Glacier National Park · Montana
Walk the knife-edge of the Continental Divide along Glacier's famous Garden Wall, where mountain goats traverse cliff faces and wildflower meadows stretch to the horizon.
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4,733 ft of descent · 3.8% average grade
Logan Pass
Starting point at 6,646 ft. Visitor center with restrooms. Parking fills early.
As of September 2026, Highline Trail in Glacier National Park, Montana requires a permit issued via reservation. Highline Trail is a high-demand permit, rating 8/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Highline Trail permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The Highline Trail route covers 11.8 miles with 2,388 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate.
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Highline Trail permit fee: $7/person/night for backcountry camping.
Traverse the spine of the Northern Rockies along a narrow ledge carved into the Garden Wall, where grizzlies roam below and mountain goats scramble above.
The Highline Trail is an 11.8-mile point-to-point hike along the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park. Starting at Logan Pass, the trail traverses the famous Garden Wall to Granite Park Chalet, then descends to The Loop on Going-to-the-Sun Road.
While the hike can be done as a long day trip, backpackers can stay at Granite Park Chalet (historic accommodation, reservation required) or designated backcountry campsites with proper permits.
From Logan Pass, the trail immediately enters its most notorious section: a narrow ledge carved into the cliff face of the Garden Wall. A steel cable provides psychological comfort more than safety. After 0.3 miles, the trail widens and the exposure eases.
For the next seven miles, the trail traverses along the Continental Divide, gaining and losing elevation gradually through alpine meadows and along cliff faces. Haystack Pass offers panoramic views of glacial valleys carved during the Pleistocene.
Near Granite Park Chalet, an optional spur trail climbs steeply to the Grinnell Glacier Overlook (1,000 feet in 0.8 miles), offering a bird's-eye view of the rapidly retreating glacier. The chalet itself is a historic landmark, though it has no running water and requires advance reservations for overnight stays.
The descent via Loop Trail drops 3,000 feet in 4 miles through switchbacks to The Loop parking area, where a free shuttle returns hikers to Logan Pass.
The Highline Trail is Glacier National Park's signature hike, a high-altitude traverse that follows the Continental Divide through some of the most dramatic scenery in the American West. The trail passes through the heart of what John Muir called 'the best care-killing scenery on the continent.' It's the quintessential Glacier experience.
The trail begins with a thrill: the narrow ledge section with a steel cable bolted into the cliff face, hundreds of feet of exposure below. Then the anxiety fades into wonder. For seven miles, you walk the spine of the continent, the Garden Wall rising above, glacial valleys plunging below on both sides. Mountain goats appear on impossible ledges. Wildflowers carpet every meadow. And in the distance, peak after snow-capped peak stretches to the horizon.
Best for: Fit hikers comfortable with moderate distance and some exposure. The cable section requires a head for heights.
Recommended experience: Prior hiking experience at elevation helpful. No technical skills required.
Not recommended for: Those with severe fear of heights or uncomfortable with wildlife encounters (grizzlies are common).
Trailhead information
6,647 ft elevation
Starting point on Going-to-the-Sun Road. Visitor center with exhibits and restrooms.
Popular lot fills by 7:30-8:00am in peak season. Timed entry may be required. Free shuttle available.
Located at the summit of Going-to-the-Sun Road. Road opens late June to mid-October, weather dependent.
West Glacier (33 miles) or St. Mary (18 miles) for full services.
Trailhead information
4,200 ft elevation
Common exit point. Small parking area on Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Very small lot (~20 cars). Fills extremely early. Better to shuttle.
Located on Going-to-the-Sun Road, 4 miles west of Logan Pass.
Lake McDonald Lodge (5 miles).
Late July through mid-September. Trail typically opens when Going-to-the-Sun Road opens (late June). Late July has peak wildflowers. September offers fewer crowds and golden larches.
Trailhead (4,200 ft)
Backcountry Tips
Today
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Wed
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Thu
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Fri
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Sat
38°
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Morning light on the Garden Wall from the trail is spectacular. The Grinnell Glacier Overlook offers dramatic shots of the glacier at any time.
East-facing shots are best in morning; west-facing in late afternoon. Wildflowers peak in late July.
Start before 8am to beat the crowds and secure parking at Logan Pass. Weekdays are significantly less crowded than weekends.
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Highline Trail.
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Highline Trail · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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PermitSnag alerts you the moment a Highline Trail cancellation opens, so you can book it before anyone else. Highline Trail permits use a reservation system.
Season dates are on the agency's page. Weekdays have better availability than weekends.
This permit has a demand score of 8/10, making it highly competitive. We recommend having backup dates and using PermitSnag's cancellation alerts.
Cancellations happen daily. Set up alerts with PermitSnag to get notified the moment a spot opens up. Pro and $19 single-permit alerts are checked about every minute, 24/7; free accounts are checked hourly.
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The whole-park backcountry permit that covers every ranger district, if you want to build a multi-night route instead of the Highline day.
Advance reservations open in a March request period and sell out fast, so cancellation alerts matter.
Hike to Haystack Pass and return to Logan Pass (7.2 miles round trip). No shuttle needed.
Misses Granite Park Chalet and the dramatic descent, but captures the Garden Wall scenery.
Day hike to Grinnell Glacier from Many Glacier (11.2 miles round trip). Direct glacier access.
Different experience: approaches the glacier from below rather than above.
Continue from Granite Park Chalet to Many Glacier via Swiftcurrent Pass for a multi-day traverse.
Requires backcountry permits and more time, but offers more extensive wilderness experience.
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