers seeking tough climbs or rugged wilderness.
- During damp rainy days or thawing ice seasons, the wooden boardwalk gets slick from moss growth; the lack of multilingual non-slip warnings means guests must step with caution.