Stumbled onto the Highline Trail in Glacier by accident and now I plan all my trips differently

Last summer I was supposed to hike the Grinnell Glacier trail in Glacier National Park but it was closed due to bear activity. A ranger at the visitor center pointed me toward the Highline Trail instead. I had never heard of it. That hike completely changed what I look for in a route. The cliffside sections with the cables were scary at first but the views of the Garden Wall were incredible. Not having a plan worked out great that day but now I wonder how many other amazing trails I have walked right past because they are not the famous ones. Any of you ever found a great route by accident like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

margaretf405d ago

Totally agree, the best hikes always seem to be the unplanned ones.

willow7325d ago

The same thing happened to me out in Yosemite a few years back. I was trying to get to Half Dome but the permits were all gone so I just picked a trail on the map that looked quiet. Ended up hiking the North Dome trail and it was absolutely empty the whole time. The views of Half Dome from across the valley were way better than anything I would have seen from the top. Now I make it a point to ask rangers for their personal favorites and not just the big names. Those hidden routes are usually way less crowded and just as beautiful if not more.