Highline Trail from Logan Pass to Grinnel Glacier Overlook

Sunrise at Logan Pass where we hiked on our second day. Highline Trail and up the Grinnell Glacier Overlook, over to Granite Chalet and down to the loop. 12.8 mile hike with about 2,000' overall gain.

Start of the Highline Trail at Logan Pass on the Continental Divide.

Warning sign at the trailhead

The Highline Trail is a carved out shelf above the Going to the Sun Road, the views are continuous all the way to the Granite Chalet 7.6 miles away.

Moon setting behind Clements Mountain and Mount Oberlin












Panoramic view along the Highline Trail

There are many creeks flowing over the Highline Trail from the snow melt.

Mount Oberlin and the moon

Another creek flowing down
















Another panoramic view further along the Highline Trail

The Highline Trail curving around the side of the mountains,

looking back as the trail appears to disappear into the air

paintbrush in bloom

gentian in the foreground, the Going to the Sun Road below

Loved seeing the wildflowers in bloom this late in the season. Would love to do this hike at the height of wildflower season!

fall colors

Under the clouds lay Lake McDonald

Swiftcurrent Mountain in the distance, in the meadow far below, we watched a black bear foraging.

side trail up to the Grinnell Glacier Overlook, more wildflowers along this trail

Part of this steep 0.6 side trail was wet and slippery!

The clouds have moved and we can now see Lake McDonald in the distance.

Almost to the top of the Grinnell Glacier Overlook Trail

Fabulous view down to Upper Grinnell Lake and the surrounding glaciers.

So happy to see these views!

Panoramic view on the other side of the overlook

We returned to the Highline Trail and hiked to Granite Chalet, looking back along the way we have come:

Side trail up to Granite Chalet

Behind is Swiftcurrent Mountain with a lookout on top

















Panoramic view form the Granite Chalet, we can see where we have been hiking today.

From Granite Chalet we hiked down to the Loop.
View to the west

looking back up towards Mt Gould and where the Grinnell Glacier Overlook is

fall colors

Near the end of the trail is a bridge going over a stream by a waterfall.
















very small waterfall today

Trail map from the Loop end of the trail

some more flora we saw along this trail today:

Highline Trail Glacier National Park

 After doing the Hidden Lake Overlook Hike at Logan Pass in Glacier National Park, we decided to cross the pass, over the Continental Divide to hike a ways on the Highline Trail along the Garden Wall.

Although this trail extends 7.6 miles from Logan Pass to the Granite Park Chalet, we only had time to hike out 2+ miles and back before returning to the east side of the park. The trailhead is located on the north side of Logan Pass, across the road from the parking area.

The trail begins in a meadow and descends down a short ways towards Mount Oberlin before turning northward along the Garden Wall.












Panorama view looking north, Clements Mountain and Mount Oberlin on the left, the Garden Wall (and Continental Divide) on the right.

As the trail continues, it goes along some very steep sections, there is metal cable to hold onto for part of this narrow section.

The trail also went through fields of wildflowers

















 There were lots of wildflowers in bloom,

 even though a lot of the streams had already dried up.

 The views were unending

 This is a gorgeous hiking trail, here looking towards Logan Pass

and here further to the north along the Garden Wall.  I hope to return and hike the complete length one day.








Lots of interesting turns in the trail

 This trail was just as enjoyable on the return journey, always something to see in a new direction.

Looking back along the trail from the trailhead:

Some of the wildflowers we saw along the trail:

  

Relief map of Logan Pass and the Garden Wall with the Highline Trail on the north side: