For our last hike in Glacier National Park, we combine the best of several classic hikes in the park. The result is a top-notch and challenging hike with a length of almost 22 kilometers and an elevation gain of about 1400 meters.

To secure one of the few parking spots at the trailhead, we arrive quite early in the morning in the parking lot The Loop on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. With a breathtaking view of Heavens Peak, the first part of our ascent takes us to the Granite Park Chalet. From there, we continue our climb to the Swiftcurrent Pass. Up there, the view of the surrounding lakes and the valley towards Many Glacier is the first reward of this beautiful hike.

After a short break to catch our breath, we return to the junction in front of the hut and hike on a short section of the park’s most popular hike: the Highline Trail. After about a mile, we tackle the climb to Grinnell Glacier Overlook. The steep path gives us a hard time. At the top, we have already climbed more than 1300 meters. The effort is worth it: the east offers a view on the Grinnell Glacier and Grinnell Upper Lake still mostly covered with ice, the southwest offers a wide view all the way to Lake McDonald and the imposing mountain ranges surrounding.

We return to the Granite Park Chalet, where we take our picnic before the descent. Towards the end of the hike, the heat is heavy and our legs are getting even heavier, so we are more than happy to arrive at the car after a perfect hiking day.