To get to the trailhead: Highline Trail starts at Logan Pass on Going-to-the-Sun Road at the Continental Divide. At first, the hiking trail was a crowded. This is an extremely popular trail in Glacier National Park. Take advantage of the free park shuttle to get back to your car. The Loop is located 7.75 miles down the west side of the Divide. What restaurants are near Highline Trail? This was the second death at the park this year. And Then Fires Shut It Down. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Yarrow was from Wichita, Kansas, and had gotten a summer job with a business in the West Glacier area, according to the statement. "If they have a different sense of what might really hurt you, it's very helpful," McEvoy says. Up way before dawn to make the trip to Logan Pass and secure a parking spot. This would require the Loop parking lot to be serviced by the shuttle system. If it were me, Id go hiking in Many Glacier or Two Medicine if you cant do the first part of the Highline Trail. If you are traveling to Glacier National Park in June, September, or October, check the status of Going-to-the-Sun Road here. SEE IT: Hiker scales cliff to escape grizzly bear on Glacier National The park closed on March 24 and partially reopened last month, park officials said. Climate Change: More Tourist Deaths on Melting Glaciers - The Atlantic Park officials said the 64-year-old man likely. Cheers, Julie. Hiker falls to death on Glacier National Park's Highline Trail - Missoulian 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. A climber died after falling from the Dragon's Tail in Glacier National Or, if you dont mind getting up early, you should be able to get to Logan Pass and park before it fills up. The lines for the toilet also get long in the morning. View full map. This one-way route combines the 7.6 mile Highline Trail with the 4.2 mile Loop Trail for a total hike of 11.8 miles. To get back to Logan Pass, get in the line for the eastbound shuttle. 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. Julie Last updated: January 22, 2023 United States 34 Comments. Weve even listed our our favorite things to do in the neighboring communities. Alternate route: You can instead start at The Loop (shuttle stop), hike up to the Granite Park Chalet, and then hike an additional 0.8 miles to the beginning of the overlook trail for a total of 6.8 miles. Technology, he says, should not be relied upon because batteries die and cell service often isn't available. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 6 h 59 min to complete. For the rest of us, there is a very poor shuttle system or taking a chance on parking. Re: Death on Highline Trail 9 years ago Save OK folks as Todd mentions hiking on a closed trail can EASILY be fatal! Carved out from the cliffs that tower over Going-to-the-Sun road is a narrow path. Views are iconic. 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. Germann said more details on the accident will be shared once park officials complete their investigation. Climbing deaths are not uncommon. Now, Authorities Are Asking for Help Finding the Culprit. Park rangers said witnesses reported that the man was hiking alone on the Highline Trail, when he slipped and fell. In July and August, we hike there every Tuesday. A rescue helicopter was able to recover Yarrows body. I see that this is a guided ranger hike a few days per week that leaves around 915am but if I park at Swiftcurrent and take the Shuttle to St. Mary's then over to Logans Pass I cannot get there by then. Find out what we carry in our day packs and what we wear on the trails. 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. In early summer beargrass lines the meadow sections of trail. He says the park conducts an orientation to returning employees of the park's major consessionaires that covers safety and preparation for recreating in the park. 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. "Day hikers, they're very spontaneous in their planning," Phillips says. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). "It might have just been a person trying to cross 40-degree moving water," says Dave McEvoy, director of Aerie Backcountry Medicine, a Missoula-based wilderness medicine training program. Glacier is no simple walk in the park, according to park death records dating to 1913. The trail to Haystack Pass, which is off in distance. After hiding for a few minutes, the bear moved on and left McKnight alone. Mid September is a great time to be taking that hike. 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. To get to the trailhead from the Logan Pass parking lot, cross Going-to-the-Sun Road. But I did what they tell you do: Be calm, back up and dont be aggressive. Though he was carrying bear spray, he couldnt reach it immediately because it was located at the bottom of his pack. We also weigh in on what to pack, where to eat, what to drink, and where to stay. I'm considering doing a one day hike from Logan Pass to the Swiftcurrent (1.5 mile shorter) on 17 or 18 September - by myself. "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. Things to know before you go Best Time to Hike the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park If youd like to go on the Highline Trail in Glacier with an interpretive guide, wed love to take you! When we hiked the Highline Trail, we drove from Many Glacier, which was also an hour. 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. You can cancel at any time. Later in the hike there is a brief cliff section very similar to this, but it does have quite the same dramatic drop-off to the road below. Lucas. Highline Trail | Glacier National Park | Hikespeak.com However we had to share the trail with a couple mountain goats who were quite stubborn about moving. If you are new to hiking or are curious about what you should bring on a hike, check out our Hiking Gear Guide. You will traverse a little shelf on the cliff that has been carved for the road, with a cable to grab hold of if needed. Since the buses weren't running, we went about 4 miles in and turned around, but I don't think we missed much. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Have a great time in Glacier NP! 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. A black bear crossed the trail in front of us (keep reading to learn more) and several other hikers told us that they spotted a grizzly bear. We had a rental car and we found that to be the most efficient way to get around. In Glacier, at least 187 of the victims were male and 49 female. This segment lasts for only three-tenths of a mile, however it is four to six feet wide in most areas. TikTok endangers the safety of Montanans and Americans at large," saidSen. Shelley Vance, R-Belgrade. 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. If you still have energy left, you can also hike out to Hidden Lake once you ride the shuttle back to Logan Pass. Alternatively, you may use, Glacier National Park Hotels and Places to Stay. Often referred to as the Highline "Loop", this end-to-end route runs somewhat parallel to the Going-to-the-Sun Road but at a higher elevation. The park features 762 lakes and 563 streams. You're all set. Dont miss our article Best Things to Do in Glacier National Park for more great things to do in the park. He was climbing with three other climbers when he apparently lost his balance near the edge of a cliff and fell roughly 1,000 feet, according to the initial investigation and witness reports. Most of the climbing accidents in Glacier don't involve technical climbing using ropes and other equipment. 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 part of the hike is monotonous and on a sunny day, it can feel very warm. The Pacific Crest Trail Was Going to Be the Hike of Their Lives. The Highline Trail is a point-to-point hike. It is easier to get to and from the west side of Glacier, which is where many people stay. The hike to Haystack Pass begins from the Highline Trailhead, located across the Going-To-The-Sun Road from the Logan Pass parking lot. Sign up for Outside+ today. In 2002, a 17-year-old slipped and fell over a waterfall on Hudson Bay Creek near Red Eagle Lake during a camping trip with his Boy Scout Troop. I was trying to see what other hike can i do to substitute for highline if highline is still closed next week? In Glacier, those who prepare and work their way up to more complex climbs do well, Gabriel said. The weather was perfect, so this had a big influence on how good our photos turned out. Showing results 1 - 90 of 5157. Starting Altitude: 6,650 feet Highest Altitude Reached: 7,300 feet When to Hike the Highline Trail Join Outside+ to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. Get updates on trail closures here. Thank you in advance. 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. The rock in Glacier is constantly changing. Blake Passmore, author of the illustrated guidebook series Climb Glacier National Park, said inexperienced climbers often underestimate the difficulty level and the amount of time that bagging a given peak requires. Route #1 Logan Pass to Granite Park Chalet to The Loop. And because it is sedimentary rock for the most part, the rock is crumbly and unstable. Updated A climber died at Glacier National Park in Montana after falling several hundred feet from a ridge known as the Dragons Tail. Its about personally evaluating each risk that is presented, then managing it, mitigating it, or going home, Gabriel said. This is one of the biggest decisions of the day. Thanks! Jennifer Lutman, a spokeswoman for Glacier Park, said climbing, scrambling and peak bagging are recognized as activities inside the park but are not recommended. Persons 20 to 29 made up 21 percent of the total deaths, the largest category, and 77 percent of that age group were men. Best Things to Do in Glacier National Park, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Parks, 10 Best Things to do in Glacier National Park, The Ultimate Glacier National Park Itinerary for 1 to 5 Days, How to Hike to Grinnell Glacier in Glacier National Park. 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. Get to know the winter safety gear you need in your pack. Firstly, thanks for your great and inspiring review of Logan Pass-Many Glacier hike. Another 23 people have died from "falls while hiking" in the park. PRO TRAVEL TIP: In 2021, I heard reports that the parking lots are filling as early as 6 am. Find out what we carry in our day packs and what we wear on the trails. Three miles past Logan Pass, you will come to Haystack Pass. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-50865444', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Grinnell Glacier trail when I was there in July of 2011; someone fell to their death when hiking past the point where the trail was closed http://www.dailyinterlake.com/news/local_montana/article_5f2e7fe6-dedf-11e2-a7bd-0019bb2963f4.html.