Discover classic destinations and lesser-known jewels of Glacier National Park through 42 incomparable hikes. With its crystalline lakes, towering mountains, impressive waterfalls, diverse plant and animal life, and, of course, dynamic glaciers, Glacier National Park offers countless opportunities for outdoor adventure. To find the best of them, follow expert author Jean Arthur—who has spent decades hiking hundreds of miles of trails throughout the park! Leave the roads to explore the hearts of both Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks—whether you’re looking for an easy family stroll through a grove of majestic red cedars, a 6-mile trek with spectacular views of snowfields that melt into wildflower meadows, or a 20-mile overnighter through some of the finest mountain scenery in the country. You’ll experience the best of the treasured national park that lies in the wilderness area of Montana’s Rocky Mountains. If you want to take a scenic walk to stretch your legs, a full-day hike, or a rewarding backpacking trip, you’ll find it in Top Trails: Glacier National Park. Inside you’ll find: 42 favorite routes for hikers, backpackers, and cyclists - Detailed maps and elevation profiles - Trailhead directions and “don’t get lost” milestones - Key at-a-glance information, including trail length, difficulty, features, and facilities - Expert trail commentary Jean Arthur has hiked, backpacked, skied, biked, boated, and floated Montana’s trails, slopes, rivers, and lakes for 45 years. As a teenager, she began writing for her high school newspaper, which led to a journalism degree from the University of Oregon and a Master of Fine Arts degree in fiction writing from the University of Montana. Jean has taught writing at Montana State University since 2003. Jean has written four books: Hellroaring: Fifty Years on The Big Mountain, Timberline and a Century of Skiing Mount Hood, Winter Trails Montana: The Best Cross-Country Ski & Snowshoe Trails, and Top Trails: Glacier National Park. She has contributed chapters to several books on outdoor adventuring, and her writing frequently appears on the pages of travel magazines, ski-adventure publications, and many other adventure and travel publications. Trail 1: Trail of the Cedars Trail Use: Day Hiking, Child-Friendly - Wheelchair Accessible Length: 0.95 mile, 30–45 minutes - Vertical Feet: +32'/-32' - Difficulty: 1 - Trail Type: Loop - Surface Type: Pavement and boardwalk - Start & Finish: N48° 40.822' W113° 49.145' - Features: Flora, Secluded, Birds, Wildlife, Views - Facilities: Restroom, Water, Campground, Ranger Residence, Shuttle, Picnic Area, Phone Here, you are among the ancients. This loop trail circles through a grove of western red cedars, some of which are 80 feet tall and 15 feet around at the base. These lacy-leaved, coniferous trees are one of Glacier’s 20 tree species, as identified by botanists who also recognize about 90 shrub species in the park. Count the rings on a recently fallen giant next to the boardwalk, and you’ll find that these trees were saplings when Thomas Jefferson signed the Declaration of Independence. They stand among the easternmost groves of this water-loving species—not a true cedar but an evergreen cypress and the only Thuja species native to western North America. The flat and filigreed foliage is fragrant when crushed. Trail of the Cedars is a must-do hike for all visitors and a fine choice for the first hike of a park visit. It exemplifies why Glacier is unique; the 1.2-million-acre park encompasses three very different ecosystems. The microclimate here is more akin to the Pacific Northwest’s wet and temperate forest, while just 30 miles east, over the Continental Divide, begin the vast semiarid prairies of Montana. Best Time Spring, summer, and fall, this trail is popular because of its gentle terrain and accessibility from Going-to-the-Sun Road. During hot summer days, the trail remains cool under the western red cedars, which act as an umbrella for hikers during inclement weather. During winter, access for cross-country skiers or snowshoers is from the winter trailhead at Lake McDonald Lodge for an 11.6-mile round-trip. The Trail of the Cedars tends to be icy in winter, so caution is necessary. Finding the Trail From Lake McDonald Lodge, drive north on Going-to-the-Sun Road 5.8 miles to the Avalanche Campground, and park in the day-use parking either on your left or along the road in designated day-use parking spots. If you’re taking the free shuttle (available July 1–mid-September) from Apgar Transit Center, the trailhead will be 14.7 miles northeast on Going-to-the-Sun Road. Listen for the shuttle driver’s announcement for Avalanche Creek. The trailhead sign at the junction of the road and Avalanche Creek will direct you to walk east along the mixed pavement-and-boardwalk trail. Trail Description The trail can be hiked in either direction; this description details a counterclockwise loop beginning on the south s