Landmark Series—Behind the Bandana: Avalanche Lake, Glacier National Park
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(Source: WikiCommons, Юрий Д.К.)
Avalanche Lake in Glacier National Park is a must-do hike offering a spectacular blend of cascading waterfalls, glacier-capped peaks, and serene alpine lakes. Located near the West Glacier entrance of this vast Montana park, the trail begins at the Trail of the Cedars trailhead, accessible after a scenic 30-minute drive from the Apgar Visitor Center. This moderately challenging 6.7-mile round-trip trek (including Trail of the Cedars) leads through lush forests to the breathtaking Avalanche Lake. Fed by glaciers, the lake dazzles with its deep blue waters framed by verdant mountains and cascading waterfalls. It's an ideal adventure for hikers of all abilities seeking unforgettable natural beauty and a refreshing dip in the crystal-clear lake waters.
(Source: WikiCommons, Ron Clausen, Beatlesnature, Юрий Д.К., Red panda bot)
Let the Avalanche Lake Landmark Bandana be your guidebook to native flora and fauna on your next visit. Here is a closer look at the featured species:
Arion Slug
Barrow’s Goldeneye
Bride’s Bonnet
Heath Speedwell
Lorquin’s Admiral Butterfly
Moose
One-Sided Wintergreen
Pipsissewa
Red Net-Winged Beetle
Steller’s Jay
Twinflower
Virginian Tiger Moth
Westslope Cutthroat Trout
(Source: WikiCommons, Юрий Д.К.)
FIELD GUIDE:
Land Acknowledgement:
Glacier National Park is located in the ancestral homelands of the Amskapi Piikani (the Blackfeet Nation of Montana), the Niitsítapi (the Blackfoot Confederacy), the Séliš (Salish), Ql̓ispé (Pend d’Oreille or Kalispel), and Ktunaxa (Kootenai). The state of Montana recognizes the First Nations peoples, these tribes are the original and longest-serving stewards of the lands. The Bison Range is part of the Flathead Indian Reservation. This area has been inhabited for thousands of years and today is home to the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes—the original and continued stewards of this land.
#1. Arion Slug (gastropod, Rufus)
Arion slugs, particularly Arion rufus, possess a respiratory pore called a pneumostome located in the front part of their mantle and have a rounded back without a keel. A. rufus is among the largest in its genus, extending up to 150 mm when fully stretched. It lacks lateral bands typical in smaller congeners, though some individuals may display paler sides compared to their backs. These slugs vary in color from reddish to orange, yellowish, brown, greyish, or black, often with vertically striped foot fringes of a contrasting color.
#2. Barrow’s Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica)
(Source: WikiCommons, OceanAtoll)
Barrow's Goldeneyes are striking ducks primarily found in wild northwestern landscapes. Adult males are distinct with crisp black-and-white plumage, a purplish head, and a prominent white crescent on the face. They display acrobatic courtship behaviors around females during winter and spring. Females, in contrast, are gray with rich brown heads and typically sport a partly yellow-orange bill. They nest in tree holes in remote boreal and montane forests, often reusing old nests of Northern Flickers or Pileated Woodpeckers. During winter, they migrate to rocky marine coastlines after breeding in shallow freshwater lakes, ponds, and sloughs of mountainous forested areas. Listen to the Barrow’s Goldeneye birdcall here.
#3. BRIDE’S BONNET (CLINTONIA UNIFLORA)
(Source: Wikimedia Commons, Ser Amantio di Nicolao)
Bride's Bonnet is a captivating member of the lily family known by various names such as bride's bonnet, queen's cup, or bead lily. This delicate beauty bears two or three leaves nestled at the base of a fuzzy stem, displaying small flowers adorned with six white petals and six protruding stamens, their anthers dusted with golden pollen. Pollination gives way to an inedible blue berry.
#4. Heath Speedwell (Veronica officinalis)
(Source: WikiCommons, Stephan Sprinz, Selso)
Veronica officinalis, also known as common speedwell or gypsyweed, is a flowering herbaceous perennial belonging to the Plantaginaceae family. Native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, it features spikes of blue, pink, or white flowers that bloom from spring to summer. Commonly used as ground cover, this plant thrives in well-drained soil and full sun, reaching heights of up to 40cm. It attracts bees and other pollinators with its oval-shaped leaves and square-shaped stems. Known for its traditional medicinal uses, Veronica officinalis has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. These qualities suggest potential benefits in treating respiratory ailments, skin conditions, urinary tract infections, and digestive issues, although further research is needed to fully explore its medicinal potential in modern herbal medicine.
#5. Lorquin’s Admiral Butterfly (Limenitis lorquini)
(Source: WikiCommons, Wilfredor)
The Lorquin’s admiral butterfly features dark brown wings with orange tips and rows of white spots, while its undersides are orange-brown patterned with white spots. Its caterpillars are dark brown or grey with white patches, resembling bird droppings for camouflage against predators. The butterfly itself employs Batesian mimicry, resembling the unappetizing California sister butterfly. This mimicry deters predators, even though Lorquin’s admirals are edible, helping them evade predation in their natural habitats.
