Do I need a permit to thru-hike Highline Trail?
Yes. You need a permit to thru-hike Highline Trail in Glacier National Park. It is the Highline Trail Permit, and it is booked in advance through a reservation system rather than won in a lottery.
Permit required
What the Highline Trail permit costs and covers
- Fee
- $7/person/night for backcountry camping
- Group size limit
- 12 people
What the rules require
- Backcountry permit required for overnight camping
- Granite Park Chalet reservations required for overnight stays
- Dogs strictly prohibited on trail
- No bicycles or horses
- Timed entry reservation may be required for Going-to-the-Sun Road
- Each wilderness campsite holds a maximum of 4 campers, so a party of 5-8 needs 2 sites and 9-12 needs 3
- Backcountry advance reservations cover groups up to 8; 9-12 campers only through the March 1 large group lottery — Glacier issues five of those per year park-wide — or a walk-up permit
Published rules for the Highline Trail Permit, quoted as written.
Getting one
Dates for Highline Trail sell out and then come back as people cancel. PermitSnag watches Highline Trail Permit and sends you an alert the moment one reappears.
Common questions about the Highline Trail permit
Do I need a permit to thru-hike Highline Trail?
Yes. You need a permit to thru-hike Highline Trail in Glacier National Park. It is the Highline Trail Permit, and it is booked in advance through a reservation system rather than won in a lottery.
How much does a Highline Trail permit cost?
$7/person/night for backcountry camping.
How many people can be on one Highline Trail permit?
12 people.