Buena Vista Colorado, Hike to Ptarmigan Lake (Best times to visit, Trail info, and what to expect)

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Alright so you’re interested in checking out some good hiking trails in Colorado and are looking for a good hike to do for the day. The one thing about Colorado is there are a number of trails with Alpine Lakes. Well not too far from Downtown Buena Vista is Ptarmigan Lake, a doable day hike that isn’t too challenging and has a pretty cool alpine lake at the top that you can fish at, eat lunch, shoot photos, or just hang out at..

Considered part of the San Isabel National Forest, the drive to the trailhead is pretty incredible as you go from a desert alpine environment to more of a high alpine climate. What I liked about this hike was being able to trek through the forest at first and then as you got closer to the lake the views started to open up and you were surrounded by the Sawatch Mountains. Even though the hike was 6 miles round trip, the elevation gain and distance didn’t feel too extreme. I even saw families with kids hiking the trail. With that being said, in this post I’ll go over how to get to the trailhead, details of the trail, important hiking tips, and what to expect. Coool, lets gooo.

How to get to the Trailhead

The Trailhead is technically in Nathrop, about a 25 minute drive from downtown Buena Vista. To get there you’ll get on West Main Street which turns into HWY 306. You’ll take this all the way to the Trailhead which will be on your left. If you were to keep driving, the highway would turn into Cottonwood Pass. Below I’ve listed times and distances from major areas in Colorado.

Denver- 2 hours 45 minutes/149 miles

Leadville- 1 hour/49 miles

Summit County- 1 hour 49 minutes/82 miles

What is the parking like

The parking lot is pretty small, with not many designated spaces so I would get there either early in the morning or later in the Afternoon. However!, There is some parking off the side of the road as you head towards the main lot. If you need to use the restroom there is one in the parking lot.

What is so unique about this Trail

The drive alone to the trailhead makes this a unique hike from the start, but what I liked most was the alpine forests that you hike through to get to the lake, then once you get towards the lake, there’s streams, a pond, the lower lake, and views that look out at the Sawatch mountains.The other cool part is being able to look down and around at the upper alpine environment. The monsoon like summer this year with lots of rain, was an added bonus making the environment really green.

Trail Stats

Below I’ve listed a few trail stats for Ptarmigan Lake via All Trails. They provide reviews, maps, and a brief description of the trail. It’s also great if you are trying to find good hikes to do in an area you are unfamiliar with.

Distance: 6 miles/3.75 km

Time: 3-4 hours

Trail Type: Out and Back

Elevation Gain:1,469 feet/320 meters

Dogs Allowed?: Yes

Restrooms at the Trailhead?: Yes

When is the Best time to Hike this trail

May through October is typically the best time to hike in Higher Alpine Environments in Colorado. With that being said there can still be snow on the trail in May as well as new snow on the trail in October. This is where reading the reviews on All Trails really helps with knowing what the current trail conditions are like.

The best time of day would either be early in the morning or later in the afternoon to grab a parking spot.

What is the trail like

This trail was pretty amazing and even though it’s 6 miles round trip I would rate the overall difficulty of the trail as moderate. The very first part of the hike is through Alpine woods with a slight break where it opens up and you’ll see views of the Sawatch Mountain Range to your left. This part is also a lil rocky, which is why it’s important to have good hiking footwear. Keep reading for tips on preparing for this hike.

You’ll continue through forest for another couple miles until the trail starts to open up again. There will be a pond on your right and a smaller Alpine Lake on the Left (lower Ptarmigan Lake), that are great places to take a break before you hike up to Ptarmigan Lake.

As you start to hike to the lake you’ll walk through some brush with a stream right to your left. This was one of my favorite parts of the hike because if you turn around, you can see Turner Peak off in the distance, a peak that sits above 13,000 feet. That’s the thing about Colorado, sooo many mountains above 10,000 feet or 3048 meters.

