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

Are there Wildflowers on this trail

In the summer there are wildflowers I would say from Mid June to Mid August

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!

Crested Butte Colorado, Five Summer Hikes that are Worth It

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Summer time in the mountains is one of the best experiences if you’re looking for adventure. Colorado summers are hard to beat, especially in mountain towns. Cooler temps, amazing views, and plenty of hiking trails. I spent some time in Crested Butte this summer and it is one of the coolest places I’ve been to in Colorado since living here for over a decade. There’s a number of hikes close to town and I think that’s what I liked the most about trekking around.

With that being said, In this post I’ll be going over 5 hikes worth checking out, trail info, what to except, along with some details. Alright lets do this!

Where is Crested Butte

Not far from Aspen (in the summer) Crested Butte is 4 hours west of Denver and somewhat secluded with Gunnison being the closest major area. It’s a smaller mountain town with a local feel that doesn’t get too crowded or busy from what I saw in the summer.

What to Pack

You’ll need some good outdoor clothing and hiking footwear for these trails. I also recommend packing a rain jacket and lightweight insulator just in case! In the mountains, weather does pop up at anytime and temperatures can also drop at anytime.

• Rain Jacket- Anything lightweight that’s waterproof is a go-to for me.

• Hiking Pants and/or shorts- Hiking pants or shorts with stretch makes hiking much more enjoyable. Fjallraven is my favorite hiking brand for clothing.

• Hiking Footwear- I would try these on at your local outdoor store or REI shop. If you don’t live near one, chat with an expert online and someone will point you in the right direction! Anything above the ankle with good support is what I seek out. And if the boots are lightweight it’s an added bonus.

• Sunscreen- Apply at least 15 minutes before hiking. SunBum out of Encinitas California works great, don’t forget to apply chapstick with SPF!

• Lightweight Jacket- Anything down is great because it is going to be packable. Throw it in your bag and whip it out when sun goes down or if you're doing a sunrise hike throw it in the bag when the temps warm up. I like Burton’s down jackets as they have different options, I personally like the Baker down.

I would also recommend downloading All Trails and then saving predownloaded maps on your phone for help with navigation

Five Best Crested Butte Hikes (In no particular order)

Lower Loop

This trail is an easy one so if you have trouble with elevation or more strenuous trails, I recommend starting your trip off with the Lower Loop trail. It’s also a good trail for mountain and gravel bikes.

Directions & parking

You’ll want to get on Butte Ave, a side street in downtown Crested Butte. Right outside of town there will be parking on Peanut Lake Road. There is a parking lot further up the road, but it is for people with disabilities or wheelchairs, spots can be reserved ahead of time. Since this is the closet trail to town, if parking is full, I would park in town and walk a little bit more.

Coordinates: 38.87431, -106.99229

Trail Stats

• 7.2 Mile Loop

• 452 Feet of elevation gain

• Dog friendly

What is the trail like

This is going to mostly be flat with views of Mount Crested Butte, Cascade Mountain and Mineral Point off in the distance. If you started at the parking lot in town you’ll have to walk either along the Peanut Lake Road or The Woods Trail until you reach the actual trailhead for the Lower Loop. At first you’ll walk along a manmade gravel type path until you reach the trail along the Slate River. This is where you can see what makes this hike so unique.

You don’t even have to hike the whole way to enjoy it. There will be benches along the Lower Trail to take breaks and enjoy the surroundings. Eventually the hike will loop you back around on the Upper Lower part of the trail. This part of the hike will take you through Aspen trees. Not as many wildflowers on this hike as some of the other trails I did in Crested Butte, however it’s still worth checking out.

Teocalli Ridge

Looking for a less crowded trail? Then this is a good hike to pick if you’re up for a 10 mile loop. Teocalli Ridge is not only good for hiking, but also dirt biking and mountain biking

Directions & Parking

This trail will be about 20 minutes outside of downtown Crested Butte off Forest Service Road 7738. You don’t need AWD or 4 X 4 unless you plan on camping off the Teocalli Ridge Trail. There is designated primitive campsites that are first come first serve. If you do plan on camping you’ll need a high clearance vehicle. As you make your way to the trailhead you’ll pass a farm/ranch. During wildflower season this drive is awesome, fields of wildflowers as you get closer to the parking lot!

Trailhead Coordinates: 38.89614, -106.88932

There will be a small parking area at the trailhead, however the main parking lot will be further down the road on the left, can't miss it. Restrooms can be found at this lower parking area too.

Trail Stats

• 10.9 Mile Loop

• 2,303 feet of elevation gain

• Dog Friendly (I would recommend putting your dog on a leash due to possible wildlife in the area)

Trail Specifics

This is going to be a challenging hike, but because it is challenging you probably won’t see anyone else on the trail. I went during the week and only passed a few people. What makes it more challenging is that the hike is almost an 11 mile loop!

