— On our last trip to Glacier National Park, we picked longer hikes to explore more of the park a bit away from the crowds. Although it was summertime (mid-July), we were able to enjoy long stretches of the park without anyone around us.
The hike to Ptarmigan Tunnel was one of those hikes. We were lucky that the park had just opened the Ptarmigan tunnel four days prior to our journey. The Ptarmigan Tunnel hike is 12 miles (19 km) roundtrip with a 2,462-ft (750 m) elevation gain. After passing the tunnel, the hiker is at an elevation of 7,255 ft (2.2 km)! The last mile prior to getting to the tunnel is the hardest part because of a steep incline. That steep incline is the reason many guides consider this a strenuous hike. From the lake to the tunnel entrance, the trail gains approximately 500 feet (152.5 m) in less than two-thirds of a mile (about 1 km). The very first photo shows the lake from the top, near the tunnel entrance with a section of the trail on the right-hand side before starting the switchbacks.
When one reaches Ptarmigan Lake, one can see the final stretch on the trail with its two long switchbacks towards the tunnel. You can see the switchbacks starting about midway on the left-hand side and going above the big patch of green in the center of the photo below. If you click on the photo, you’ll get a larger version of it on your screen.
This is also the same trail to Iceberg Lake, and the trail is also known as a prime bear habitat. Although we had no bear encounter here, we did see a moose, a deer family, and some mountain goats. When we arrived at Ptarmigan Lake, it was time to enjoy the scenery, regain our energies before climbing to the tunnel, have a quick lunch, and sink our feet in that icy cold water of the lake.
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