The Highline Trail begins at Logan Pass along the Going-to-the-Sun Road. After you park your car, you’ll need to cross the road and look for the sign that marks the start of the trail.
Immediately the views are spectacular! Dramatic and jagged peaks line the horizon ahead. Mountain goats and bighorn sheep will often congregate here as well.
After hiking about a quarter-mile from the trailhead, you’ll reach the first steep dropoff of the hike. The trail has been carved into the side of the mountain, referred to as the Garden Wall.
Hand cables have been installed along this 0.3-mile long ledge.
The trail is typically 6-8 feet wide through the cable section, with approximately 100-foot {or more!} dropoffs to the Going-to-the-Sun Road below.
Many people will be able to get through this part of the trail with fun stories and cool pictures, but someone with a severe fear of heights may have a hard time completing the Highline Trail.
Shortly after the hand cables end, the trail mellows out. Small streams, vibrant wildflowers, and phenomenal views will now be your focus! Don’t forget to look behind you every once in a while….the scenery is amazing in all directions!
The trail is phenomenally carved into the mountainside and is often exposed with very few larger bushes or trees. With every step, the sensational views continue.
You’ll hug the cliffs as you hike along, adding a large dose of excitement and adrenaline into your day!
When you get past the rocky section pictured above, the drop below the trail starts to mellow out. You’ll start to notice more foliage, such as larger trees and beautiful wildflowers.
At this point, you’ve hiked about 2.5 miles from Logan Pass.
{As a slightly awkward side note, if you need to use the bathroom then this is the section of trail to do it. If you don’t go here, you’ll likely have to travel a few more miles to get to another good spot that provides some privacy. Just be sure to pack out your toilet paper — leave no trace!}
You can see the only major climb of the day, Haystack Pass, from this vantage point.
The views are unmatched as you approach Haystack Pass! It’s fun to look back toward Logan Pass to see how far you’ve traveled.
Climbing up the slopes of Haystack Pass is done in one relatively mild switchback. The views as you work your way up the trail will likely distract you from the climb!
You’ll gain about 275 feet and sit at an elevation of 7024 feet at the top of the pass.
The top of Haystack Pass is dramatic and breathtaking! From here, you’ve got views of the Garden Wall and the trail you’ve already traveled. BUT now you can also see a whole new set of mountains and landscapes off of the backside of the pass.
Absolutely gorgeous!
Many people stop here for lunch and then turn around. The trail to the top of Haystack Pass is about 3.6 miles one-way from Logan Pass, making this a 7.2-mile roundtrip trek along the Highline Trail.
If you decide to hike on {which I highly recommend!}, you’ll notice the crowds thin out considerably from here. The trail continues to gradually climb up the cliffside and offers phenomenal views of Haystack Butte.
This section contains the highest part of the trail at 7280 feet and then begins the gradual descent toward the Granite Park Chalet.
The trail just past the top of Haystack Pass is one of the most dramatic and daring parts of the Highline Trail. The mountain views are magnificent and the trail drops hundreds of feet below you.
Take time to savor this part of your hike!
As you hike along the cliffs, check out your first glimpse of Lake McDonald from the trail!
The landscape begins to mellow out again as you make your way closer to the Granite Park Chalet. You’ll notice fewer jagged peaks in this area as you stroll along a nice, flat, and enjoyable trail.
Enjoy the solitude along the trail. After a busy morning with hikers everywhere, the last half of the Highline Trail is a welcome dose of peace and quiet.
At the 6.9 mile mark, you’ll reach a small junction. This area will likely have quite a few people congregating while trying to decide if they want to take the side trail that travels up the mountainside.
This side trail is called the Grinnell Glacier Overlook Trail. It travels steeply up the rocky mountainside for 0.9 miles to give you an astounding view of the Grinnell and Salamander Glaciers clinging to the rocks below.
The picture below was taken from the Granite Park Chalet and gives you a good idea of the elevation gain and exposure of this trail. Look closely at the left side of the photo in the gray area. You can see a small trail that’s quickly working its way up the cliff.
If you decide to extend your Highline Trail experience and hike the Grinnell Glacier Overlook spur trail, factor in at least an extra hour. The trail is incredibly steep, gaining 900 feet, and is very exposed so you’ll need to take your time.
As you reach the end of the spur trail, enjoy the commanding views of Lake McDonald in the distance. Hold on to your hat up here….the wind often whips powerfully at the top!
The real stars of the show are the fabulous glaciers that lie directly below your feet.
At the far end of the sparkling blue lake sits Grinnell Glacier, with Mount Gould dramatically above it. Salamander Glacier is clinging to the rocks directly below you.
You’ll love this view….it’s definitely worth the extra effort!!
After hiking back down the spur trail and meeting up with the Highline Trail, it’s time to continue hiking toward the Granite Park Chalet.
