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Outdoors

Glacier Highline Trail Hike

You follow the high, exposed Highline Trail from Logan Pass to Granite Park Chalet, 12.2 km (7.6 miles) in, then descend to The Loop on Going-to-the-Sun Road. Side trips lead to the Grinnell Glacier Overlook and Swiftcurrent Lookout.

For The Reps · Updated

hike scenery for Glacier Highline Trail near Montana
Photo: Highline Trail 2017 19 by Dirtsc, CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0). Via Wikimedia Commons.
Where
Montana, USA
Distance
19 km (11.8 miles) one way
Climb
728 m (2,388 ft) gain and 1,455 m (4,773 ft) loss

The route

Highline Trail from Logan Pass to The Loop via Granite Park Chalet (one way).

The trail starts across Going-to-the-Sun Road from the Continental Divide sign by the Logan Pass parking lot. In 2026 most hikers reached Logan Pass on the ticketed Logan Pass shuttle from Apgar, Lake McDonald, St. Mary or Rising Sun.

When to go

The trail opens only once snow clears: when Going-to-the-Sun Road opened fully on 22 June 2026 the Highline was still closed by snow, so check the park's trail status reports before you go.

Permits and fees

Entrance costs $35 per vehicle for 7 days in summer, and in 2026 non-US residents aged 16 or over pay an extra $100 each unless they hold an annual or America the Beautiful pass; no park-wide vehicle reservation was required in 2026. From 1 July to 7 September 2026, parking at Logan Pass was limited to 3 hours, so Highline hikers needed a $1 Logan Pass shuttle ticket from Recreation.gov.

Before you go

  • Shuttle tickets were released 60 days ahead from 8 am MDT and again daily at 7 pm MDT for the next day; a wristband gets you onto the return shuttle.
  • The 2026 Logan Pass shuttle served only Logan Pass, not The Loop, so plan in advance how you will get from The Loop back to your car.
  • Granite Park Chalet is the natural rest stop; hikers with chalet reservations may park overnight at Logan Pass.
  • Vehicles longer than 6.4 m (21 ft) or wider than 2.4 m (8 ft) are banned between Avalanche Creek and Rising Sun, which includes Logan Pass.

What to bring

  • Shoes with grip that you have already worn in
  • At least 1.5 litres of water
  • Food you will actually want to eat
  • A warm or waterproof layer
  • The route, saved offline
  • Sun cream and a hat

Getting ready for it

If your longest walk lately is under two hours, do a few longer walks first, ideally with some climbing and the pack you will carry.

Step-ups and lunges twice a week make the descents much easier on your knees.

Staying safe

  • Much of the trail is exposed, with a higher risk of falls and of being caught out by bad weather.
  • Snow can keep the trail closed or hazardous into summer.
  • Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.
  • Turn around if the weather turns or the footing gets sketchy. The trail will still be there.

Route details checked September 30, 2026 against nps.gov, home.nps.gov, nps.gov, nps.gov, nps.gov, nps.gov, nps.gov and nps.gov. Rules and closures change, so check before you go.