Highline Trail

Highline Trail is an 11.8-mile point-to-point hike from Logan Pass to The Loop, following the Garden Wall before dropping to Going-to-the-Sun Road. That is the one-way distance, not a round trip. The route gains about 2,388 feet and loses about 4,773 feet, so plan on roughly seven to nine hours, with extra time for stops. It suits hikers ready for a long alpine day, exposed edges and a hard finish. It is not a loop: arrange a ride, a shuttle when operating, or a vehicle plan at The Loop before you set out. If heights or a long downhill sound miserable, walk a shorter stretch from Logan Pass and turn back.

Start across Going-to-the-Sun Road from the Continental Divide sign by the Logan Pass parking lot. Within the first quarter-mile, the path narrows to a shelf cut into the Garden Wall, with the road and valley far below. A hand cable runs along the tightest section, but exposed bends continue beyond it; the cable does not make the route low-risk. If the ledge unsettles you, turn around early. Parking is limited and often fills early in peak season. Seasonal restrooms and potable water are available at Logan Pass, but do not assume facilities farther along the route. Shuttle service is seasonal and transport rules change, so check the current plan for both ends before hiking.

Past the ledge, the trail contours along the mountainside, opening long views toward Mount Cannon, Mount Oberlin and Heavens Peak. The path is not flat: around 2.5 miles the grade eases, then the main climb rises to Haystack Pass, a saddle between Haystack Butte and the Garden Wall at about 7,024 feet. The route reaches its high point near 7,280 feet before descending toward Granite Park. Much of this upper walk is open to sun and weather, so carry water and sun protection even when the start feels cool.

Near 6.9 miles, a steep optional spur climbs to the Grinnell Glacier Overlook; it adds nearly 900 feet of climbing in less than a mile. That is a substantial extra effort, not a quick side look. For the through-hike, take Granite Park Trail downhill at the junction rather than continuing north on the Highline. Granite Park Chalet is a short optional branch nearby, about 7.6 miles from Logan Pass. The chalet was built in 1914–15 by the Great Northern Railway, one of nine backcountry chalet complexes it built in the park; its logs and stone were sourced locally. Seasonal retail may offer packaged snacks and bottled water, but do not rely on it being open or stocked.

Granite Park Trail drops steeply for roughly four miles to The Loop. The sustained descent can be harder on knees, hips and ankles than the earlier climbing, so save energy for the end and take your time on loose or uneven footing. The lower route crosses country shaped by the 2003 fires; new growth, wildflowers and open views are part of the walk now. The through-hike finishes at a different road access from the start, which is why transport planning matters as much as pacing.

At the Logan Pass end, look for stromatolites: layered fossilized algae mounds from shallow, warm seas nearly 1.5 billion years ago. Their curved bands can look like sliced cabbage. The high route also crosses ancient sedimentary rock, where preserved ripples and layers recall the sea floor that once covered this region. Mountain goats, bighorn sheep, deer and marmots have all been seen along the corridor, but sightings are never guaranteed; give wildlife room. Pets are not allowed on park trails. Snow can linger on high routes early in the season and return with autumn storms, so check trail status before setting out.