Camping Near West Glacier
Last night was a rough one. I slept at a campsite just outside of West Glacier, up on a mountain. It was a beautiful spot, but the wind had to be blowing at least 30 mph all night. It was a true test of my new tent, which is a single-pole tent, and let me tell you, it did not pass.
Camping near West Glacier can be both beautiful and challenging, especially with unpredictable mountain winds. Many Glacier National Park visitors choose this area for its quiet mountain views and close access to scenic hiking trails. Despite the rough night, waking up surrounded by the Montana wilderness made it worth it.
Editor’s Note
When the wind hit the side of the tent, it would blow into the tent to touch my face or push up on my feet. I think in total I got about 3 hours of sleep. When I woke up, it was still windy, and I was just ready to get off that mountain. After I packed my things, I headed on my way to West Glacier.
Parking Struggles and Discovering McDonald Falls
The original plan was to do Avalanche Peak when I first got into West Glacier, but the parking was insane. I drove around in circles looking for a spot near the trailhead for almost an hour, but there was absolutely nothing. I just said screw it and went to look for another trail down the way I came.
Going-to-the-Sun Road was closed, so I didn’t have the option to go there. After about 15 minutes of driving, I came up on McDonald Falls, which was a beautiful blue waterfall/rapids.
I snuck down into a sketchy spot for some pictures and had some old people giving me looks. After I finished my photo op, I hit the road for a longer trail. That’s when I came upon Cascade Falls.
McDonald Falls is one of the most photographed waterfalls in Glacier National Park and a great stop for travelers who can’t access Going-to-the-Sun Road. The clear, blue glacier water here is a stunning reminder of why West Glacier is such a popular area for outdoor photography. Even when plans change, there’s always something incredible to find in Glacier. (Editor’s Note)
Exploring Cascade Falls and Trout Lake
Cascade Falls is a part of the river that is connected to McDonald Falls. The biggest thing I noticed about that river is that the color is crazy. It’s light blue in some places but dark blue in others, depending on the flow of the river. As I started down the trail, there was a bridge to cross the river, and about 10 people on horses were passing over. One of the ladies on the horse screamed at a tourist, “NO DOGS DOWN HERE,” which I thought was pretty badass.
Editor’s Note
Hiking to Cascade Falls and Trout Lake is one of the best ways to explore the west side of Glacier National Park without the crowds. These Glacier National Park day hikes offer a mix of forest trails, river views, and solitude. The color of the water and the peaceful atmosphere make it one of the most underrated hiking spots in Montana.
I’ve always wanted to ride a horse, so those ladies made my heart flutter. After they passed, I continued down the trail and came to a fork in the road. One sign said Cascade Falls, and the other said Trout Lake. Now, one thing about me is I love trout and I love lakes, so the answer was obvious. After about 20 minutes of walking down the Trout Lake path, I ended up at a gravel road. When I continued down this road, I realized I had just walked all the way back to Lake McDonald, where I first entered the park. I was pissed, but I cracked a beer and enjoyed the view.
Once I walked all the way back to the fork in the road, I took the Cascade Falls route and went looking for a hammock spot. I walked down the trail for about 15 minutes and found two perfect trees right on the edge of the cliff over the river.
I could see the river and the mountains from my hammock, but to be honest, I was scared that if I fell asleep, I’d fall off the cliff. When I got up about an hour later, I headed down the rest of Cascade Falls.
Getting Lost and Finding Johnson Lake
The strange thing about Cascade Falls is that it isn’t a loop. It just pops you out right on the main road, and I was a bit drunk and confused. I decided to just go where the wind takes me, so I started down the road.
That’s when I found a guy and asked him where I was, and he said turn left, and I’ll get to my car. I took a right because no one tells me what to do. After about 5 minutes, I came up on Johnson Lake Trailhead, and when I checked the map, it actually takes you right back to Cascade Falls, where my car is.
The trail was short and flat, but when I pulled up on Johnson Lake, it felt like a place where fairies live. I climbed up on the tallest rock I could find and watched all the little fish and leeches swim around the lake for about an hour.
Once I was satisfied and had a beer, I continued on the way back to my car.
Editor’s Note: Johnson Lake is one of those hidden gems near Lake McDonald that few tourists find. The peaceful setting makes it perfect for solo travelers looking to unwind after a long hike in Glacier National Park. It’s a reminder that sometimes getting lost leads you to the best parts of the park.
RELATED BLOG: “My Day Hiking Medicine Lake, Astra Falls, and Astra Viewpoint in Glacier National Park”
Hiking to Avalanche Lake via Trail of the Cedars
When I arrived back at my car, my legs were jello, but the main reason I came to the west side was to do Avalanche Lake. I knew it was now or never, so I went to look for a spot one more time. I searched the parking lot for about half an hour, but still no luck.
The Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake hike is one of the most iconic Glacier National Park trails. It’s known for its easy access, beautiful forest canopy, and rewarding mountain lake views. Even with parking challenges, it’s a must-do hike for anyone visiting West Glacier.
Editor’s Note
I decided I’d just park about 2 miles down and walk to the trailhead. As I was walking, I asked a couple of bikers if they had seen any parking near Avalanche, and the lady told me to just hitchhike since people are going there anyway.
After that conversation, I stuck my thumb out, and about 2 minutes later, I was in a Jeep heading to Avalanche. When we pulled up, I asked him to drop me off at the Trail of the Cedars, and the hike began.
Experiencing The Trail of Cedars
The Trail of the Cedars is linked to Avalanche Lake, so if you’re ever in Glacier, I highly recommend both. The Trail of the Cedars was very peaceful and unlike the ruggedness of the mountains above. I remember everyone seemed much quieter in the cedar forest, maybe because it felt too beautiful to disturb.
There’s something about the red of the cedars contrasting against the green of the forest that makes them truly unique. Once I made it out of the Trail of the Cedars and onto the Avalanche Trail, my legs were beginning to crumble.
The only thing that kept me going was beer, and whenever people complimented my shirt with my doggie’s face on it. But after about an hour and a half, I made it to Avalanche Lake.
Avalanche Lake in Glacier National Park is one of the park’s most photographed destinations thanks to its turquoise water and towering peaks. The moderate Avalanche Lake trail difficulty makes it a great option for beginner and experienced hikers alike. The mix of forest serenity and mountain drama makes it unforgettable. (Editor’s Note)
Avalanche Lake Adventures and Reflections
I can’t even describe how unreal Avalanche Lake is. When I got there, I felt like I was in a video game or in some AI creation. Every picture you take looks good just because the backdrop is so amazing and surrounds the entire lake.
There were three streams coming down from the mountains and flowing into the lake. It made the mountains turn into natural waterfalls and look as if they were crying into a pool of tears. I asked a family if they could take my picture and gave them a little show as I tried to balance on a log floating in the lake.
When I finished my photo shoot, I continued down the beach, and a lady told me she saw a bear on the other side. She said it was a brown bear, so I wasn’t too worried and continued down the beach. At some point, I got to a man-made bench and sat down for another beer. A couple came by that complimented my shirt earlier, so I took their picture for them before I headed further down.
I saw a rock poking out into the water, so I had to lie on it and have a beer. I did that for about 30 minutes until I saw two dudes fishing. I love fishing and was immediately interested since I didn’t know there were fish in such a cold lake. I went up to see if they’d caught anything, but they said it was a rough day. I told them trout can be babies, so I’m not too surprised.
The fishermen were standing on a rock even further out than the one I was first on, so I jacked their spot and had another beer. As I was looking into the water, I thought if I’m here, I’d better swim since who knows when I’ll get the chance again.
I saw a guy taking photos to my left, so I went up and asked him to take a video for me. He said yes, and then I proceeded to take my pants off in front of his girlfriend, which I don’t think he liked. Despite that, he still took a dope video, and I froze my ass off.
I will say, though, as he was leaving, he told me to watch out for bears, and when I checked for my bear spray, it was gone. I’m not saying it was definitely him, but that was pretty fishy.
Hitchhiking Back and Wrapping Up the Day
After sitting at Avalanche Lake for about 2 hours, I decided it was time to head back. The whole hike back, my legs felt like they were ready to give out. The beer hid that fact, so I made it no problem. I then hitchhiked back to my car and was picked up by a family from Spain.
Solo travel in Glacier National Park offers moments of quiet reflection and unexpected connections. Ending the day in East Glacier with food and rest after a long hike makes the experience complete. Every Glacier trip leaves you wanting to explore even more of Montana’s hidden trails.
Editor’s Note
They were arguing in Spanish when I got in, and it seemed like the mom didn’t want me in the car, but the son was chill with it. After I talked to the mom a bit, she calmed down, and we eventually made it to my car.
By the time I sat down in my car, I was dead, and my belly was rumbling. I drove back to East Glacier as fast as I could and got myself a big burger and a beer. I was in a family diner surrounded by large groups while I sat there eating alone.
I didn’t mind though, because I was too tired to talk, and the cashier was beautiful, so I just stared at her. Not in a creepy way, I don’t think, but for whatever reason, I just liked watching her do her job, and I had no cell service.
Once I finished eating, I found a pull-off and just crashed in my car. Glacier was definitely my favorite part of the trip so far, but who knows what’s to come.