By this point you are a few switchbacks towards the lake. The lake sits at over 12,000 feet and as your approaching it, you’ll see Jones Mountain straight ahead. Once there, you’ll be able to see a trail that goes around about half of the lake. Along the trail will be a few stopping points where you can get right on the lake. You might even see a few people fishing while you’re up there. Hopefully you packed a lunch or snacks for taking a break and enjoying your surroundings!

Can you fish at this lake

Yep, just make sure to have a valid Colorado Fishing license. You can get one at any local Fly Fishing Shop or on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website.

Any Camping nearby

There are campgrounds in Nathrop, Salida, as well as Buena Vista. You can book reservations ahead of time on Recreation.gov. Make sure to do this earlier in the summer or even winter for weekends as those will fill up quickly. I really liked Ruby Mountain Campground because it was right on the Arkansas River and overlooked Mountains such as Mt Princeton. The campsite was also pretty close to Downtown Buena Vista.

There’s also some backpacking camp spots close to Ptarmigan Lake, which you’ll be able to see on your hike. If you’re not into camping, downtown Buena Vista has some great VRBO rentals.

Any tips for hiking this Trail

• Pack out what you packed in. This means don’t leave any food trash or waste behind on the trail. If you need to use the restroom, there is one at the trailhead.

• Stay on the trail as best as possible. Do your best to stay on the hiking trail because it takes years for the surrounding environment to grow back, if damaged. At the top there are a number of places to sit down and have lunch or a snack close to the trail.

• Be respectful of Wildlife. You may encounter Wildlife when hiking in Colorado. You’d be surprised that I have to say this, but PLEASE to not get close or feed wild animals.

• Pack sunscreen and apply 15-30 minutes before going outside. The sun is intense in Colorado, even when it’s cloudy, make sure to pack this! I really like Sun Bum because it is none-greasy.

• Pack a Rain Jacket, Hiking boots, and warm layer. Weather can change on a dime in Colorado, regardless of what the weather channel is calling for. It’s important to always come prepared.

• Make sure to wear a good pair of hiking socks. Stay away from cotton! You'll want something that wicks moisture, has good cushioning, and keeps your feet dry. Smart Wool makes the best socks in the game, so I would recommend a pair of those.

• Pack a water bottle and stay hydrated, this trail is 6 miles round trip!

• Arrive Early and if possible hike the trail on a weekday, the parking area is small

• Weather sometimes pops up in the afternoon, be aware of this and don’t hang out at the lake for too long if you see dark clouds

And that’s a wrap on the Ptarmigan Lake Trail! Buena Vista and the surrounding area are what make Colorado so unique and fun to visit. Thanks for reading the blog and if you liked this post you can subscribe to our email newsletter below for more information on outdoor trips, hiking, ski resorts, and more. If you have any questions or have hiked this trail before and have information to add, leave a comment below. See you on the next post!

Colorado 14ers, Everything you need to know about Hiking Mt Elbert

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Not gonna lie the first time I heard about people waking up at 4am to hike mountains greater than 14,000 feet (4267 meters), I thought they were crazy and it wasn’t something that I would ever even consider doing. However, as I spent more time living in Colorado and hearing about 14ers I became intrigued and decided to hike one. With Elbert being my second 14er it was also one of the hardest hikes I’ve done, yet very rewarding when you make it to the summit. What I liked most about this hike is the variety of terrain and views you get, along with a designated trail all the way to the summit.

Mt Elbert is the highest peak in Colorado and the second highest in the lower 48 of the United States, standing at 14,443 feet (4,402 meters). The first being Mt Whitney in California, which stands at 14,505 feet (4,421 meters). If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to hike a mountain this tall this guide is for you. With that being said, in this post I’ll go over where Elbert is located, how to get there, what the hike is like, what to know, and preparation/packing tips. Alright lets goo.

Where is Mt Elbert and how many routes are there to the Peak

Elbert is located right on Twin Lakes just outside of Leadville Colorado. No matter where you’re driving from you end up on CO 82 that takes you through Twin Lakes and Ultimately Aspen if you were to keep driving. There’s three different routes, but after reading reviews on All Trails it was clear that the East Ridge Route was the better trail to take. Below, I’ve listed times and distances from major areas to the South Mount Trailhead. You’ll need AWD with High Clearance if you want to park at the East Ridge Trailhead. I recommend parking in the South Mount lot and then hiking to the East Ridge trailhead.

