Highline Trail Hard 4.7 (2287) Glacier National Park Photos (5,157) Directions Print/PDF map Length 14.9 miElevation gain 2,578 ftRoute type Out & back Explore this 14.9-mile out-and-back trail near Siyeh Bend, Montana. Climbing in Glacier is a remarkable way to see the park, but only if climbers explore within their abilities. On July 9, Cesar Flores, Jr., 21, of Davie, Fla., died while climbing Apikuni Mountain, north of Many Glacier Hotel. Did you encounter any technical issues? BigHorn Sheep and Mountain Goats will have been crossing it, but they are just that Mountain Goats. Needham, of Simi Valley, Calif., was climbing the mountain with two other climbers, all of them seasonal employees of Glacier Park, Inc. working at the Many Glacier Hotel. Any suggestions you can offer would be very much appreciated!! Logan Pass is the epicenter of Glacier National Park, sitting at the highest point of the Going To The Sun Road at 6,647 ft. After the cliff section of the trail, you will walk through a small scree field. Rescues nationally involving hikers on overnight excursions, by comparison, accounted for 9.8 percent of the rescues involving 258 injuries and nine fatalities. 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. My Husband and a 2 others in our party hiked up the 0.6 mile section that overlooks Grinell Glacier. Another 23 people have died from "falls while hiking" in the park. In 2012, 43 percent of the search and rescue calls in all national parks involved people who were day hiking, according to the National Park's Service annual SAR report. On the left side is a drop-off to Going-to-the-Sun Road. I felt like I wanted to stop every 20 feet to take pictures, but eventually had to stop doing that in order to finish the hike in a timely manner! If you look at the statistics of deaths its fairly low, but falls are certainly one of the elements of risk that you accept whenever you go off trail, Cris Coughlin, owner at Glacier Guides, said. There is Avalanche Lake on the west side of the park (short and easy). Sara Newman, acting chief of the National Park Service's Office of Risk Management, said the Park Service provides training for parks personnel on what can be done to manage risk for visitors. Glacier is no simple walk in the park, according to park death records dating to 1913. There was a problem saving your notification. Not far past the Chalet is the detour to the Grinnell Glacier overlook. Stromatolites formed in the bottom of an ancient shallow, warm body of water known as the Belt Sea. The Highline Trail is more fun. Sex can't always be determined in the park's list of deaths and missing persons because only initials are used in some of the entries. The hiking trail is in blue and Going-to-the-Sun Road is white. West Glacier, MT 59936. And they are not afraid of humans. 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. Travel Time/Distance: 1 hour and 15 minutes/32 miles from Glacier National Parks west entrance. They are climbing routes and scree fields. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. (this trail begins at the Logan Pass Visitor's Center. 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. Dont miss our article Best Things to Do in Glacier National Park for more great things to do in the park. Cheers, Julie. But its hard to find hiking companions by posting on the forum. Trailhead coordinates: 48.696343, -113.7176 (48 41 46.83N 113 43 03.35W) View Glacier National Park in a larger map. Of the leading causes of death in Glacier National Park, drowning ranks first, but climbing fatalities are not far behind, and are much more common than bear attacks the main source of trepidation for most visitors. Get full access to Outside Learn, our online education hub featuring in-depth fitness, nutrition, and adventure courses and more than 2,000 instructional videos when you sign up for Outside+ The adjusted death rate 1.85 for every 100,000 visitors was still higher than the rate of 1.09 for Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, according to the analysis. Map of the Highline Trail. The Highline Trail is a point-to-point hike. So, we decided to share the love and put together our very own Glacier National Park Insiders Guide. "It's not risk free to come to a park like it really is in Disney World.". Re: Death on Highline Trail 9 years ago Save OK folks as Todd mentions hiking on a closed trail can EASILY be fatal! At 3.6 miles, after climbing 275 feet up one sweeping switchback, hikers will reach Haystack Pass (7,024 ft.). You wouldn't need ropes and anchors as most (pretty much all) of the rock in Glacier isn't appropriate to attempt to use such equipment. Roughly three miles from Logan Pass, take a break at the large boulders just before the final climb to Haystack Pass. After hiding for a few minutes, the bear moved on and left McKnight alone. Trail of the Cedars to Avalanche Lake is a little less than 6 miles total. I Tried to Sew My Own Ultralight Tent. We had a rental car and we found that to be the most efficient way to get around. "People being aware is always powerful. The views along the Highline Trail are spectacular. No pun intended. Hiking Time (estimate): Allow 2 -3 hours to reach Haystack Pass, 1 hour for lunch, and 2- 2 hours to return. Trailhead address: Going-To-The-Sun