The Garden Wall in Glacier Park

The Garden Wall in Glacier Park, is a section of the Highline Trail. It is also one of the park's most popular hikes. Its name is derived from a popular song of the 1890s, when a group of tourists lead by Grinnell, "father" of Glacier, were joking around a campfire. Of the Continental Divide, they said "there's one wall you won't get over."

Heading West on the Continental Divide, Garden Wall features amazing panoramic views. It boasts alpine tundra, talus slopes, cliffs, many subalpine firs and Engelmann spruce.

This hike begins at Logan Pass, across the highway from the Visitor Center. Spanning 18.5 km one way, the journey has an elevation gain of 830 ft and a maximum elevation of 7,230 ft, ending at the loop on Going-to-the-Sun Road. You can expect to take 4-5 hours, with a relatively low level of difficulty. The best time to enjoy Garden Wall is July to October.

Many wildlife can be found on this trail, August being the best time to make sightings. Columbia ground squirrels, hoary marmots, pikas, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, raptors, mule deers, ptarmigans and chipmunks are all common to hikers. Uniquely beautiful varieties of wildflowers are also in abundance, as there is a lot of surface water surrounding the trail. Krummholz formations can also be seen: in areas of high wind, ice particles have torn tree branches and created a matted look.

Following behind Haystack Butte, other highlights include an arete (sharp-edge ridge) created by glaciers passing through the valleys on both sides of a mountain, along with views of Mount Oberlin, Mount Clemins, Mount Cannon, Heavens Peak and the Livingstone Range. Another must-see is the Bird Woman Falls, which runs hundreds of feet high. Additionally, there are adjoining trails to Grinnell Glacier Overlook and Packer's Roost.