Highlead has been the most widely used cable yarding system in the U.S. and Canada. Highlead equipment comes in a variety of sizes. The basic system consists of a two-drum yarder and a spar or tower. The term "highlead" refers to the location of the mainline block elevated above the ground by the spar. The high block provides the vertical lift which allows the logs to overide obstacles.

Logs are yarded to the landing by the mainline and the haulback pulls the buttrigging back to the timber.