Highline Trail (Glacier) Hiking Guide
The Highline leaves Logan Pass on a narrow ledge high above Going-to-the-Sun Road and then contours north for miles across open alpine slopes to Granite Park Chalet. Most hikers finish by dropping to The Loop on the road below, which makes it a one-way hike that needs a ride back. Here is how the route works, what changed in 2026, and how to plan it once the summer shuttle is gone.
Permit: Glacier National Park charges an entrance fee: $35 per private vehicle, $30 per motorcycle or $20 per person on foot or bike (16 and older), each valid 7 days; from November 1 to April 30 the winter rates are $25, $20 and $15. The $70 Glacier annual pass and the America the Beautiful pass also cover entry, and non-US residents 16 and older pay an extra $100 per person unless entering on one of those passes. The park is cashless. No vehicle reservation was required anywhere in the park in 2026, and a day hike needs no permit.
The Route: Logan Pass to The Loop
AllTrails maps the classic one-way trip at 11.6 miles with 1,233 feet of climbing; its time estimate is six hours or a bit more. The park splits it in two: 7.6 miles and about 800 feet of gain from Logan Pass to Granite Park Chalet, then 4.2 miles down to The Loop trailhead, a leg the park lists as 2,200 feet of elevation change because most people walk it downhill. Hikers who would rather not deal with two cars often go out and back to the chalet instead, which AllTrails puts at 15.2 miles and 2,306 feet.
The Ledge and the Open Traverse
The first stretch out of Logan Pass is the part people talk about: a narrow shelf with a long drop to the road. The chalet's operator notes a hand rail along the worst of it, in the mile closest to the pass. After that the operator describes the trail as wide and easy to follow, though there are more steep drop-offs along the way. Haystack Pass makes a common turnaround for a shorter day. Bring all the water you need: the chalet, which closed for the 2026 season on September 12, has no potable water even in summer.
Getting Back to Your Car After Labor Day
In 2026 the park ran a ticketed express shuttle from July 1 through September 7, with a stop at The Loop meant for Highline hikers. It does not run in the fall, so a through-hike now means leaving one car at The Loop and driving a second to Logan Pass, or hiking out and back. Parking at Logan Pass returned to first-come, first-served with no time limit after Labor Day; the lot has 235 spaces and the park says it often fills by sunrise. Water at the pass was shut off on September 8 and the visitor center there is closed for the season.
Bears on the Highline
The park's trail-status map regularly posts both the Logan Pass to Granite Park section and the descent to the Loop for bear frequenting, which means open with a warning. Farther north, the Highline toward Ahern Pass and Fifty Mountain is sometimes closed outright for bear activity. Fall is when bears feed hardest; the park says they forage up to 20 hours a day before denning. Call out on blind bends, keep spray where you can reach it, and know the park's record: no reported attacks on groups of four or more.
When the Road Closes
Every hike here depends on Going-to-the-Sun Road being open over Logan Pass. Barring early storms, the full road normally stays drivable through the third Monday of October; after that the west-side gate drops back to Avalanche Creek or Lake McDonald Lodge for the winter. After that Logan Pass can't be reached by car until the alpine section is plowed again, typically late June or early July. Even before the closing date, an early storm can shut the alpine road on short notice, as one did for three days in September 2026.
Hiking tips for Highline Trail (Glacier)
- Arrange your second car or plan an out-and-back before you start; there is no fall shuttle off The Loop.
- Carry all your water from home, since Logan Pass taps are off for the season and the chalet has none to sell.
- Take the cliff ledge slowly and let faster groups pass at wide spots rather than on the drop-off.
- Hike as a group of four or more if you can; the park has no reported attacks on groups that size.
- Check the park's trail-status map the morning you go; sections of the Highline close for bears with little warning.
Nearby trails to explore
- Hidden Lake Overlook
- Siyeh Pass Trail
- Avalanche Lake Trail (Glacier)
Hike this trail with TrailMates
A one-way Highline day is easier with a second driver waiting at The Loop. Use TrailMates to find Glacier hikers to share the car shuttle. Download the TrailMates app to connect.