Highline Trail – Glacier NP

– This trail at Glacier National Park is one of the most popular hikes in the park. Sometimes referred to as the Highline Trail or Highline Loop, the trailhead starts at Logan Pass and goes for 15 miles (24 km) if your destination is the Granite Park Chalet. The reference to a loop is because several people park at either Logan Pass or a curve on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, hike one way, and return by shuttle to where one had parked. If you do that, the distance is only about 13 miles (21 km).

Starting at Logan Pass, the first feature of this trail is the Garden Wall, a very narrow trail along the Continental Divide with drop-offs of about 100 ft (30 m) down to the Going-to-the-Sun Road. This section varies from 4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m) in width only — not good if you’re afraid of heights. There is no guard rail, but the park has a hand cable along the wall if you need to hold on to something. The views along the trail are spectacular, and you can plan on seeing a lot of wildflowers and some wildlife, too.