A Hiker's Paradise: Discovering the Highline Trail at Glacier National Park

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The Highline Trail is the most beautiful hike in Glacier National Park. At every turn, at every step, you will see jaw-dropping views of the valley and mountains. You might also encounter wildlife - Black bears, Mountain Goats, Big Horn sheep etc., 

The trail seems pretty dangerous too, at some places where the narrow hiking path hugs canyon walls. It is just one slip away from the valley. There are rails at most places for safety.

Stats:

Distance(One-way): 13.3 miles

Total Elevation gain: 1950 ft

Trail Difficulty: Strenuous

Since it is very lengthy, many hikers either choose to do a whole day trail till 'The Loop' and take a shuttle from there. OR hike as much as possible and return to Logan Pass. 

The best way is to go to 'The Loop', including the extra 0.8-mile path, which takes you to Grinnell Glacier Overlook. Summer or early fall is the best time to visit. Going to the Sun road is open only for around 4 to 5 months in Summer, weather permitting. Shuttles run regularly to Logan Pass from the main entrance.

Where to Start?

The trailhead is at the Logan Pass Visitor Center. So, hikers can fill water bottles, use restrooms, and stock up with energy bars and snacks before starting this trail. Logan Pass also has an area with several exhibits explaining the geology, flora, fauna, and wildlife of this area.

Parking:

It is very difficult to almost impossible to find parking at Logan Pass. This parking lot usually fills up by 7 or 8 am, it seems. So, the best way is to take a free park shuttle to Logan Pass. 

Hiking Essentials:

If you’re gearing up for Glacier (or any big hike), here are a few must-have items you can easily grab online:

• 🥾 Waterproof Hiking Boots – Good ankle support is a lifesaver on rocky trails.

• 🥤 Hydration Pack / Water Bladder – Easier than carrying bottles, and you’ll drink more often.

• 🦌 Bear Spray – Non-negotiable in Glacier. Clip it to your belt for quick access.

• 🚶 Collapsible Trekking Poles – Lightweight and perfect for long hikes with steep climbs.

• 🌞 UV Protection Hiking Hat – Wide brim for sun protection.

• 🎒 Lightweight Hiking Backpack – Comfortable, with enough room for snacks, jackets, and gear.

• 📸 Compact Travel Camera – Because your phone photos just won’t do justice to Glacier’s beauty.

Our Experience of Hiking:

We attempted this hike with our two kids - a 14-year-old and a 10-year-old. We trained for long hikes up to 6 miles before visiting Glacier National Park. So, distance is ok for us. Handling elevation gain is tough on our stamina. 

This might have been possible if it were the only hike in Glacier. We did the Grinnel Glacier hike 2 days ago, which was challenging (an 11-mile round trip with 1500 ft elevation gain), and it took some time to recover from that to do another 6+ mile hike.

So, we decided to hike as far as we can and return. We also had a plan to hike the Hidden Lake Overlook Trail after this. 

The first half mile is just a climb down on a regular hiking trail, then the most awaited part came! We were walking along the edge of canyon walls with majestic views of the valley and dangerous drops just below our feet. This hike for sure is like none other we've experienced. 

Since we were hiking with kids, we were extra careful, holding the rails and trying not to take out our phones for photos. As the name suggests, it is like walking on a high line. But there are rails to hold, and it is safe to hike. 

Beautiful views at every step:

We were careful, walking slowly, relishing the nature around us. We stopped at multiple places to take photos with great views. We might have walked around 2 miles and returned. 

Still, it was worth it. 

When compared to the Grinnell Glacier trail, this trail seemed pretty simple without much elevation, at least in the initial 2 miles. 

It is thrilling for sure, with sheer drop-offs very near to our feet and narrow hiking trails. There is not much shade on the trail, so a lot of Sun exposure. It is not at all recommended with kids below 6 years, because it is difficult for an adult to hike while carrying a kid. 

We didn't come across any wildlife within 2 miles. But we saw many Big Horn sheep on the way to the trail and nearer to Logan Pass.

The remaining part of the Trail till The Loop:

We didn't do this part, but I researched a lot.

After 3 miles, hikers reach Haystack Pass(little elevation involved). At around the 7-mile mark, hikers will reach the Garden Wall Trail. At 7.6 miles, we can reach Granite Chalet junction, which will lead to Granite Chalet. The Grinnel Glacier overlook trail is 0.8 miles(one-way) from the main route. It is a steep climb, and on a hot sunny day, it takes a lot of effort to reach, but the views will be amazing, as per the photos and videos I watched. 

Once back on the Highline Trail, Granite Chalet is 0.8 miles. The Granite chalet has restrooms available. Granite Chalet is a simple hostel with no amenities. There are 12 guest rooms with bunk beds. There is a place to rest, relax after a tiring hike, and you can buy any basic snacks and water. Only cash is accepted. 

Now, there are 4 miles of hiking left to reach "The Loop", where hikers can get a shuttle back to Logan Pass. These 4 miles I heard are tough as well, as they continuously climb down and are tough on the knees. Many hikers mention that it seems like an unending series of switchbacks.

Photo by Kyle Richards on Unsplash

Just before the loop trailhead, hikers reach the Packers' roost junction. They have to take the left here to reach the loop, which is 0.5 miles away.

We couldn't do this part of the trail as we were hiking with kids, but I would love to do this next time. It is one of our bucket list favorite hikes.

So, that's about the most popular and dangerous-looking High Line Trail. Hope you enjoyed my travelogue.

Until next time,

This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon 2025

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