Western Montana

On a recent visit to Glacier National Park I asked the park ranger at the Apgar visitor center for easy hikes for my boyfriend and I to do as we are not avid hikers. She suggested the Trail of the Cedars near Avalanche Creek and a unnamed path near Fish Creek that goes along the Lake McDonald shoreline.

The Trail of the Cedars has a elevated boardwalk trail that starts right off the side of the Going to the Sun road. It was very easy to find with signs directing us to the path. Avalanche Creek was flowing steady and we could look up to the mountains that framed the path the looped around the cedar grove.

We took the path and found many beautiful thing along the way such as rock walls with small waterfalls. I found a uprooted tree that caught the eye of not only myself but several onlookers. I actually had to stand in line to take a photo of the tree. I found many of the trees had interesting character, as they reached far up into the sky. The path was very easy to walk around on and according to the park guide was wheelchair accessible. There were restrooms available on the path as well as in the camping area at Avalanche Creek campground.

The Fish Creek trail that ran along the shoreline of Lake McDonald was suppose to be easy to find according to the park ranger. We found it actually quite difficult to find with the directions we were given. After we found that we should have entered the picnic area instead of the Fish Creek campground, we parked by the restrooms and found a path that lead into the woods. The path crossed back into the campground, crossing over a bridge and by an amphitheater. The trail kind of dissipates as you walk around the campground, but you can see Lake McDonald, so we headed towards the lake, where we found a rugged path along the lake. The path was very narrow and had several rocks and tree roots across it as it rolled up and down the hilly lakeside. The lake was a beautiful site up close, with it’s green in color water. The lake was green from the glacial waters that flowed into it.

Both trails were easy for the most part and we enjoyed our time on each of them. Directions to the Trail of the Cedars Nature Trail go north east on the Going to the Sun road for about 16 miles. Parking is found on the side of the road near the Avalanche Creek campground. The trail is about 0.8 of a mile. To get to the Fish Creek trail along the shoreline of Lake McDonald I would recommend parking in the Fish Creek picnic area. The path is found going north east where you will walk past a small brown building on your left. For additional information on these walks you can find them at the visitor center in Apgar village.