Avalanche Crest Trail

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Hike along the Avalanche Crest Trail to experience beautiful mountain top views and spot many of the frigid glaciers that can be found within Glacier National Park. Along the trail, you will hike through scenic rainforests of cedar and hemlock on the way to an amazing lookout over the alpine landscape. The end of this trail is a bit technical and challenging, but the views along the way are definitely worth the effort.

Route Description for Avalanche Crest Trail

The Avalanche Crest Trail is a wonderfully scenic hiking route in Glacier National Park that will take you on an uphill climb through a stretch of cedar and hemlock forest on the way to Avalanche Mountain. Along this route, you will catch glimpses of nearby glaciers through the dense cover of the rainforest before arriving at an alpine bowl with amazing views of Avalanche Glacier. Near the top of the route, the trail splits off in two directions, with the right path setting out on a loop along the ridge to Avalanche Mountain.

This is not an official route, and it eventually becomes challenging to traverse. There are beautiful views in all directions, so don’t worry about pressing on around the loop and only take the trail as far as you comfortably can. Looking out to the west from this amazing vantage point, you will be able to see Cheops and Grizzly mountains, and to the east, Uto Peak and Mount Sir Donald will be standing before you. When you have had enough of the spectacular mountain top views, head back down the Avalanche Crest Trail to return to your vehicle below

Getting to the Avalanche Crest Trail Trailhead

To get to the parking area for the Avalanche Crest Trail from Revelstoke, drive east on BC-1 E for 61.0 km and turn right to access the parking area and trailhead at Illecillewaet Campground.