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

Disclosure: When you buy something through the Affiliate product links I have created below, I earn a small commission. I only promote products and companies I support as well as believe in.

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!

Best Colorado Hikes, Making your way to Lost Lake near Buena Vista

Disclosure: When you buy something through the Affiliate product links I have created below, I earn a small commission. I only promote products and companies I support as well as believe in.

Looking for easy trail navigation? Check out Alltrails; an app with trail reviews, navigation, and trail stats. Predownload trails in case of no service.

Chaffee county Colorado, one of the most unique areas of the state with mountains, alpine desert, river activities, and of course plenty of hiking trails. Small towns Salida and Buena Vista in the county both offer tons of outdoor recreation. A favorite hike for many just outside of Buena Vista, is the Lost Lake trail. Recently rerouted and turned into an actual trail with a parking lot (I guess before it wasn’t an official trail), Lost Lake offers scenic mountain vistas, alpine forest scenery, and of course at the top a beautiful high alpine lake. If you’re able to get up early enough to hike this trail at sunrise, it’s even more magical. In this post I’ll be going over how to get to the trail, best times to hike it, trail info, and what makes this trail unique. Alright letsss dooo thisss.

How to get there and where to Park

You’ll want to head west on Cottonwood Pass, just outside of Buena Vista which will be through a series of switchbacks until you see the trailhead on the left. It’s about a 20 minute drive from Downtown. Parking will be a dirt lot right at the trailhead and can fill up during the summer and on weekends when the weather is warmer.

Is this a difficult trail

I would rate this trail as a beginner to intermediate as there isn’t too much elevation gain, yet you will have to hike over a rocky part of the trail as you reach the top of the lake. Below I listed the trail stats.

Elevation Gain: 423 feet

Distance: 3.3 miles out and back

Time: Depending on speed I would say 1.5-2 hours

Dogs allowed?: Yes, but on leash.

What is the trail like and what should we expect

The trail starts off on what appears to be an old road that will be about a mile long before you see a sign on the right that says Lost lake 3/4 of a mile. From there the trail goes through the woods on a series of switchbacks. Enjoy the pine trees, mountain views, and sunlight (depending on the day).

Once you get through the woods, the trail opens up to some amazing 360 degree views of the surrounding peaks. This is where the trail gets somewhat rocky so having good hiking footwear will make a big difference! You’ll get to a point where you’ll be able to see Pikes Peak off in the distance.

As you trek up to the lake the trail might get somewhat confusing as you a pass the rock field on the left, just remember to stay to the right and the trail will lead you right to the lake. Please follow signage around the lake and stay on the trail.

Once you make it to the lake hangout and enjoy the beautiful backdrop surrounding this area. The most scenic view in my opinion is actually towards the back of the lake.

Are there Wildflowers on this Hike

In the summer there are! From Mid June until Late July is the best time to catch wildflowers here. Although there aren’t many you will still see some along the way as you hike up to the lakes.

When is the best time to hike Lost Lake

In the summer and fall, from about late June-through the end of September. I like fall the most with this hike because of all the golden colors around the lake. You won’t be able to do this hike in the winter because Cottonwood Pass will close!

Can you Fish and/or Camp at the top

Fishing is permitted as long as you have a Colorado fishing license. However there is no dispersed camping allowed at the top of the lake. Also, please follow the signage that is posted around the lake to make sure people stay on the trail. The reason Lost Lake was recently rerouted was because of heavy erosion and damage to the surrounding natural habitat.

What makes this hike so special

The lake is different then any other high alpine lake I’ve seen in Colorado with a rock type island in the middle and a turquoise blue type color. The color comes from different mineral deposits in the area. At sunrise there more than likely won’t be anyone up at the lake, which is what makes it even more surreal. The majority of people will do sunrise hikes for local 14ers such as Mt. Princeton or Mt. Yale.

What should we pack

It depends on the time of year and time of day that you go, but for a sunrise hike I listed items that I wore below

• Burton AK Baker down Jacket- It was pretty cold when I hike it so used the Expedition Baker Down, however there are other options for a down jacket, such as the midweight Baker down, great for the majority of sunrise or sunset hikes.

• Hiking boots- Your Local REI or outdoor store should be able to get you fitted. I recently bought a pair of La Sportiva’s and really like them

• Rain Jacket- Just in case, you never know when weather will roll through in the mountains

• Hiking Pants- Anything lightweight that has stretch will work great. I personally like Fjallraven outdoor pants.

• Water Bottle- Stay Hydrated!

• Sunscreen- Gotta apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before you go hiking! I personally like Sun Bum because it is none-greasy.

Looking for other outdoor adventure in Buena Vista? Check out, how to spend 4 days in BV Colorado. If you have any questions or info to add drop a comment below and I’ll see you on the next post!