Guide to Hiking Trail of the Cedars in Glacier National Park

Trail of the Cedars is a classic Glacier National Park hike with kids! It’s one that I grew up doing and do regularly when I visited Glacier with my family. It’s a stroller friendly interpretive trail that is perfect for any level of hiker! Here is your full guide to hiking Trail of the Cedars in Glacier National Park.

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To get to the Trail of the Cedars, you will start your drive up Going to the Sun Road. Luckily, you don’t have to drive all the way to the top which makes this an ideal Spring hike in Glacier when GTS isn’t open!

The trailhead is located just across the road from the Avalanche Picnic area and right near the Avalanche Campground.

Where to Park:

Parking can be a SERIOUS challenge at this trailhead, especially if you’re visiting in the middle of summer. Here are a few tips to help you snag a parking spot at the Trail of the Cedars trailhead and more Glacier National Park tips.

• Get there EARLY – like before 8AM for sure but probably even earlier especially on a weekend
• Take the shuttle. There is a free shuttle that can drop you off and pick you up so you don’t have to worry about parking at all
• Visit in the Spring or Fall, we have never had trouble finding parking in the off season
• Wait a bit. People come and go frequently from this area since several trails start at this trailhead. So if you’re willing to wait for a minute, you might be able to catch a spot from someone who is leaving

Which Section of the Park is it in?

Trail of the Cedars is located in West Glacier near Lake McDonald. There are so many fun things to do in West Glacier with kids!

Distance and Elevation:

Stroller Friendly?

Yes! There aren’t too many stroller friendly trails in Glacier National Park – but Trail of the Cedars is one of if not the best for strollers. It’s also wheelchair accessible. A lot of the trail is made up of a boardwalk and it has always been very well maintained when we visit since it’s one of the most popular trails in the park.

Trail Features

As the trail winds through an ancient cedar-hemlock forest, there are informative signs where you can learn about the different trees of the area. The trail follows along Avalanche Creek and you will get to see a beautiful canyon waterfall (the water is a stunning color!) as you cross the bridge.

The trail also features some unique trees. I even remembered this tree from my childhood hikes!

Things to Know Before Hiking Trail of the Cedars

This trail is one of the most popular trails in all of Glacier National Park, so I would recommend visiting early in the day if you can. We always find the trails to be more special if we avoid the crowds.

The trailhead for Trail of the Cedars is also the trailhead for Avalanche Lake – another one of the most popular trails in Glacier. If you want to do both trails at the same time you can! The hike to Avalanche Lake is 6 miles roundtrip and so beautiful.

What to do Nearby?

There are so many fun things to do in the area! A few of my favorites are exploring the historic Lake McDonald Lodge, playing on the shores of Lake McDonald, hanging out in Apgar – make sure to grab some huckleberry ice cream, and of course exploring more of Going to the Sun Road. We have a super fun one day Glacier itinerary if you’re looking for specific things to do!

Do I Need Bear Spray on the Trail of the Cedars?

I would recommend bringing bear spray no matter where you hike in Glacier National Park – it’s grizzly country! However, if you are hiking on a busy day at a busy time and there are lots of people around you could ask a ranger if you need to bring it. It’s easy to rent which is what I recommend doing if you’re only in the area for a few days. Check out Glacier Outfitters in Apgar for bear spray rentals and more!