When planning our trip to Glacier National Park, the Highline Trail on the Going to the Sun Road, kept appearing high on lists of amazing hikes. Photos lured us in – the hike is absolutely stunning! But the roundtrip hike from Logan Pass to the Granite Park Chalet, recommended by many, is almost 16 miles roundtrip. We knew we didn’t want to hike quite that much! After some research, we discovered that we could continue our hike as a one-way from the Granite Park Chalet down to the Going to the Sun Road at The Loop, a hairpin turn on the GTSR.
This is a pretty long hike for us, both in terms of tired feet and time spent in one area. But we had read how amazing the views on this hike are, and what’s not to love about a day of alpine hiking?
Was there a way to leave our vehicle at one end or the other, hike, then be transported back to our car? It took a little figuring out, but we did – and we have the best guide for hiking the amazing Highline Trail! Our recommended one-way 11.7-mile route has you traveling mostly downhill! You can indeed hike the Highline Trail without using up an entire day (and wearing your feet out).
Keep reading below for our Best Guide to the Highline Trail, in which you will leave your car at Logan Pass, hike down to the Granite Park Chalet, continue hiking on The Loop Trail to GTSR at The Loop and then catch a park shuttle back to your vehicle at Logan Pass.
Recommended Route and Pre-planning Decisions
This one-way hike combines the 7.6-mile Highline Trail from the Logan Pass Visitor Center to the Granite Park Chalet and the 4.1-mile “The Loop” trail from the Chalet down to The Loop, for a total hike of 11.7 miles – mostly downhill.
Complete the hike in this order so that you are hiking downhill overall. The Logan Pass Visitor Center is more than 2,200 feet higher in elevation than The Loop on the GTSR.
Additionally, done in our recommended direction, the hike only has about 800 feet of elevation gain over almost 12 miles, making it fairly flat and quick. Even stopping for photos, snacks, and a picnic at the Granite Park Chalet, we finished this hike in 6 hours.
Arrival and Getting Started
Get an early start. The Logan Pass Visitor Center parking lot fills up early! And the trail fills with hikers on beautiful days. By starting at sunrise, you can stay ahead of the crowds and have unobstructed views and free trails. In our case, the sunrise was spectacular and we delayed a few minutes to take some pictures of the morning sun lighting up the surrounding rocks.
It’s a good idea to visit the Visitor Center toilets since your next opportunity is almost 8 miles away.
The trailhead is just across the GTSR from the Logan Pass Visitor Center.
From the beginning, the views do not disappoint! The sweeping vistas are thrilling and mind-blowing.
Highline Trail: to Grant Chalet from Logan Pass
The Hike Begins High Above the Going-to-the-Sun Road
When you first begin the hike, you are high above the GTSR. Others describe this stretch, also known as the Ledge, as vertigo-inducing, but the trail is plenty wide and feels safe (and I have a fear of heights).
For a portion of the Ledge section, which is in total about .5 miles long, there are green ropes to add to your sense of security. The trail is never too narrow, and if you keep to the inside wall, you will be fine.
Hiking with poles also adds to a sense of security. Hiking poles also save your knees on tough downhill stretches. See our Complete Guide to Day Hiking for more information about trekking poles.
Hiking along the Garden Wall
The first 2.5 miles or so of the hike are along the Garden Wall, a steep alpine area on the west side of the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park. However, the trail is relatively flat and easy.
In summer, and even when we hiked in September, the alpine meadows are covered in wildflowers.
We saw big-horned sheep and deer along the way, adding to our experience.
Climb to Haystack Pass
Then you start the only major climb on the hike. The trail climbs on one long switchback up to Haystack Pass, elevation just over 7,000 feet. Haystack Pass is at the 3.5 mile point. There are amazing panoramic views here; stop for a rest, snack and water.
The climb to Haystack Pass is the hardest part of the hike unless you choose to take the Grinnell Glacier Overlook spur (we did not – see below).
After Haystack Pass, the trail continues to climb for another half a mile or so, until you reach the highest point on the trail at 7,289 feet.
Grinnell Glacier Overlook Spur Trail (we did not hike this)
From here, there is a spur trail up to the Grinnell Glacier Overlook. This spur is about 2-miles long out and back and adds almost 1000 feet of elevation gain – and loss – to your hike. The trail looked difficult, as it is steep, exposed, and traverses a scree field. Adding this to our hike did not seem worth the effort to us. Also, we planned to do the Grinnell Glacier Hike from the Many Glacier area of GNP.
On to the Granite Park Chalet
Continuing on, at the 7.6-mile mark, you come to the Granite Park Chalet. This Chalet has pit toilets, and a sales counter where you can buy beverages, snacks and bottled water. There are picnic tables and benches on the grounds around the chalet. Enjoy some time resting here before tackling the last 4.1-mile leg of your hike. (There are cabin-style rooms at the Chalet for overnight stays, which need to be booked online well in advance.)
Hiking down from Granite Park Chalet to The Loop
The hike down from the Granite Park Chalet to The Loop (via the Loop Trail) is rough (although well-maintained) and exposed, with a steep, continual downhill. It is hard on the knees. By this time, the sun may be high and hot too. But persist!
Eventually, you arrive at The Loop, where there are also pit toilets.
Hopefully, you will have good timing and quickly catch the free, air conditioned shuttle bus back up to Logan Pass and your vehicle!
Note: We definitely recommend doing this hike from Logan Pass down to The Loop. The reverse would be much harder!
Other Related Guides
Going to the Sun Road Area Guide, Glacier National Park
Many Glacier Area Guide, Glacier National Park
Two Medicine Area Guide, Glacier National Park
Hiking the Grinnell Glacier Trail, Glacier National Park