Some people hike just the first few miles for the views over Going-to-the-Sun Road, which will create two-way traffic on the first cliff section of the hike. Highline Trail (Glacier National Park) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. Stromatolites formed in the bottom of an ancient shallow, warm body of water known as the Belt Sea. Thanks for all the great information and photos to help plan our trip to Yellowstone and Glacier in late July. As we came around a bend, I saw a black bear on the trail in front of us. Jennifer Lutman, a spokeswoman for Glacier Park, said climbing, scrambling and peak bagging are recognized as activities inside the park but are not recommended. A climber died at Glacier National Park in Montana after falling several hundred feet from a ridge known as the Dragon's Tail. Good luck! In a single month between June 26 and July 25, four people died of trauma in Glacier National Park. WEST GLACIER, MT. Trail Type: Point-to-point Trailhead Location: Logan Pass Visitor Center Highlights: Amazing views of Going-to-the-Sun Road and the surrounding mountains, the Garden Wall, and a backcountry chalet. The Highline Trail is a point-to-point hike. There are pit toilets but no water. In fact, locals call bear bells dinner bells, since studies show that they can actually make bears more curious and want to investigate the sound of the bells. Reach the Missoulian newsroom at @missoulian, at newsdesk@missoulian.com or at (406) 523-5240. From the Grinnell Glacier detour, its less than one mile of hiking to get to Granite Park Chalet. Start early, amazing experience and views, What an amazing hike. We hiked this on an absolutely beautiful day - great weather and we were excited to finish our week on a high note. OK folks as Todd mentions hiking on a closed trail can EASILY be fatal! I have been in Glacier many times but have never seen the alpine meadows so spectacular. That was the biggest age group. But Kara and I hike fast, so within a few miles, we passed many of the hikers and were almost on our own. Reviews (2,287) Photos (5,157) 5: 4: 3: 2: 1: 4.7. This trail traverses the western side of the Continental Divide, the glacially carved ridge that divides our continent'ss watersheds. There are no bathrooms or potable water at the Loop. Starting Altitude: 6,650 feet Highest Altitude Reached: 7,300 feet When to Hike the Highline Trail Glacier National Park had never recorded a fatal grizzly bear attack since its creation in 1910. I do not hike on trails that have closed signs! If you are lucky, you can spot deer, mountain goats, and Bighorn sheep. Three miles past Logan Pass, you will come to Haystack Pass. Carved out from the cliffs that tower over Going-to-the-Sun road is a narrow path. Each place has its advantages. You have permission to edit this article. . The trail occasionally closes due to grizzly bear activity. AllTrails says closer to 8.5 hours, so we suggest planning for between 8-9 hours just to be safe. "As part of wilderness, you accept the risk on its terms," says Gabriel, noting that 95 percent of Glacier is recommended wilderness. Im concerned about finding parking at Logan Pass and was wondering if I would be better off to drive from Many Hotel to St Marys Visitor Center and take the shuttle to Logan Pass. But in the backcountry, he adds, where medical help is hours instead of minutes away, small problems can become catastrophes for the unprepared, he said. The Highline Trail was my fave just bc of the views, I would turn around at Haystack though, but Im not sure what the mileage would be on that. Theres rain expected on Monday so am hoping that helps some of the chunks of ice/snow to melt/disperse by the time i am there on Tue/Wed. Avalanches and falling objects, for example, each have claimed nine lives and grizzly bears, 10. The Highline Trail in Glacier National Park Hike Profile If expansive vistas and alpine meadows excite you, look no further than the Highline Trail! I can't really park at St. Mary's and take that first shuttle as then I have no way to get back to my car lol. The final shuttle from the Loop to Logan Pass is at 5:20 pm. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. In early summer beargrass lines the meadow sections of trail. Up way before dawn to make the trip to Logan Pass and secure a parking spot. "Day hikers, they're very spontaneous in their planning," Phillips says. The trail continues to weave in and out of subalpine fir forests. To get a parking spot, you will need to arrive early (before 7:30 am). The Highline Trail is an extremely popular hike, so do not expect solitude, and be sure to pack your patience. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. Snow drifts exist in areas of the trail and drop-offs between the edge of a drift and the trail exist in some locations. