Flattop Mountain–Ptarmigan Glacier, 6 sights
9.7 mi · ▲ 3,038 ft · 4 hr 45 min
Flattop Mountain–Ptarmigan Glacier, 6 sights is a 9.7-mile out-and-back in Rocky Mountain National Park near Beaver Point, CO. The route passes Bear Lake and Flattop Mountain before reaching Ptarmigan Glacier at the turnaround, 4.9 miles in. It climbs 3,038 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 49/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Flattop Mountain–Ptarmigan Glacier, 6 sights
9.7 mi · ▲ 3,038 ft · 4 hr 45 min
Elevation 9,433–12,319 ft
Out & Back · Rocky Mountain National Park
Trailhead: Bear Lake Road · 40.31183, -105.64262
Weather Sep 5: Light drizzle, high 70°F / low 55° · precip 3% · wind 12 mph · sunrise 6:35 AM · sunset 7:30 PM
No dogs on part of this route · Transit-accessible: Glacier Gorge stop 257 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Bear Lake Stock Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miPass Bear Lake.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Bear Lake Trail, heading N.
- 150 ftBear left onto Bear Lake-Bierstadt Trail, heading N.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto Flattop Mountain Trail, heading NE.
- 3.7 miPass Flattop Mountain.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Tonahutu Creek Trail, heading SW.
- 0.3 miPass Ptarmigan Glacier.
- 150 ftReach Flattop Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 0.3 miBear left onto Flattop Mountain Trail, heading E.
- 4 miSharp right onto Bear Lake-Bierstadt Trail, heading NE.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Bear Lake Trail, heading SW.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Bear Lake Stock Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miArrive 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 4.2 mi in (~188 min). Leave by 4:02 PM for the 7:30 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:26 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- No dogs on part of this route
- Transit-accessible: Glacier Gorge stop 257 m from the trailhead
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Bear Lake Road Trailhead
- Lake Haiyaha–Dream Lake, 6 lakes 3.4 mi · ▲ 920 ft
- Bear Lake–Bear Lake Stock Trail, 4 sights 3.5 mi · ▲ 692 ft
- Dream Lake–Bear Lake Loop, 8 sights 4 mi · ▲ 1,102 ft
- Bear Lake / Glacier Gorge Trail–Bear Lake Stock Trail, 3 sights 4.7 mi · ▲ 562 ft
- Italy Lake–Green Lake, 6 sights 9.8 mi · ▲ 2,435 ft
- Hallett Peak–Flattop Mountain, 6 summits 9.8 mi · ▲ 3,268 ft
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