Page Type:
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Mountain/Rock |
|---|---|
Lat/Lon:
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40.25673°N / 105.72988°W |
County:
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Grand |
Activities:
|
Hiking |
Season:
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Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter |
|
Elevation:
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12324 ft / 3756 m |
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Overview
Ptarmigan Mountain from Lake Nanita.The Ptarmigan is a seasonally camouflaged bird found in the tundra and mountainous areas of North America, Europe, and Asia. There are at least five natural features within Rocky Mountain National Park that have Ptarmigan in their name: Ptarmigan Point, 'Ptarmigans Beak' (the unoffically named 12,241 foot peak southeast of Andrews Peak), Ptarmigan Creek, Ptarmigan Lake, and Ptarmigan Mountain.
Ptarmigan Mountain is one of several peaks that rise between the North Inlet and East Inlet drainages in the west central side of Rocky Mountain National Park. Ptarmigan Mountain looks fairly impressive when its sheer north face is viewed from Lake Nokoni. However, the best view of Ptarmigan Mountain is from Lake Nanita to the east. This view exposes five impressive rocky spires known as the 'Ptarmigan Towers'.
Ptarmigan Mountain is the 43rd highest peak in Rocky Mountain National Park according to Gerry Roach's Rocky Mountain National Park Summits List. Ptarmigan Mountain has 304 feet of prominence over the saddle with with its parent, Andrews Peak, 1.4 miles to the southeast.
On Mountain Jim's Summits of Rocky Mountain National Park List, Ptarmigan Mountain is the 61st highest peak in the park.
From the summit one can view a long stretch of the peaks along the Continental Divide from Isolation Peak to the south to Mount Ida to the north. One is also rewarded with a view of Longs Peak to the east and Lake Grandby to the southwest.
1 Routes