Highline Trail to Haystack Pass

We have been wanting to do the Highline Trail to the Granite Chalet as it is said to be one of the most beautiful hikes in the world.  The problem is it is 7.8 miles one way.  You can take a 3 mile downhill hike from the Chalet and take the shuttle back to Logan's Pass but neither of us wants to do 3 miles downhill with our knees.

We opt to hike the 7.8 miles round trip to Haystack Pass instead..


It is a beautiful sunny day and staring out in the low 60s perfect hiking weather

We left home at 6:45 and arrived at Logan's pass around 8:30 a.m. and there was still a lot of parking available.

The hike starts across the Going to the Sun Road.  Logan's Pass crosses the Continental Divide.

Let the game begin!

The hike starts out pretty easy

Once we pass through the trees, the view becomes pretty spectacular

It's not long before we hit the famous ledge.  Glad we are here early and before the crowds

You can see the Going to the Sun Road below and the trail up above it in the distance

Fortunately it is busy enough this time of year that there should be no bear around the blind corners.

We spot a hoary marmot though

The views are simply breathtaking

The hike runs across what is known as the Garden Wall.  There are wildflowers everywhere

and an occassionally wet trail from the run off of still melting snow

The path is narrow in spots

But the views are wide and far

The trail changes from rocky ledge to pine forest to dirt trail.

We are getting high above the road now.

Gary takes a break along a rocky ledge

Find a nice ledge to set the camera on for a self timer shot

No Bear but lots of these little critters

Looks like the last bit of shade before the Pass

That's our destination up top

We stop for a quick lunch break

Looks like we're not the only ones

One big switchback to the top

This little guy followed us for a bit

Views from the top

Might as well continue a little bit further

More awesome views but it's getting hot

On the way back I think we should stop and smell the flowers more

You can make out the Road, the River and the Trail

Back we go!

There were some huckleberry bushes along the way but they were either bare or not ripe. I did get 3 or 4 berries and they were good!

These looked beautiful but since they were still on the bush while the huckleberries were picked clean, I figured they weren't edible

Back across one of the Falls

 You can't see me!

 Beautiful Moss and some alpine flowers along the way

This section was refreshing!

A dead tree mimicks the shape of the mountains

Almost back to the Ledge

Yes, its a long way down.  

The final stretch

and we're back to the parking lot








 The ride home again we get stuck at the construction but there are worse places to be stuck


 I forgot to take burgers out of the fridge for dinner so Gary spares no expense and we stop at the Blue Moon in Columbia Falls.

They had a Hamburger, Fries and Beer special for $8 and it was pretty good.  They have a Rodeo out back on Thursdays and we will try to change our schedule so we can go one week.

 The decor was eclectic too

What a fantastic Hike and day.  Every time we think it can't get any better it does!  Can't wait to get over to the East side and Many Glaciers.  We will have to unhook the 5th wheel and take it there on our days off as it is a 5 hour round tip drive and the hikes will be 5-6 hours as well.