Glacier National Park - Glacier Park Hikes - Highline Trail
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Highline Trail, Glacier National Park. |
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Glacier National Park Vacation
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
  Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail Glacier Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
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Highline Trail  A classic view of Mount Oberlin from the Highline Trail in Glacier Park.
THERE ARE TWO OPTIONS FOR DAY HIKERS:
OPTION #1: JUST GO UP A FEW MILES
Concerning day hikes on the Highline Trail, there are two options you can take. One option is to simply hike up the Highline Trail a few miles so you can enjoy the spectacular view and the amazing wildlife and flowers. The trail is practically flat for the first view miles and it is really enjoyable! You can have lunch, and then enjoy the hike back. And by the way, the view from the Highline Trail completely changes on the way back, so it's equally enjoyable.
BE CAREFUL ALONG THE HIGHLINE TRAIL CLIFF. This is on the first mile of your hike. Stay away from the edge and hold onto the rope banister. If someone is coming your way and they are on the outside (i.e.heading back to the Visitor Center), then stop walking and lean against the wall as to give those hikers plenty of room to walk by. ALWAYS HOLD YOUR CHILDREN'S HAND! This really is a fun part of the trail...just use some common sense and you'll be fine! (See photo below)
 The Highline Trail Cliff in Glacier National Park is a favorite among visitors.  Hikers enjoying a great day on the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park. Haystack Butte is the dome-shaped mountain on the left side of the photo.
A popular place to have lunch on the Highline Trail is at Haystack Butte. It's a saddle between Haystack Butte and Mount Gould, and it allows you to get a great view of the Northwest section of Glacier National Park. You will climb several long switchbacks up to this saddle. When you reach the saddle, Haystack Butte will be directly to your right, blocking the view to the west, and the towering west face of Mount Gould will be directly to your left. This saddle is about 4 miles from the Logan Pass parking lot.
OPTION #2: TAKE "THE LOOP" TRAIL
The other option for a Highline Trail day hike is to hike all the way to the historic Granite Park Chalet (7.6 miles), and then head down "The Loop Trail" (4 miles) which takes you to the west side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road. The trail meets the highway at a section known as "The Loop". There is ample parking and bathrooms, and is also a shuttle stop.
If you hike all the way to the Granite Park Chalet and take "The Loop" Trail down to the Going To The Sun Road, this allows you to opportunity to explore several amazing attractions, such as the Grinnell Glacier Overlook, the Granite Park Chalet and the Swiftcurrent Mountain Lookout...
Grinnell Glacier Overlook
 Grinnell Glacier Overlook, Glacier National Park
The Grinnell Glacier Overlook is located about a mile before you reach the Granite Park Chalet. You will see the trail to the overlook (and an obvious sign) off to your right about 6.6 miles from the Logan Pass parking lot. This trail is only about a mile in length, but climbs approximately 800 feet. You need to be in relatively good shape to attempt this trail, but if you choose to take it, you will be greatly rewarded with a spectular view of Grinnell Glacier over a thousand feet below you. You are literally standing on top of the Garden Wall, which is also the Continental Divide! (See above photo).
Granite Park Chalet
 The historic Granite Park Chalet in Glacier National Park.
The Granite Park Chalet is an extremely famous icon of Glacier National Park, and is an absolute treat to visit. This is one of the original chalets build in the early nineteen hundreds where visitors would arrive on horseback to stay the night during their month long treks through Glacier National Park. The Granite Park Chalet is 7.6 miles from the Logan Pass Parking Lot.
Swiftcurrent Mountain Summit and Lookout
 The view of the Swiftcurrent Valley from the summit of Swiftcurrent Mountain in Glacier National Park is incredible.
The Swiftcurrent Mountain Summit and Lookout is one of the only places in Glacier National Park where you can literally hike up a well established trail to the summit of a major mountain. The views from this summit are awe-inspiring, and are very much worth the effort if you are in good physical condition. The 2.2 mile long trail begins about a mile beyond the Granite Park Chalet, and it climbs just over one thousand vertical feet via many broad switchbacks.
"The Loop" Trail
 A view from "The Loop" Trail in Glacier National Park.
"The Loop" Trail is a four mile trail that connects the Granite Park Chalet with the Going To The Sun Road. This is the trail you take to get down to the Sun Road once you've visited the Granite Park Chalet. The trail drops about 2,800 vertical feet in elevation.
Important Suggestion:
"The Loop" Shuttle Stop is many miles down the west side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road, so you will either have to get there before the last shuttle comes by to take you back up to Logan Pass, or what we recommend is park your car at "The Loop" in the morning, then take the shuttle up to Logan Pass, and then begin your hike along the Highline Trail. That way you're not worried all day about catching the shuttle.
Want To Go Further? The Northern Highline Trail
The Highline Trail starts at Logan Pass, and turns into the Northern Highline Trail at the Granite Park Chalet and ends at Goat Haunt Montana, 30 miles to the north of Logan Pass. You will get to explore such famous places as Ahern Pass, Sue Lake Overlook, Fifty Mountain and Kootenai Lakes!
Click Here to learn about this amazing multi-day Glacier Park hiking adventure along the Northern Highline Trail.
 You will be sharing the Highline Trail with Mountain Goats.
MOUNTAIN GOATS, BIGHORN SHEEP AND DEER FREQUENTLY USE THE HIGHLINE TRAIL. If you encounter these animals on the Highline Trail, stop and get on the inside edge of the trail (uphill side) and simply let them walk by you. Don't make fast, sudden movements or loud noises. Just relax....
 The Highline Trail in Glacier National Park offers breath-taking vistas that really feeds the soul. (Oh by the way, there may be snow fields early in the season.)
 The views from the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park are absolutely awe-inspiring!
 The view of Mount Oberlin from the Highline Trail is spectacular.
 You will get a great view of Glacier National Park's Livingston Range while hiking the Highine Trail.
 You will see plenty of mountain goats on your hike along the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park.
Helpful E-Books
We wrote an E-Book called "The Ultimate Checklist" which gives you great suggestions on what to bring, what to wear, etc. for your day hikes in Glacier National Park. We also wrote an E-Book entitled "Suggested Itineraries for 1 to 7 Day Vacations in Glacier Park", which will be incredibly helpful as you begin planning your Glacier National Park Vacation! To see all of our Informative E-Books, click here.
 Highline Trail in Glacier National Park.
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 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier Park
Highline Trail, Glacier Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
 Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
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