Honoring Earth Day: Ptarmigan Lake

• Egidio Leitao


“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.“
Jane Goodall

Happy Earth Day! Honor and preserve your home.

On our last trip to Glacier National Park, we took longer hikes to explore more of the park, which was a bit away from the crowds. Although it was summertime (mid-July), we could 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 before 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 before getting to the tunnel is the most challenging part because of the 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 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. The switchbacks start about midway on the left-hand side and go 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 on your screen.


This is also the same trail used to get 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. This last photo is at the start of the steep ascent to the tunnel.

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23 thoughts on “Honoring Earth Day: Ptarmigan Lake”

  3. Wonderful photos and memories Egidio. I was in Glacier about 30 years ago and had a fantastic time, including a mama bear with two cubs. It is shocking to see how much less snow there is.

  4. Beautiful images and a wonderful post to honour our amazing planet Egidio 🌍 Happy Earth Day to you too 😊

  6. Thank you, Margaret. We had a wonderful time! That was ten years ago. I wonder if we could still do that hike again. Getting to the lake is easy. It’s going up to the tunnel that puts one to a strength test.

  8. Brad, those photos are from ten years ago. It was the year we had a bear encounter on another trail. I have the post in my blog, too. The melting snow is a big problem there now. Thank you for your feedback.

  10. Anne, just yesterday my husband and I were talking about that. We did that hike ten years ago. I know we could easily get to the lake again, but the tunnel section after the lake is another story. Thank you for your feedback.

  15. Wow, your adventure to Glacier National Park sounds incredible! Hiking to Ptarmigan Tunnel must have been quite the feat, especially with those stunning views along the way. It’s inspiring to hear about your connection with nature and the wildlife you encountered on your journey. Thanks for sharing your Earth Day celebration with us!

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