Ptarmigan Lake Trail
The hike starts in open terrain, providing excellent mountain views.
Plan Around Ptarmigan Lake Trail
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Ptarmigan Lake Trail Details
The hike starts in open terrain providing excellent mountain views. About 2.5 miles in you'll reach an overlook where you can see Ptarmigna Falls. This is a busy trail, but most people head to Iceberg Lake instead of turning off for the Ptarmigan Lake and Ptarmigan Tunnel. When you emerge from treeline you'll see the Ptarmigan Wall, a ridge of rock that separates two glacially carved valleys. You pass a series of waterfalls before reaching Ptarmigan Lake. Look for big horn sheep and mountain goats. The charming lake makes a great final destination, or you can continue on to the Ptarmigan Tunnel. Bears are known to frequent this area so make sure you carry bear spray, make noise and travel in a group. Access is via the Iceberg Lake Trailhead near the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn.
Difficulty
Moderate
Distance
4.1 miles
Estimated time
3.5 hours
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Ptarmigan Lake Trail
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Nearby Points of Interest Around Ptarmigan Lake Trail
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Ptarmigan Lake Trail while the map context is still fresh.
0.0 mi away
Ptarmigan Falls Trail
This hike starts near the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn.
0.0 mi away
Ptarmigan Tunnel Trail
This hike starts in open terrain, providing excellent mountain views.
0.0 mi away
Iceberg Lake Trail
This popular trail climbs to a high mountain cirque that is home to Iceberg Lake.
0.1 mi away
Redrock Falls Trail
The first stop on this hike should be Fishercap Lake.
0.1 mi away
Swiftcurrent Pass Trail
This challenging hike takes you by several alpine lakes and offers incredible mountain views from almost 7,000 feet.