Denver- 2 hours 15 minutes/115 miles/185 km (If I70W is congested take 285 South)

Summit County- 1 hour and 15 min/53 miles/85 km

Leadville- 25 min/22 miles/35 km

Aspen- 1 hour and 15 min/39 miles/63 km

Vail- 1 hour and 8 min/63 miles/101 km

Trail Stats

As mentioned, there’s three main routes that will take you to the peak of Elbert, each w/ different mileage for the hike. These routes are the East Ridge, Southeast, and North Mount Trails. Not only did the East Ridge route get great reviews on All Trails, but it also seemed to have better parking. For the Southeast route there isn’t really a designated parking lot and the North Mount trailhead will be North of Twin Lakes on the other side of Elbert. Reviews on Alltrails also does a great job of giving you an idea of what each route will be like. Below I’ve listed stats for each trail to the summit.

North Mount

Trail type- Out and Back

Length- 10.4 Miles (17 km)

Elevation Gain- 4,468 feet (1,362 meters)

East Ridge

Trail type- Out and Back with a loop towards the beginning/end of the hike

Length- 14.7 miles (24 km)

Elevation Gain- 4,895 feet (1492 meters)

South East Ridge

Trail type- Out and Back

Length- 11 miles (18 km)

Elevation Gain- 5,111 feet (1558 meters)

What is parking like

There are parking lots for the North Mount, South Mount, and East Ridge trail head starting points. As mentioned earlier the East Ridge Trailhead requires AWD and High Clearance and will be a dirt lot while the North Mount and South Mount lots are paved. Starting the hike at the South Mount Trailhead will eventually lead you to the East Ridge Trailhead (somewhat confusing, but will make sense if you do this hike)The Southeast Ridge Trailhead is somewhat off the beaten path and doesn’t really have designated parking.

On weekdays these lots won’t fill up too much, however on weekends when the weather is good, I can imagine them filling up. The earlier you get to the parking lot the better!

Is the hike Difficult

The short answer is Yes, this is a pretty difficult hike, especially towards the very top where this isn’t much oxygen, but a lot of elevation gain. Before you hike Elbert I would recommend doing some easier hikes in Colorado with less mileage and elevation gain. Also make sure to pack enough water and take breaks when needed. Listen to your body and don’t over due it!

Best time of year to hike this trail

Because of how long winters are in Colorado the Best time to hike this 14er would be late May to Late September, weather dependent. Snow can sometimes still cover trails as late as mid-late May. Although it melts pretty quickly, I’ve still seen it snow over a foot in May a number of times.

The best time of day to hike this trail is EARLY. Due to the fact that thunderstorms can pop up in the afternoon you typically want to reach the summit by noon. I would try to get to the trailhead by 5am and no later then 7am. Depending on which route you take, the East Ridge route takes about 9.5 hours round trip meaning you have to start hiking as early as possible.

Trail Details and what we should Expect

What I really like about this trail is the variety of terrain it had to offer throughout the hike. If you park in the South Mount Trailhead lot you’ll start the hike on a narrow trail that ends up taking you through some Aspen Trees. During a sunrise when the light starts to peak through the trees it’s pretty cool. The beginning part of this trail is also part of the Bartlett Gulch Loop trail.

Once you Hike through the Aspens you’ll eventually reach the East Ridge Trailhead with a parking lot. This is really the start of the trailhead and you’ll start to walk through Alpine forests at this point. As you start hiking you’ll want to stay on the S. MT. Elbert TR. No 1481. You’ll also notice on the sign -> Lily Ponds. This is a cool little detour spot to take a break if needed. It’s a tiny pond with some man made areas to sit. I checked it out on the descent back down.

As you start to hike from the East Ridge Trailhead you’ll continue to walk through the woods for a little longer, coming across a stream or two along the way. The elevation gain starts to pick up at this point and you’ll pop out of the trees with amazing views of Twin Lakes down below. By this point your getting closer to getting above tree line which is a little over 4 miles into the hike and 11,800 feet elevation. Don’t worry about getting lost because the trail is well marked.