Road, Glacier National Park, Browning, MT 59417. "Trying to figure out where to start in a land mass of 1.2 million acres is highly daunting.". I do not hike on trails that have closed signs! While hiking, I was constantly scanning not only the trail in front of us, but also the trees and brush along the sides of the trail. Their deaths offer a sobering reminder of the perils involved in off-trail exploration. Print/PDF map. If you want to hike a trail with unbeatable alpine views without having to hike up a massive mountain, you wont find a better hike than the Highline Trail. All have inherent hazards and costs and benefits. The Highline Trail is a scenic hiking trail in Glacier National Park, Montana, United States. From the Grinnell Glacier detour, its less than one mile of hiking to get to Granite Park Chalet. Contact: Denise Germann, 406 888-5838. We paired up with a couple from Italy who had bear spray and had lively conversation the entire 4 miles down which made it ever so much more bearable. Park officials cite hiking alone, not properly preparing for a trip, poor decision-making and taking on activities without the necessary expertise, gear or fitness level as factors in many of the fatalities that have occurred the past 10 decades. 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. In it, youll find our recommendations on the top 10 adventures in Glacier. In those day-hiking cases, 665 were injured and 26 people died. The shuttles are small and they leave two available seats for people getting on at the Loop. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Eric Gabriel, Glacier National Parks chief of ranger activities and an avid climber, said the most obvious caveats are often the most pertinent for climbers. The trial is so narrow in places youll have to go single file while holding onto a cable bolted to the side of the cliff. Even if you catch the first shuttle the St. Mary's the shuttle you would catch at St. Mary's won't get to Logans Pass in time. If you would like a more strenuous hike, continue down the Highline Trail to Granite Park Chalet (15.2 miles out and back), or all the way down to The Loop trailhead (11.8 miles total). You can do this hike, but I dont think the views are going to be worth the effort to hike up to the Chalet. Flores climbing companions could not see or reach the man and retreated, reporting the incident to park dispatch from the Many Glacier Entrance Station. They're usually carrying a map and have researched their route. "It's part of experiencing wilderness.". For information about hiking in the park and trail status, visit http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/hikingthetrails.htm or contact the park at 406-888-7800. "You always want to have it in the forefront in your mind that turning around could be a good decision could be a great decision," Gabriel said. Insufficient information/error in judgment accounted for 19 percent of the search and rescues nationally in 2012. However, the first shuttle does not arrive at the Loop until 8:47 am, so you will have to wait quite some time to get to Logan Pass. More than 3 million people visited Glacier National Park last year. 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. Bring plenty of fluids: I drank 2 liters from my camelback, plus 2 Gatorade bottles. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Bring plenty of food: I ate breakfast and still consumed the following on the trail: 1 cheese sandwich (3 thick slices) 3 bars (RX & Zing) 1/2 apple. Planning our first trip to GNP in early Sept 2019 (after Labor Day). The rock in Glacier is constantly changing. And the skinny high part of the ledge with tubing to hold onto lasts 3/10 of a mile, and after that the trail still hugs the high places for 2 1/2 miles. This part of the hike is monotonous and on a sunny day, it can feel very warm. There is a huge drop-off with only a railing on the other side to hold onto. 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. Starting Altitude: 6,650 feet Highest Altitude Reached: 7,300 feet When to Hike the Highline Trail If you have any questions about hiking the Highline Trail or if you want to share your experience, comment below! "Overnight backpackers, if they have a problem they have most everything on their back to take care of their situation as opposed to day hikers who may be ill-prepared," says Phillips, the branch chief of Search and Rescue for the National Park Service. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. We were concerned about the possible wait time for the shuttle at The Loop. 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?? This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. The search was akin to a looking for a needle in a haystack because nobody knew where Rigby was headed, Gabriel said. Climbing deaths are not uncommon. Carry at least two liters of water per person! To get a parking spot, you will need to arrive early (before 7:30 am). It takes about an hour to drive from West Glacier to Logan Pass. Once he finally saw the grizzly bear coming toward him, McKnight clambered down the edge of the cliff to avoid the grizzly when the bear appeared 50-feet ahead of him. Glacier National Park: Highline Trail Ledge 12,230 views Aug 25, 2016 Hike across the ledge of the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park. Whether y, We're definitely feeling cabin fever up here at Gl, Friendly Reminder 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. Gould. The park closed on March 24 and partially reopened last month, park officials said. And a tough one to answer. Once at the viewpoint, you will be standing on the Continental Divide with panoramic views of Glacier National Park. Records show visitors sometimes run into trouble without venturing far from established roads and trails. 