The Rugged Climb to the Ptarmigan Tunnel

Located in Glacier National Park, the Ptarmigan Tunnel is a fascinating and historic site along the Continental Trail. In the Many Glacier region of the park, the tunnel was carved through a granite mountain, spanning roughly 250 feet in length. Constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCP) in the 1930s the passageway is an impressive engineering feat. Back then, the tunnel served to link tourists, often on horseback, to the various small chalets dispersed across the park. Today, it provides hikers a convenient route with stunning views through the Red Gap.

The hike to Ptarmigan Tunnel is a manageable but a difficult climb. Along the trail, hikers experience lush meadows, quiet aspen groves and dense forest before reaching timberline. Beginning at Ptarmigan Lake the landscape is sparse and rocky. This section of climb is much steeper and challenging, but the final push uphill is worth the effort.

Ptarmigan Tunnel – 10.6 miles – 2,362 Elevation Gain – Est. time 5 hr. 31 min. – Rated 4.9 – Hard

Our Hike to Ptarmigan Tunnel

The Iceberg-Ptarmigan Tunnel trail head is located behind the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and is a short walk from Many Glacier campground where we slept overnight. Despite choosing a day with ideal weather for our hike, a smoky haze was visible in the air. Idaho was experiencing multiple forest fires while we were in the park and the fire’s hazy smoke was apparent in the national park.

Even so, the landscape surrounding us was stunning and we were excited to start our adventure.

The cool air was filled with the earthy scent of pine and the familiar sound of a gentle wind moving through the trees which welcomed us on the trail. It was a serene and tranquil setting and a perfect day to surround ourselves in the best of Montana’s scenery. Our quick footsteps on the trail matched our enthusiasm as we anticipated what lay ahead.

Occasionally, the trail opened up to reveal breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding peaks. The majestic Mount Grinnell, standing at an impressive 8,851 feet, dominated the skyline with its rugged summit. Swiftcurrent Mountain, with an elevation of 8,436 feet, made its appearance with its silhouette staged in front of a clear blue-sky backdrop.

As we ventured further along the trail, the landscape transitioned seamlessly between wooded areas and open spaces. The sparse vegetation allowed for clear views of the towering peaks, while the wooded areas offered shade and a feeling of tranquility.

About 3-miles into the hike, we came upon an intersection. To the left was Iceberg Lake and to the right lay Ptarmigan Tunnel. Without much thought or hesitation, we turned toward the tunnel not knowing we would end up also hiking to Iceberg Lake later that day.

Ptarmigan Lake

Just past the intersecting trails, the path basically ran along Ptarmigan Creek as we ascended toward the tunnel. After about 1.5-miles the trees began to thin, and a rugged rocky landscape presented itself to us along with our first view of Ptarmigan Lake. It was a great place to catch our breath and sit for a break before continuing.

From our viewpoint at the lake, we saw where the path was leading. In front of us was a 1,500-foot wall of rock. It could only be accessed by following the steep trail of switchbacks and we wanted to push on.

The Final Push

A day earlier, we had hiked the Grinnell Glacier Trail, and our legs were feeling less than fresh on this section of the trail. The steep walking path forced us to slow our pace as we put one foot in front of the other. Gail’s body was still getting acclimated to the higher altitudes and was struggling more than me.

She wasn’t about to quit though which inspired me to fight against my fatigue too.

The rugged terrain and demanding elevation took its toll, leaving us breathless at times. However, despite the physical challenges, the beauty of the surrounding landscape provided a welcomed distraction. I attempted to tell a bad joke or two to lighten the moment. It took too much energy to laugh out loud, but Gail made an effort to give me a labored smile.

The air grew crisper as we ascended higher. We knew we were nearing the final destination of this hike and our pace picked up in anticipation. We knew when we saw a stone fence to our right side, we had arrived.

It was time to rest.

Passing Through the Ptarmigan Tunnel

The entrance to Ptarmigan Tunnel was striking when we first saw it. It resembled a fortress, with formidable steel double doors that didn’t convey a welcoming atmosphere.

One of the entrance doors stood partially open while the other remained firmly shut. The contrast of the open and closed doors added an element of mystery to the entrance, making the decision to step through the opening intriguing.

Once inside, the tight opening granted us a glimpse inside and offered a view of light filtering through from the other side.

The walk through the carved rock was done cautiously. We looked for trip hazards as we navigated the dark passageway with our trusty cell phones serving as flashlights.

When we emerged from the tunnel, a breathtaking sight greeted us from the north side of the mountain. The landscape was a stark contrast to the world on the other side of the tunnel.

Lunch on the Other Side of the Mountain

As we stepped out of the tunnel, our first impression was pure inspiration. The view was stunning as we gazed at the lakes and mountain range below our high-altitude perch. The Continental Trail continued its rocky path downhill toward Canada and we decided this was an ideal place to relax and eat the lunch we had packed.

Summary

Hiking through the Ptarmigan Tunnel was by far one of the best parts of our trip. The views were absolutely gorgeous, and it felt like a real adventure as we trekked through the rocky landscape. The tunnel was super cool, too—such a clever creation that links up two beautiful valleys. When we popped out on the other side, the sweeping views totally blew us away, reminding us just how stunning Glacier National Park really is. Our day exploring this amazing spot was awesome, but it wasn’t over. Our next stop was Iceberg Lake.