AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Rocky Mountain National Park

Flattop Mountain–Ptarmigan Glacier, 6 sights

15.3 mi · ▲ 4,186 ft · 7 hr 12 min

Flattop Mountain–Ptarmigan Glacier, 6 sights is a 15.3-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, 7.6 miles in. It climbs 4,186 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 41/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi8,370 – 12,320 ft · steepest grade: 18%15.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Hollowell Park Trailhead 40.34155, -105.60535
Nearest town Beaver Point, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Flattop Mountain–Ptarmigan Glacier, 6 sights

15.3 mi · ▲ 4,186 ft · 7 hr 12 min

Elevation 8,370–12,319 ft

Out & Back · Rocky Mountain National Park

Trailhead: Hollowell Park Trailhead · 40.34155, -105.60535

Weather Sep 6: Overcast, high 78°F / low 55° · precip 18% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:35 AM · sunset 7:30 PM

No dogs on part of this route · Transit-accessible: Hollowell Park stop 42 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 50 ftBear right onto Hollowell Park Trail, heading W.
  3. 0.3 miBear left, heading SW.
  4. 0.7 miTurn left onto Mill Creek Basin Trail, heading W.
  5. 1 miBear left, heading S.
  6. 0.2 miBear left onto Bierstadt Lake Trail, heading SW.
  7. 50 ftContinue straight onto Mill Creek Basin Trail, heading SW.
  8. 0.4 miTurn left onto Bear Lake-Bierstadt Trail, heading S.
  9. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Flattop Mountain Trail, heading E.
  10. 3.7 miPass Flattop Mountain.
  11. 0.3 miBear right onto Tonahutu Creek Trail, heading W.
  12. 0.3 miPass Ptarmigan Glacier.
  13. 250 ftReach Flattop Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  14. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  15. 0.3 miBear left onto Flattop Mountain Trail, heading SE.
  16. 4 miContinue straight onto Bear Lake-Bierstadt Trail, heading E.
  17. 0.7 miTurn right onto Mill Creek Basin Trail, heading NE.
  18. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Bierstadt Lake Trail, heading E.
  19. 100 ftBear right onto Mill Creek Basin Trail, heading E.
  20. 0.2 miBear left, heading NE.
  21. 1 miTurn right onto Hollowell Park Trail, heading E.
  22. 1 miBear left, heading N.
  23. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/flattop-mountain-ptarmigan-glacier-out-back-7-sights-25-km

Trail surface

95% dirt5% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 78°F55°
Precip18%Wind5 mphUV7Humidity48%
Hourly temperatureRain chance
80°55° 12 AM: 3% rain1 AM: 3% rain2 AM: 2% rain3 AM: 1% rain12 PM: 1% rain1 PM: 2% rain2 PM: 4% rain3 PM: 10% rain4 PM: 16% rain5 PM: 18% rain6 PM: 12% rain7 PM: 8% rain8 PM: 6% rain9 PM: 5% rain10 PM: 4% rain11 PM: 3% rain
Sunrise 6:35 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:30 PM
Mon 70°55°
Tue 75°51°
Wed 75°49° 15%
Thu 77°47° 15%
Fri 74°50°
Sat 70°40° 36%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 7.0 mi in (~285 min). Leave by 2:25 PM for the 7:30 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:34 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Transit-accessible: Hollowell Park stop 42 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead

Hikes near Beaver Point, Colorado