This chalet was built by the Great Northern Railway in 1914 and offers basic sleeping arrangements for backcountry hikers. For more information, click here.
You’ll reach the chalet after hiking 0.7 miles past the junction leading to the Grinnell Glacier Overlook. A sign will point you straight to actually get up to the chalet but take a left here to bypass the chalet and continue the rest of your hike.
You are now on the Granite Park Trail, better known as The Loop. This is the final leg of your Highline Trail adventure!
Heavens Peak dominates the distant skyline. Enjoy the trees that surround the trail…unfortunately, they’ll be gone after just a few steps.
The Loop trail travels steeply down the mountainside for 4.2 miles. A forest fire in 2003 cleared out many of the trees in the area and regrowth is still taking place.
It gets hot, hot, hot on this section of the trail and can be a little miserable during the summer months. Be sure to have plenty of water and take breaks when needed. The Park Service has had to make numerous rescues here because of dehydration-related sicknesses.
At about 11.2 miles from the beginning of your hike, your descent will be complete and the trail will level out. From here, it’s 0.6 mostly-flat miles to The Loop parking area.
And you’ve made it! You can now cross the Highline Trail off of your bucket list — that’s a huge accomplishment!
You only have one last thing to do…and that’s getting back up to your car parked at Logan Pass. The Park Service offers a complimentary shuttle that stops at The Loop and then heads directly up to the Pass.
The shuttles are small and can fill up fast, so you may have to wait for a while to get a seat. For the shuttle schedule and more information about what to expect, click here.
The entire Highline Loop is 11.8 miles roundtrip and the elevation gain is about 800 feet {not including the optional Glacier Overlook spur trail}.
The hike is outlined in green below:
Getting Here
The Highline Trail begins at Logan Pass along the Going-to-the-Sun Road. After you park, you’ll need to cross the road on foot to start the hike.
Logan Pass is located 32 miles from Apgar Village or 18 miles from St. Mary as you drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Have an amazing time on Glacier National Park’s most famous trail!
Click NEXT to read about the 10 things you can’t miss on your first visit to Glacier!
Disclosure: This post about Glacier’s Highline Trail contains affiliate links, which means that (at no extra cost to you) I receive a small compensation if you make a purchase. I only recommend products that I personally love! I appreciate your support and welcome any questions you may have about any products featured on my site. Thanks! Ash
Ben
I know not every year is the same, but typically how soon after the opening of Logan Pass is the hightrail hikeable?
Dirt In My Shoes
It usually takes a couple of weeks!
Lisa A Green
We are going to visit GNP the first week of October 2021. How long would it take us to hike the highline trail to the Grinnell Glacier Overlook and then back to the GTTS road to our car? Will we have enough daylight hours or do you recommend just hiking to the Granit Park Chalet and back?
Dirt In My Shoes
The spur trail to the overlook isn’t that long, but it is steep — I would say plan on adding an extra 1.5 hours if you want to hike up there. Have a great trip!
Dan P
Has anyone come up with ideas for shuttling between the trailheads with the shuttle out for 2020? We will only have one car and cannot find a rental close by. Is hitchhiking possible?
Dirt In My Shoes
I suggest hiking out to the Chalet and then turning around and returning the way you came. The Loop Trail is definitely NOT the best part of this hike, so you won’t be sad that you missed it :)
Chip Vann
Me and the family are headed to glacier in August! Thanks for the article. Definitely putting this trail on the list !
Dirt In My Shoes
You’re welcome! Enjoy!
Marika
Hi, this is a great post! My husband and I are hoping to do this in July if it is reopen due to COVID. We are relatively experienced hikers but tend to do shorter hikes on our adventures (typically 6 miles or less) but our longest was 16 miles (by accident lol), how difficult is the hike itself?
Dirt In My Shoes
Besides the mileage, the hike itself is not too difficult. It’s mostly flat or downhill, with just a few short climbs.
Jan huey
We’re going in September to Glacier-National-Park. Does the going to the sun road go all the way across from St Mary’s to whitefish?
Dirt In My Shoes
You can get from St. Mary to Whitefish via the Going-to-the-Sun Road if it’s fully open. If not, you’ll need to drive along Highway 2 around the southern edge of the park. Have a great time!
Kathryn
Seven of us hiked this trail to Granite Park Chalet where we spent the night. The next day we hiked down Swiftcurrent. Never have I experienced so much beauty each step of the way. We met a few friendly rangers along the way. Thank you for what you do to keep this trail safe.
Dirt In My Shoes
Wow that’s amazing!!! Glad you had a great time!
Robert eagles
Hi Really like your photos Really love the mountains there and want to come and see then I really like to see the fir and spruce trees really like then Rob From Australia
Dirt In My Shoes
Hope you’re able to make it to Glacier soon!
Julie G
I’ve done this hike and it was absolutely stunning!
Dirt In My Shoes
Amazing, isn’t it?!