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. A rescue helicopter was able to recover Yarrows body. $$ - $$$ Quick Bites American Barbecue, $$ - $$$ American Vegetarian Friendly Vegan Options, $$$$ American Bar Vegetarian Friendly. The first part of this trail is through a shady, cool forest. Last week rescuers had to save another climber, who was hurt after sliding down a snowfield in the Logan Pass area.Falls while hiking and climbing and drowning are the leading causes of death in Glacier National Park. The 20-year-old man, identified as Josh Yarrow, was attempting to retrieve a backpack on Tuesday evening when he fell, the National Park Service said in a statement. Mid September is a great time to be taking that hike. While Glacier is not a destination for technical climbing, it is a mecca for mountaineering because of its fantastic peaks. From here, it is an overall downhill walk to the Loop. You can do just 2 miles of it and still love it. Could you please advise if you remember how long the drive is if traveling nonstop from West Glacier to the Logan Pass visitors center? On Aug. 13, 1967, two women, Julie Helgeson and Michele Koons, died in separate grizzly bear attacks in different locations on the same evening, an event that's became known as Night of the Grizzlies. The mountains are in a state of decomposition all of the time, so climbers need to make sure they are checking every hold to make sure its solid.. Have a great trip to Glacier! P.O. Cannon (8,952 ft.), Mt. Youll pass small waterfalls along the way. The incident is under investigation by the National Park Service. appreciated. Sign up for Outside+ today. "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. This was the second death at the park this year. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much A 27-year-old woman leaned over to get a drink of water at Red Gap Pass in 1998, slipped on a rock and died after falling 150 feet. The Dragons Tail is a steep, off-trail climbing route southwest of Reynolds Mountain. It almost always takes longer and is more difficult than you think it is, Passmore, whose books are geared toward climbers of all abilities, said. A lot of these people who fall get so driven and think that they have to succeed that they get in over their head.. 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. We did not back up because I did not want to lose sight of it. Hiker falls to death on Glacier National Park's Highline Trail. For almost 12 miles, this trail takes hikers high above Going-to-the-Sun Road, with stunning views of the park and a chance to see glaciers, alpine wildflowers, and wildlife. 2287 reviews. Men far outnumbered women in those categories, too. Persons over 60 made up 15 percent of the total deaths, the second highest, followed by people ages 13 to 19, which accounted for 13 percent of the deaths. "Unfortunately, it comes down to decision making.". Just before arriving at Granite Park Chalet you have the option to take the detour to the Grinnell Glacier Overlook. Someone Poisoned an Entire Wolf Pack in Oregon. There are two ways to get to this trail. He slipped while crossing a snowfield in the Rim Rock area about one mile west of Logan Pass, then fell 100 feet and landed on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, witnesses told park rangers. The valley below is a classic U-shape, formed by glaciers starting two million years ago during the Pleistocene Ice Age. On Aug. 13, 1967, different bears fatally mauled two young women camped miles apart. RimRock section of the trail is about 4 feet wide but in places gets smaller. You're all set. In normal circumstances, you can hike to the Loop from Logan, but the reviews on the last 4-5 miles on that didn't sound great either. I've heard that there might be a bit of a delay between the full opening of Going to the Sun Road and the Highline Trail. The weather was perfect, so this had a big influence on how good our photos turned out. Lucas. Phillips says. The Highline is really a one-way trip and includes a car shuttle at the end. EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was originally published Sept. 15, 2013. This part of the hike is also called the Garden Wall. You can also learn more about the national parks and get a FREE printable checklist in our US National Parks Checklist. We did not see bear. Its also possible to see black bear or grizzly bear. If you prefer to keep your hikes short and sweet, read our guide to the Best Short Hikes in the National Parks. Also keep watching weather reports. His body was recovered below the Sun Road at The Loop on July 12, and the suspicious circumstances prompted an investigation by the FBI. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. After September 11, reservations will no longer be required for the season. Park officials said the 64-year-old man likely slipped on snow still covering the trail about a mile west of Logan Pass, in the Rim Rock area. "If they have a different sense of what might really hurt you, it's very helpful," McEvoy says. Now, Authorities Are Asking for Help Finding the Culprit. FYI There is a Closed Trail Sign plus rope to show that this trail is closed for hazardous conditions and that sign was there on 6-23-13. http://www.glacierhikers.com/highline-trail.html. This route starts at the Logan Pass Visitor Center and ends at the parking lot in the hairpin curve on Going to the Sun Road known as The Loop. The hike to Haystack Pass begins from the Highline Trailhead, located across the Going-To-The-Sun Road from the Logan Pass parking lot. Elevation change: 3400 feet. And because it is sedimentary rock for the most part, the rock is crumbly and unstable. Thanks for all the great information and photos to help plan our trip to Yellowstone and Glacier in late July. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. In Aug. 13, 1913, Calvis Ingram Fletcher, a world traveler and physician from Indianapolis, was hiking alone in Glacier National Park when he died after being struck by snow and ice on Blackfoot Glacier. Germann said more details on the accident will be shared once park officials complete their investigation. The Highline Trail is a point-to-point hike. They were unable to resuscitate the man, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Twelve miles may sound like a long way to hike, but these miles tick by fast. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Snow drifts exist in areas of the trail and drop-offs between the edge of a drift and the trail exist in some locations. Phone: You will likely pass and be passed by other hikers many times on this hike. On Dec. 23, 1969, five men died in an avalanche on Mount Cleveland. "Not only would it force the county attorney to prosecute that person, but it would also force the judge as well," the bill's supporter said Thursday. With low clouds and fog you will get no view whatsoever. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. This definitely varies depending on your hiking speed, how many stops you make, as well as how long your stops are, but for us, hiking the Highline Trail to the Grinnell Glacier Overlook and back took about 8 hours total. If you get there at 7 AM and have a GTTS pass. Cody Lee Johnson, 25, was last seen at his Kalispell home on July 7, when he reportedly left with unidentified friends in a dark-colored passenger car. Unfortunately, with the reservation system, people without reservations go in very early, which then takes up the parking that those with a permit would use. Get to know the winter safety gear you need in your pack. A climbing partner saw Yarrow fall and went to get help, according to the park service.. Park rangers received the accident report at about 7:45 p.m. and began a search and rescue operation. Route #1 Logan Pass to Granite Park Chalet to The Loop. Youll also find information on typical weather conditions around Glacier. However, you can turn around whenever you like. 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Individuals age 20 to 29, both male and female, made up 19 percent of those in need of rescue. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. This first mile is one of the best parts of Highline Trail. without the shuttle bus running in Glacier National Park will other tourists pick you up for the return ride to Logans Pass parking lot after hiking one way on the Highline Trail? The high percentage of day-hiking rescues illustrates the point that even visitors going out for an afternoon hike need to be prepared for the unexpected in a national park, experts say. Logan Pass, which is popular with visitors. A hiker narrowly avoided a grizzly bear on a narrow trail in Glacier National Parkand photographer Philip Granrud caught the whole thing on film. Thats a great question! Larson saw his biggest kill, and . These small members of the hare family do not hibernate. We ended up waiting about 35 minutes. Does anyone know when this hike typically opens up? All Rights Reserved. There is plenty of high alpine exposure on this hike, so be sure to bring sun, wind, and rain protection. They tend to be near water, low shrubbery or berry patches. Heres How it Went. The line can be long so expect to wait for a spot on the shuttle. I love your website and have used it to plan several other successful trips! This detour adds 1.6 miles (round trip) onto the hike with 900 feet of elevation gain. "As previously reported, Dr. Fletcher was unaccompanied by a guide, having gone to this danger point of his own volition and against the advice of accompanying friends," the 1913 annual park superintendent's report says. That will work. You have permission to edit this article. Its about personally evaluating each risk that is presented, then managing it, mitigating it, or going home, Gabriel said. In 2023, Glacier National Park requires all visitors to get a reservation to drive Going-to-the-Sun Road between May 26 and September 10. The Loop is located 7.75 miles down the same road west side of the divide. It's tought to get there given the weather conditions, etc.