Highline Trail – 2024

When the word was out that the Highline Trail was open, we heard the trail calling. It had been awhile since we’d hiked Glacier National Park’s epic stroll, so we gathered our packs to the high country for wildflowers, wildlife, and epic views all day.

There’s something very cool about driving up to the Continental Divide, and then starting a hike from that line that divides watersheds. With the Highline Trail, there is no “climb through the trees” to get to views. You are just spoiled from the parking lot.

We parked at Oberlin Bend, just below Logan Pass, and walked the road up to the trailhead and started our journey. The plan was to hike an out-and-back from the pass to Granite Park Chalet. The forecast was for another hot day and we didn’t want to come down on the Loop Trail which is a cooker in the afternoon.

Bird songs filled the air from Hermit Thrushes, Fox Sparrows, and the White-crowned Sparrow. Wildflowers were popping up everywhere. We walked across a small snow patch and down through the meadows interspersed with subalpine fir to get to the cliff section.

This section, hewn from the rock, is full of exposure and can be unnerving for those not used to it or who have a fear of heights. Immediately below, cars drive by with open air expanse stretching out for miles. A garden hose (with a sturdy cable running through it) serves as a security aid. We love the expansive feeling and the views it provides.

After the short traverse, the trail opens up to more sane aspects. This was day 2 of the trail being opened and earl enough in July (July 13th, 2024 to be exact) so that the water was still running, splashing across the trail in numerous locations. Lingering snow around the trail was sparse, but still existed. We spied a couple of marmots, some keeping cool in these snow patches.

The meadows of stunning wildflowers were broken by small stands of trees. In the middle of one of these stands, Kristen spied a Snowshoe Hare feeding in the understory with its brown, summer coat and signature, large, white feet. Above the hare sang the birds, declaring their territory and bringing a smile to my face.

It didn’t take too long for us to reach the bowl below Haystack Butte. A large snowfield persisted across the talus slope which was compacted and easy to walk across. We took the couple of switchbacks up to the saddle between the butte and Mt Gould where we encountered more snow. We just missed a Mountain Goat roaming around and into the trees.

I forgot how much the trail continued to climb after the saddle, but any break needed was an excuse to enjoy the views which kept spreading north to peaks including Vulture Peak and Rainbow Peak in the North Fork area.

After passing more cascades, more birds, many more flowers, and a Mule Deer doe, we reached the junction with the Grinnell Glacier Overlook Trail. Always a tough climb, but always worth it. We began our steep slog up to the gap in the Garden Wall that gives you a stunning vista east of the Continental Divide into the Many Glacier Valley.

Below us, Upper Grinnell Lake was still mostly covered in snow and ice. A social trail led higher where we went to be able to look down at the chain of lakes that lead to the Many Glacier Hotel. The cool air coming up from below was welcome as the thermometer was registering “hot” and the exertion up the trail was no joke.

We returned down to the Highline Trail and over the short distance to the Granite Park Chalet. We visited with staff there who were keeping the place running, painting and replacing windows. We found a quiet place to have lunch, then started to work our way back to the pass.

It was a toasty hike back, but we were rewarded with a Mountain Goat, and a couple of Golden Eagles. As we walked down from Logan Pass to our cars at Oberlin Bend, a couple more Mountain Goats were foraging amongst the cliffs, exciting park visitors. A good day to be in the mountains.

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