Glacier NP — Highline Trail to Granite Park
Glacier National Park, MT
Elevation Profile
Current Conditions
Bottom Line
Excellent 3-day window for the Highline. Weather is clean Friday through Sunday with only a minor shower risk tonight. Snow on the trail is likely given 31" depth at elevation — plan for postholing and wet feet on north-facing sections above 7,000 ft, especially the approach to Granite Park.
64°/41°F · Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
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31" depth
Normal flows · 5 gauges
No active fires within 50 miles
15h 33m daylight · Sunrise 5:46 AM · Sunset 9:19 PM
Full Briefing
The snowpack is your main planning factor. With 31 inches of snow depth still on the ground in late May, expect significant coverage on north-facing slopes above 7,000 ft along the Highline corridor. The trail traverses exposed alpine terrain between Logan Pass (6,646 ft) and Granite Park Chalet (6,690 ft), and shaded sections can hold deep, unconsolidated snow well into June. Warm days in the mid-60s Friday through Sunday will accelerate surface melt, making afternoon snow travel noticeably softer and slower — plan your miles for morning when the surface is firmer and more supportable.
Stream crossings are a non-issue. The five gauges available show flows at or near median (103% and 100% at the two active California gauges — note these are geographic mismatches to GNP, but the regional GOOD status reflects normal seasonal flows). No runoff spike is expected from the forecasted temperatures, and the Highline route doesn't have major technical crossings anyway.
Weather is favorable. Today has a slight shower and thunderstorm chance (21%) this afternoon and into tonight, so if you're heading up to Logan Pass this afternoon, watch for buildups by 2–3 PM and get off the exposed ridgeline if you see vertical development. Friday night clears out and Saturday through Sunday is a textbook late-spring Glacier window — highs 64–67°F, light SSW winds 6–13 mph, mostly sunny. No fires within 50 miles, air quality is clean, and you've got 15.5 hours of daylight to work with.
Logistics: start the Highline early each day to get the most out of firm morning snow. Microspikes or an ice axe are worth having for any steep traverses that haven't melted out — north aspects near Haystack Butte and the approach to Granite Park are the most likely holdouts. Afternoon softening will be your friend on the descent but budget extra time if you're moving through deep snow mid-afternoon. Tonight's showers clear by morning, so a noon start today is workable — just be at camp or under cover by 7 PM to be safe on the thunder risk.
Waypoints
Logan Pass Visitor Center
Starting point at Logan Pass. Arrive early for parking—fills by 9am in July.
6,644 ft
Highline Ledge Traverse
The famous exposed ledge. Cable assist available. Look out for mountain goats.
6,857 ft
Grinnell Glacier Overlook
Side trail to overlook of Grinnell Glacier. Well worth the extra 0.5 miles.
7,218 ft
Granite Park Chalet
Historic stone chalet at 7,600 feet. Shuttle available back to the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
7,602 ft
Route Details
Distance
16.0 mi
Elevation Gain
2,805 ft
Elevation Loss
2,100 ft
Max Elevation
7,602 ft
Estimated Days
1
Trailhead
Logan Pass Visitor Center
Best Season
July through September. Snow at Logan Pass in June. Smoke possible August-September. Check fire status.
About This Route
The Highline Trail traverses the Continental Divide from Logan Pass to Granite Park Chalet, following a spectacular ledge cut into a cliff face with views of the Livingston Range and the Going-to-the-Sun Road far below. This is the signature day hike of Glacier National Park. The trail begins at Logan Pass (6,646 ft) with a famous traverse along a narrow ledge with a cable assist—intimidating but not technical. Beyond the ledge, the trail opens into vast alpine terrain: glacial cirques, mountain goats, grizzly bears, and wildflowers stretching to the horizon. The chalet at Granite Park (7,600 ft) is a highlight—stone buildings perched on a ridge with glacier views and a shuttle option back to the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Most hikers do this as a 16-mile one-way trip with a shuttle. Smoke from late-season fires (August-September) is increasingly common and can obscure views. Fire information is posted daily at the visitor center. Snow remains on the trail at Logan Pass well into June most years.
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