Essentially you’ll walk along a service road through a valley of the Gunnison national forest that takes you up to a ridge line. The views are amazing as you trek across the ridge line. Not a bad place to take a break for lunch either. I would also start this hike earlier in the day because sometimes thunderstorms due pop up in the afternoon.

The second half of the hike will be mostly through the woods with areas where there is mountain views. I wrote a more detailed blog post on this hike which you can find here -> Best Hiking Trails in Crested Butte, The Scenic Teocalli Ridge Loop

Lupine

One of the most popular trails for hiking and biking is going to be the Lupine trail. I would say it’s an easy to moderate hike with some steeper parts. The location is one of the reasons it is going be a more crowded trail, however hike it during sunrise or even golden hour in the evening and there shouldn’t be hardly anyone on the trail. June through about the first week of July will make this one of the best trails to see wildflowers.

Directions & parking

Kind of confusing but you’ll want to start at the Lupine 2 trailhead as there is no parking in the Saddle Ridge townhome area off Smith Hill Road because it is a private neighborhood. To get to the trailhead take Gothic Road to county road 734 just outside of town. You’ll see a small lake (Nicholson Lake) across from the parking lot. I would imagine on really busy days you can park along the road if the lot is full or there is more parking up the road at the Gunsight Bridge trailhead.

Trail Coordinates

38.90265, -107.01113

Trail Stats

• 7.1 mile out & back

• 987 feet of elevation gain

• Dogs must be on a leash

Trail details

I like how open this hike is and for most of it, you’re going to be hiking with fields on either side, covered in wildflowers during peak season. Towards the top is when you will go through a couple areas with Aspen trees. It is not a technical hike by any means and you are guaranteed to run into a mountain biker(s). Plenty of mountain views on this hike along with being able to see the Slate River from above.

If you want even more details on this hike check out the blog post I did > Hiking in Crested Butte, A sunrise Hike on the Lupine Trail

Snodgrass

My favorite trail in Crested Butte, Snodgrass is another popular one because it is so close to town. You don’t have to hike this whole trail to enjoy it either. This hike is awesome earlier in the summer because of all the wildflowers. The start of the trail is also best in the evening, so if you hike the whole trail in the afternoon/evening, make sure to stay for sunset.

Directions & Parking

Take Gothic Road past Mount Crested Butte and you’ll see the horse ranch to your left and just past that is the parking lot along with parking on the road as well.

Trail Coordinates

38.91896, -106.9598

Trail Stats

• 5.8 Miles out and back

• 1,594 feet of elevation gain

• Dog friendly, but should be on a leash

What makes this trail worth it and what to expect

What makes this a great hike is at the start of it, there’s a stretch where you can see the town, but also 360 degree views of the entire mountain range in the area. During peak wildflower season this trail is covered with violet Lupines and golden Black Eyed Susans! Expect there to be some periods of more strenuous uphill hiking with the elevation gain. Also the best views are no further then halfway up the hike. From the halfway point you’ll be hiking in the woods! For a more detailed post, check out > Best Wildflower Hikes in Crested Butte Colorado, Hiking the Snodgrass Trail

O be Joyful

Located right next to the campground, the drive alone to this trailhead is unreal, an indicator that the actual hike is going to be pretty amazing. It’s an out and back trail, so hike as far you would like to as the trail alone makes for a long day hike.

Directions and Parking

The trailhead is going to be on the same road as the Lupine trail, County Road 734. The road itself is a little rocky towards the parking lot so make sure to you take it slow! You don’t need a high clearance vehicle or AWD to drive to the trailhead, but it definitely doesn't hurt.

Trail Stats

• 13 Miles out and back

• 2,148 feet of elevation gain

• Dogs can be off leash but just be aware of wildlife in the area.

What is the trail like

Since it is a long hike I wouldn’t pack all of your water, but bring a water filter to fill up along the way as the Oh be joyful Creek runs next to the trail. The views on this hike will be different than the other hikes in Crested Butte in that you’re surrounded by multiple 12,000 + peaks while being tucked in this valley hiking through it all. If you’re up for the challenge you will be rewarded. Start early and check the weather ahead of time if you plan on hiking the whole trail!

At the intersection about 5 miles in, make a left on the Daisy Pass Trail to reach the alpine lake, Blue Lakes. I would recommend downloading this trail ahead of time on All Trails too!

If you’re interested in other hiking trails or outdoor recreation check out the Blue Lakes trail in Telluride Colorado. Thanks for checking out the blog and I’ll see you on the next post!