Avalanche Lake

Last Updated on September 12, 2023 by

This is one of the most popular (and highest rated) trails in the park. Cynically, because it is one of the few that have ample parking and are less than 5 miles in length, but honestly after having hiked it, it is also proof that you don’t need marathon length trails to find unsurpassed natural beauty. Technically, this trail also incorporates Trail of the Cedars which is a mostly board-walked interpretive path that is well worth it. It takes you through some incredibly old growth forest and has a wealth of information on placards throughout (Sadly, as already noted on more than one occasion, my powers of retention for floras and fauna are nearly non-existent.) I have managed to retain yew tree this time around, bringing my confidence in naming trees up to a solid half dozen.

Ample parking, he says. People were circling the 3 different lots when we got there at ‘o dark thirty. There was one spot left in the close parking lot that we weren’t even sure was a spot. We were taking it nonetheless. Thankful for a Subaru. And for Shawn’s parking karma. We joke about it, but it’s definitely a luck of the Irish gift that he has.
The Trail of the Cedars is a site that was revered by the Kootenai and the Salish people who inhabited this area before Europeans showed up and it’s easy to see why. These trees are so old you can feel their presence. One of the placards puts it like this – ‘You are among the ancients here. Some of these trees were young when Peter the Great ruled Russia, Mozart dazzled the courts of Europe, Thomas Jefferson crafted the Declaration of Independence, Sacajewea helped guide Lewis and Clark to the Pacific, the US fought its civil war, and the Wright brothers took to the air above Kitty Hawk’. Perspective.
Coolest thing I learned from those little placards – The chemotherapeutic drug Paclitaxel was first isolated from the Pacific Yew in 1971. Oncology nurse learning some science on the trail. Who knew? There was also a wicked cool fallen down tree with cleaned out root system. Looked like a piece of art.  I do love art.

Back on the Avalanche Lake trail, you pretty much get everything you could want in a hike. Steady, but not severe elevation gain, riverbed to your left, and the overwhelming majority of the hike in old growth forest. Right at the beginning of the trail is a section of really unique pools and eddies with the river rushing through. I’m sure it is commonplace in other places, but almost everywhere we look here, the water is running over huge slabs of bedrock instead of mud and river stone. It’s not something we are used to, and it’s a completely different look.

The colors were stunning and the force of the water creating alcoves was staggering. But, I’m not quite sure what was going on with me. I was a train wreck on this trail. Just could not get my groove. The huge grove of lodge pole pines creating vertical lines in my peripheral vision; the craggy shadows of the rocks and boulders from the early morning hike; and the constant swivel my head was on to take in the splendor of the landscape, all did not help my menopause induced vertigo. (Aren’t you all so happy to learn about all my bodily functions?!)

Probably should have taken a Bonine (which I do carry with me), but I was concentrating too hard on not falling over to remember I had it. That all being said, it was an absolutely gorgeous trail. And one of the few hikes in the park that is a reasonable distance. Good way to get our hiking legs back under us. One of us anyway.

Once you get to the lake, your view opens up to essentially being in a bowl of the mountain range. We walked to the other end of the lake to get away from the crowds (6 people) and have a cup of tea in the relative tranquility of the mountain range and to enjoy the incredible colors of blue on the lake. I have only ever seen colors like that in the Caribbean.

Definitely the pinnacle of the hike and glad we were stopping after all the vertigo.

After noticing 2 waterfalls in the distance, I spied a couple with a paddle board on the lake. Of course we had to stop to talk to them. Yes, he did hike his inflatable board up that trail. It weighed about 45 pounds. Well done him. I think we would need a rolling cart if we wanted to hike our inflatable kayak up three miles with a 760 feet elevation gain to the lake.

Made me think of all our hard core fore fathers pulling their 500 pound wheelie carts across the west – up and down all those mountain ranges. Yup, they used hand carts when there weren’t enough/they couldn’t afford pack animals. Definitely living a first world life since they were pulling everything they could possibly need to start a new life in those carts. Trying to become hard core by working up to the 10-12 mile hikes in this park.

Seems a little pathetic, inadequate, meager. Perspective – made me grateful for another glorious day in paradise. God is good.
And it got even better when we got a little show from a juvenile Fisher Marten. He was just waking up for the day in his little nest on the side of the trail and went scampering across our path and alongside the tiny creek we had to pass over. Followed up by tea on the trail. What more could you ask for?

On our return, trail traffic picked up significantly and we were pretty happy to have gotten on trail by 6:30 that morning, especially returning to see all of the lot vultures waiting for a space.

You leaving? Nope. But, you look like you’re leaving. Why aren’t you leaving?!
Why? Because we got up at 0430 to get this parking space and we’re staying here until we are done having lunch. Sorry about your luck.
This was all said in my head, but clearly Betty White #2 needed to have a Snickers. Not to poke the bear or anything, but good thing we had lunch with us.

Always Remember the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace

Plan Ahead and Prepare, Stay on Designated Trails, Dispose of Waste Properly, Don’t Take Anything You Didn’t Bring with You, Minimize Campfire Impacts, Respect Wildlife, Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Courtesy: Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics