Glacier National Park is recognized as the “crown of the continent” and takes its name from the glaciers that shape this rugged topography. Located in Montana, the wilderness area is full of rock, ice, water, and wood. The park is a habitat to more than a dozen glaciers, massive U-shaped valleys, and hulking granite peaks carved by ice flows long ago.
This park is a favorite among hikers. It features hiking trails suitable for all skill levels ranging from the Trail of the Cedars to Grinnell Glacier. The park also has countless lakes, waterfalls, an array of wildlife, and two mountains on its 1 million acres (404,685 hectares).
Glacier National Park was named as a national park on May 11, 1910, and most news outlets mentioned its alpine scenery and glaciers as the major reason to visit the park. The park has delightful hotels, chalets, and horse trails nearby.
This park is located in northwestern Montana on the Canada-US border adjacent to the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia.
The best time to visit Glacier National park is from July to mid-August. This is the best season for hikers who want to enjoy the scenic views of the park, with daytime temperatures averaging in the 70’s F (21 C) and cool nights that can drop into the forties (4 C). Therefore, make sure you pack layers and a rain jacket!
Enjoy the extraordinary beauty of Glacier National Park on this moderate hike that parallels the Garden Wall. You can climb to the junction for Grinnell Glacier Overlook, then move on to Granite Park Chalet. About 4 miles (6.5 km) of this trail is a steep 2,200-foot descent to the Loop. The shuttle that runs along Going-to-the-Sun Road is free and available between Logan Pass and the Loop.
This is a challenging trail for ambitious hikers. The trail is heavily trafficked, but if you are prepared, it’s a fun-filled hiking experience.
The Highline Trail is located in North America, covering about 7.6 miles (12 km) from Logan Pass to Granite Park Chalet. This flat trail follows the Continental Divide through the heart of the park. The park is home to jaw-dropping views of glacier valleys and alpine landscapes.
When I started at the beginning of the trail near Logan Pass, I encountered a short stint of ledge hiking with more than enough space in both directions. As I moved farther along the route, I had an opportunity for a short side trip to the Grinnell Glacier Overlook. Despite the trail being heavily trafficked, wildlife sightings—especially mountain goats—were frequent on the trail path and I felt like I was an intruder! After reaching Granite Park Chalet, I found my way through Highline Trail to the original trailhead. The best approach is hiking the 4.2 additional miles (6.75 km) down the Loop trail to the Going-to-the-Sun Road and using the free shuttle to Logan’s Pass.
Due to the difficulty level of this trail, bring along at least 2.5 litres of water, sunblock, hats, jackets, and bear spray.
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