Hiking the Highline
Enjoying a bluebird day at about 6,600 feet, Jeni Shaw of Whitefish cruises along the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park recently. Spectacular alpine scenery, relatively easy hiking and probable glimpses of bighorn sheep and mountain goats make this an immensely popular trail in Glacier Park. On the far left is the saddle near Haystack Butte, the approximate halfway point along the trail from Logan Pass to Granite Park. Logan Pass will open again to traffic from the west side beginning on Monday. Karen Nichols/Daily Inter Lake
Views, wildlife, foliage highlight popular Glacier Park trail
As autumn arrives, huckleberries and alpine flowers linger on Glacier National Park's Highline Trail, along with wildlife looking healthy and prepared for winter.
The trail skirts the precipitous Garden Wall above Going-to-the-Sun Road and is by far one of the park's most popular routes.
This year, easy access to the trail will be limited by construction on Sun Road, with a two-lane closure west of Logan Pass until Sept. 22.
After that date, a two-lane closure will take effect east of Logan Pass while the west side will reopen as far as the pass.
Even on weekdays in September, the parking lot at Logan Pass has been packed and the seven-mile stretch of trail from the pass to Granite Park Chalet has a steady stream of hikers.
From Haystack Butte, there are expansive views into the Logan and McDonald Creek basins and panoramas of mountain peaks.
Mountain goats sun themselves on the trail and nearby snowfields. Their brilliant white coats stand out on cliffs high above the trail.
Around any bend in the trail, hikers encounter bands of bighorn sheep. Bachelor rams, resting for the upcoming head-butting rut, pose for photographers.
Slinking through rocks, hoary marmots and squirrels are curious spectators watching people on the trail. There are mule deer does and an occasional buck, all accustomed to hikers.
As long as the weather allows after Sept. 22, Sun Road will remain open and the Highline Trail will be a certain destination for fans of Glacier Park in the fall.