As you start to get above tree line you will encounter a number of switch backs until you reach the peak. This is honestly when the hike was the most challenging, but if you take breaks and go at a pace that you’re comfortable with the hike is doable. As you get to the top you might even encounter snow, even in July.

Once you make it to the top, congrats you’ve hiked all the way to 14,439 feet or 4,401 meters. Grab some photos at the top and take in the amazing views of the Sawatch mountain range. There’s a chance that weather can roll in right around the time you reach the summit, make your own judgement call, but I wouldn’t hang out for too long at the summit if that is the case.

On the way back towards the end of the hike I took the service road instead of the trail because it will be a faster way to get to your car since the hike is pretty long.

Are there any False Summits

I didn’t experience any on the East Ridge Trail, but I read that there are a couple on the North Mount trail. If you’re like me and aren’t the best at reading maps downloading an app like All Trails will be helpful in preventing you from going off trail or taking a wrong turn. Bad cell service?, download the trail on your phone ahead of time to navigate the hike when needed.

Is there camping nearby

Yep, there is some awesome campgrounds either right on the lake or close to the Lake. The closet campground to the South Mount trailhead is the Lakeview Campground. There’s also BLM camping close to the trailhead. Other campgrounds in the area include White Start and Dexter Point. You can visit recreation.gov to make a reservation in advance. Weekends tend to book out pretty early and weekdays are a little more open.

Not into camping? There is also lodging nearby that you can book through VRBO.

Is this a crowded trail

Depending on the time of year and what day of the week you go, I would say weekdays aren’t very crowded. I only saw a handful of people as I made my way to the Summit and almost no one on the hike down. That being said 14ers continue to grow in popularity each year, so I would arrive to the parking lot as early as possible. The Southeast Ridge route is an alternative route if you don’t want to deal with more people while hiking. Keep in mind that there isn’t really a parking lot for this trailhead.

Do you need a permit

You do not need a permit to hike Elbert or a parking pass

Any recommended websites to check the weather forecast ahead of time

Noaa or Mountain Forecast are great online resources to check weather ahead of time when going on hikes or doing anything outdoors.

What Class 14er is Elbert

Elbert is considered class 1, meaning it has a designated trail all the way to summit. The class system (1-5) goes from a Hiking trail to scrambling (using hands to navigate up boulders) to technical climbing.

Any Downsides to this hike

The only downside I experienced was the number of switchbacks towards the summit. Other then that amazing views, not many people on the trail, easy to access parking, and plenty of camping options in the area.

What are the best tips for hiking a 14er

• Start with smaller hikes first that have less mileage and lower elevation gain, use All Trails to look for local hikes in your area or your destination of choice

• Pack enough water, but not too much that the weight is overbearing while hiking. I use a Hydroflask as well as a Hydrapak when hiking 14ers.

• Start hiking EARLY. Waking up at 3:30am isn’t ideal, but ALWAYS worth it. Plus, weather can roll in at any moment in the afternoon so you want to reach the summit as early as possible.

• Pack Snacks that will give you fuel while you hike

• Make sure to pack a rain jacket, extra layer, and hiking pants or shorts for when the weather changes

• I don’t own a pair of hiking poles, but I would highly recommend using these as they are an added bonus

• Only use a good pair of hiking boots with great traction and support

• Go at your own pace, not only will you enjoy the hike more, but your body will thank you later

• Pack out what you packed in by not leaving any trash or waste behind

• Have fun and be ready to push yourself physically and mentally!

That’s it for for hiking Elbert, if you have any information to add or have questions, leave a comment below! If you’re looking for to grab some food after your hike (You’ll probably be hungry), a restaurant in the Twin Lakes Inn. If you liked the blog post subscribe to our email list below for more outdoor adventure info.

Looking for other hikes to do in the Twin Lakes area, check out A complete guide to the Interlaken Trail. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you on the next post!