The Hike to Avalanche Lake Avalanche Lake sits just below the Continental Divide on the park's west side. The dense woods are dark and damp early in the morning, almost spooky, and are an excellent wildlife habitat. We observed deer here the previous day. A sign at the trailhead warns that this area is grizzy bear country. There would have been no way to spot a bear in these dark woods.
Avalanche Lake is a study in unspoiled wilderness with snow covered mountains rising above the lake.
There are glaciers on the these mountains but visibility is limited by clouds and fog. The lake is ringed by very dense and lush vegetation. The Contintental Divide acts as a rain shadow for the park's west side, and the closer you get to the barrier, the more precipitation. Thus, the area features trees and vegetation much more akin to the lush coastal forests of the Pacific Northwest. At right, a sample of the vegetation near the lake.