#6. MOOSE (ALCES ALCES)
Moose, also known by their alias, "rubber-nosed swamp donkeys", are the largest extant species in the deer family and one of the largest land animals in North America and Eurasia. With adult moose weighing an impressive 840 to 1,540 pounds and standing tall at 5.6 to 6.9 feet at the shoulder, their presence is truly awe-inspiring. Among the male moose, known as bulls, majestic palmate antlers span up to 6 feet across, shedding and regrowing annually. These herbivores delight in a diet rich in plant materials, including leaves, twigs, bark, aquatic plants, and shrubs. Masters of the water, moose are excellent swimmers, gracefully journeying across lakes and rivers. The moose rut, a captivating display of attraction and dominance, takes place in the fall, typically from late September to early October. Bulls employ vocalizations and physical displays to captivate the attention of females and establish their dominance.
#7. One-Sided Wintergreen (Orthilia secunda)
(Source: WikiCommons, File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske))
One-sided Wintergreen (Orthilia secunda) is a small native wildflower found in the Adirondack Mountains, known for its white urn-shaped flowers that bloom on one side of the stem. Belonging to the Heath Family, it remains green throughout winter, hence its name "wintergreen." Also known as One-sided Shinleaf and Sidebells Wintergreen, it was previously classified under Pyrola due to similarities in habitat. Growing up to eight inches tall, it has glossy oval leaves and smooth, green or red-tinged stems. Its mid-summer flowers are white or pale green, hanging in clusters with cream-tipped stamens. The plant bears small, nodding capsules as fruit in late summer, contributing to the mountain ecosystem's biodiversity.
#8. PIPSISSEWA (CHIMAPHILA UMBELLATA)
(Source: Wikimedia Commons, Ireena)
Pipsissewa is an evergreen shrub that displays delicate clusters of pink and white flowers in July followed by vibrant deep pink fruit capsules in August and September. Look out for this unique waxy flower that opens wide to reveal a green button-like center surrounded by a ring of colorful nodules. Its glossy dark green leaves with sharp teeth along the edges are said to have been used to make a soothing tea or to add flavor to rootbeer, candy, or soft drinks. Pipsissewa is also said to have medicinal properties that offer relief for a diverse range of ailments such as fevers, colds, kidney stones, skin diseases, stomach issues, and chest pains.
#9. RED NET WINGED BEETLE (DICTYOPTERA SIMPLICIPES)
(Source: Wikimedia Commons, Jacopo Werther)
Net-winged beetles, measuring approximately two centimeters in length, are known for the beauty of their wings. They are easily identifiable by their brick-red color and serrated antennae. Their remarkable wings produce defensive toxins called pyrazines, which are emitted when the wing ridges are broken. The outer wings, known as elytra, exhibit exceptional durability in species of ironclad beetles to the extent that some specimens can withstand the impact of cars.
#10. Steller’s Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)
Steller’s Jays are prominent songbirds inhabiting evergreen forests across the western mountainous regions. Recognizable by their large size, chunky bodies, and long, straight bills with a slight hook, they sport a striking appearance with charcoal-black heads and all-blue bodies. Their distinctive triangular crest often stands upright from their heads. In flight, they display graceful, sweeping movements on broad, rounded wings. Common in wilderness areas, campgrounds, and even backyards where they eagerly visit bird feeders and scavenge for food, Steller’s Jays emit harsh, scolding calls from the high canopy. Despite lacking the white underparts of other jay species, their light-blue wings and inconspicuous white markings above the eyes add to their unique allure in forest habitats. Listen to the Steller’s Jay birdcall here.
#11. Twinflower (Linnaea borealis)
(Source: WikiCommons, Wsiegmund)
Twinflower, a small perennial shrub in the honeysuckle family Caprifoliaceae, is characterized by creeping above-ground runners called stolons. These stolons produce short aerial stems bearing opposite pairs of small, round leaves that persist for over a year. The plant's reproductive shoots, which reach up to 15 cm tall, also bear distinctive inflorescences consisting of two bell-shaped, pinkish-white flowers arranged in a 'Y' shape. Twinflower reproduces primarily through vegetative propagation via stolons, forming clonal patches of genetically identical plants. Its fragrant flowers, described as almond- or anise-like, attract pollinating insects, contributing to its ecological role in forest ecosystems.
#12. Virginian Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica)
(Source: WikiCommons, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, Josve05a)
The Virginian Tiger Moth, a medium-sized moth, features pure white wings with varying numbers of small black dots. These dots may be absent or present in one to three spots on the forewings and more prominently on the hindwings. The moth's thorax is densely covered with long white hairs, while the abdomen displays white and yellow-orange colors with longitudinal rows of black spots. The caterpillar of this species is rust-orange or yellow, covered in long, thin dark hairs that can irritate sensitive skin but are not poisonous. They feed on various plants including cabbage, tobacco, birch, willow, maple, and walnut, leaving behind skeletonized leaves. The caterpillars are most commonly found from May through November, with two to three broods produced annually.
#13. WESTSLOPE CUTTHROAT TROUT (ONCORHYNCHUS CLARKII LEWISI)
The official state fish of Montana, the Westslope Cutthroat Trout ranges from 6-16 inches in size. They're often mistaken for the Rainbow Trout with the sub-species signature red slash along the jaw and striking dark spots along their top and tail. Westslope Cutthroat Trout sport a gorgeous greenish-gray hue with a bold crimson streak above the belly.
Ready to geek out on more nature facts? Head over to our Landmark Series page for more.