Flattop Mountain–Ptarmigan Glacier, 5 sights
14.3 mi · ▲ 3,763 ft · 6 hr 39 min
Flattop Mountain–Ptarmigan Glacier, 5 sights is a 14.3-mile out-and-back in Rocky Mountain National Park near Beaver Point, CO. The route passes Flattop Mountain before reaching Ptarmigan Glacier at the turnaround, 7.2 miles in. It climbs 3,763 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 36/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Flattop Mountain–Ptarmigan Glacier, 5 sights
14.3 mi · ▲ 3,763 ft · 6 hr 39 min
Elevation 8,792–12,319 ft
Out & Back · Rocky Mountain National Park
Trailhead: 40.32043, -105.61377
Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 74°F / low 58° · precip 5% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:31 PM
No dogs on part of this route · Transit-accessible: Sprague Lake Bus Stop stop 780 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Bierstadt Moraine Trail, heading W.
- 0.9 miContinue straight onto Bierstadt Lake Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Bear Lake-Bierstadt Trail, heading NW.
- 1.3 miContinue straight onto Flattop Mountain Trail, heading SW.
- 3.8 miPass Flattop Mountain.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Tonahutu Creek Trail, heading W.
- 0.3 miPass Ptarmigan Glacier.
- 50 ftReach Flattop Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miBear left onto Flattop Mountain Trail, heading NE.
- 4 miContinue straight onto Bear Lake-Bierstadt Trail, heading E.
- 1.3 miTurn right onto Bierstadt Lake Trail, heading E.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Bierstadt Moraine Trail, heading NE.
- 0.9 miBear left, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
- 100 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 6.5 mi in (~264 min). Leave by 2:48 PM for the 7:31 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:25 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- No dogs on part of this route
- Transit-accessible: Sprague Lake Bus Stop stop 780 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Bierstadt Lake Viewpoint–Bierstadt Lake Loop, 4 sights 3.9 mi · ▲ 751 ft
- Sprague Lake Viewpoint–Sprague Lake, 4 sights 4.9 mi · ▲ 353 ft
- The Loch–Sky Pond, 5 lakes 14.8 mi · ▲ 3,360 ft
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Hikes near Beaver Point, Colorado