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Glacier National Park er man frst frdig med at fjerne sneen omkring 1 juli. Find out what we carry in our day packs and what we wear on the trails. Of the drowning cases listed in park records, slips on rocks while fishing or trying to cross creeks often are cited. We will be with someone who is scared of drop offs but willing to hike until it becomes too nerve wracking for her. Any ideas on how we could still use the loop?? MORE GREAT HIKES IN THE NATIONAL PARKS: From hikes to the tallest peaks to beautiful coast trails, read our article about the Best Day Hikes in the US National Parks. Looking for feedback on anyone who may have done the Highline Trail from Logan to the chalet, and then over Swiftcurrent Pass down to the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn in Aug 2019?? We got to Logan Pass at 7:10 AM and got one of the few remaining parking spaces. Hiker falls to death on Glacier National Park's Highline Trail. Preferred route: Start the Highline Trail at Logan Pass. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Of course my husband would be prepared to wear a mask while riding with other people. This is a great trail, but like so many in Glacier, you must go early. We wish we would have parked at the loop, took the shuttle to Logans pass, and then our car would be waiting for us at the loop when we finished the hike. Keep an eye out for alpine animals, such as big horned sheep and mountain goats, which feed on the leafy green meadows above. Trail of the Cedars to Avalanche Lake is a little less than 6 miles total. They said it was beautiful but it was very difficult and made the last 4 down hill miles from the Chalet to the Loop even more difficult. However, the advantage of parking here is that once you are done your hike, you do not have to wait for the shuttle to take you back to your car. But the views don't change much throughout the route so it's just a lot of walking with lots of other people. Get updates on trail closures here. Hike 7.5 miles on a pleasantly gradual trail to get to the overlook trail. Watch the beauty of the park change season by season with our monthly newsletters. We're coming from Australia to the US for a 4 week holiday. Even the most experienced backcountry enthusiasts can let their guard down, he says. On the left side is a drop-off to Going-to-the-Sun Road. A Bitterroot Valley woman escaped what she calls a "polygamist religious cult" and founded Montana's largest honeyberry farm, only to be hit w, Jim Hicks, executive director of Hope Rescue Mission, confirmed houseless Missoulians are turning to the bus system, Missoula Public Library a. There is a sign here marking the trail. All rights reserved. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. More Information about Glacier National Park & the USA, Read all of our articles about the United States in our. Highline Trail - 11.4mi / 18.4km. 2287 Reviews. Be aware that bears will be out foraging in prep for winter hibernationso bear spray is a must. The Loop has a smaller parking lot that can accommodate roughly 20 cars. "There's a lot of drowning that occurs in the national park system," says Ken Phillips, the Flagstaff, Ariz.-based branch chief of Search and Rescue for the National Park Service. View full map. The detour to Grinnell Glacier Overlook is the trail to the left. The 8 miles at the top was fairly easy, not much elevation change. WOuld you recommend Highline Trail or Grinnell Glacier? They stood just a few feet from the trail, happily munching away, and didnt seem to mind how close we were as we passed them. "Please exercise caution when walking on snow and be alert of possible collapsible snow, steep slide areas and changing weather conditions," she said. Once it was a good thirty feet away from the trail, Kara and I continued on our way. Click here to learn more. In 23 percent of the search and rescues in national parks in 2012, fatigue/physical condition was listed as a contributing factor, according to the Park Service's 2012 search and rescue report. Glacier. "Unfortunately, it comes down to decision making.". Highlights include an extra mile to a glacier overlook, a junction to the east side of the park, and a 100+-year-old chalet built when the park was founded. And they are not afraid of humans. We did not back up because I did not want to lose sight of it. Adventure in Glacier with us all year on our social sites! There are also some great hiking trails in Two Medicine, but we have not been to this part of the park yet, so Im not very familiar with them, but they do look great in photos. Climbing deaths are not uncommon. "People being aware is always powerful. At this point, there was about 30 feet between us and the black bear. We were on our own at this point with no hikers nearby. The views are incredible and some of my favorites of the day. It seems like the hike up from Logan pass is closed because of snow. Please subscribe to keep reading. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 6 h 59 min to complete. Weve even listed our our favorite things to do in the neighboring communities. Potential risks in Glacier, he said, are just different. The geology of Glacier Park is also a significant factor, he said. Since I posted this question, I've found several other posts regarding this issue. Less than one-quarter of a mile from the trailhead hikers will reach a cliffy stretch that the National Park Service has installed a hand cable along. In Glacier, those who prepare and work their way up to more complex climbs do well, Gabriel said. We were concerned about the possible wait time for the shuttle at The Loop.