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!

Hiking in Crested Butte, A Sunrise Hike on the Lupine Trail

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So you’ve planned a summer trip to Crested Butte in Colorado and you’re looking for a good hike to start the trip off. Well, the nice thing about Crested Butte is there are a few hikes right in town that are great for getting acclimated to the elevation while still enjoying the mountains. One of these hikes is the Lupine Trail. Late June through early July this trail will be covered with Wildflowers and in the fall you’ll get to see some fall colors as there are Aspen trees on part of this hike.

I decided to hike it at sunrise to get some good photos and avoid any crowds, but this trail would also be great to do mid day and even in the afternoon-evening time. With that being said, in this post I’ll be going over where to park, trail details, what to expect, and recommended hiking gear.

How to get to the trail and where should we park

To get to the Trailhead you’re going to drive on Gothic Road and then take a left onto County Road 734. Park at the Slate River Trailhead. The parking area is small, but If you arrive early or later in the day, you shouldn’t run into any problems.

Please Note, because this is an out and back trailhead, do not park off Saddle Ridge Ranch Road to start the hike. This is a private neighborhood and this trailhead start should only be accessed via Mountain Bike!

Is this a difficult hike

I would say this is actually a great hike if you are looking for something on the easier to intermediate side. The trail itself isn’t too technical and the elevation gain didn’t feel too strenuous, plenty of areas to take a break if needed. I listed a few trail details below.

Trail Type: Out and Back

Elevation Gain: 1,594 feet

Distance: 5.8 Miles

Dogs Allowed: Yes, but must be on leash

Download the trail ahead of time via All Trails for help with navigation

Best time of the summer for seeing Wildflowers

I visited the second week of July starting on the 8th and the flowers were in full bloom, but I feel like I caught the end of it. For this trail I think a week earlier or even the last week of June will be the best time to see the wildflowers in the summer.

What is the Trail Like

You’ll start off on a series of switchbacks that overlooks Nicholson Lake. This is an awesome area for photography, especially in the evening! What I also liked about the very beginning of the hike is you kind of feel like you’re in a valley with surrounding Mountains. Mount Emmons will be to your left with Peeler Peak off in the Distance.

Once you pass Nicholson Lake, the trail will start to flatten out and you will be surrounded by fields of Aspen Sunflowers until you reach a wooded area of Aspen Trees. The lighting in the early morning through these trees is amazing fyi. As you exit the Aspen Trees you’ll get some more views of Slate River and the town. If you continue all the way to the end of the trail it will essentially be more fields until you turn around and hike back.

What should We Expect

The first thing to expect is the high possibility of there being more then just hikers on the trail! You might run into horse back riders and Mountain Bikers as this is a popular bike trail. More on biking later in this post. There also isn’t really any shade other then the small part through Aspen trees, so make sure to wear sunscreen. Lastly since this hike is close to town, easy to get to, and not too difficult, expect it to be more crowded during weekends and the 4th of July holiday!

Can you Mountain Bike on this Trail

Yep, this is a great beginner to intermediate Mountain Biking trail! There will be bike rental shops in town as well as up on Mount Crested Butte. I rented a demo bike from the Alpineer off 6th street towards the beginning of downtown. I recommend leaving your car parked in town and then biking to the opposite end of where you actually start the hike (Saddle Ridge Townhomes). This way the climb won’t be as bad and the second half is going to be a better downhill ride then if you were to start at the Slate River Trailhead.

Since the trail isn’t a long bike ride you can keep going and down the road there will be the Gunsight Bridge Trail that you can bike as well.

Recommended Hiking Gear

I made a quick list below for things I would recommend having on this hike!

• Water Bottle- I really like Hydro flask as the water bottles will keep fluids cold for up to 12 hours

• Small Bag- Carry your water bottle, camera, or snacks with a small backpack. Burton makes some of the best backpacks for the outdoors in my opinion

• Lightweight Clothing- Stay away from cotton!, Patagonia, Fjallraven, REI, and Vuori all make great lightweight apparel for hiking

• Hiking Footwear- Since this trail isn’t too rocky, hiking boots aren’t a requirement, but I would say at least have good trail shoes. Stop into your local outdoor store or visit REI.com for good footwear options

• Rain Jacket- Thunderstorms can pop up in the mountains, never leave home without a rain jacket!

Looking for other hiking trails in Crested Butte? Check out the Snodgrass Trail, also not far from town with lots of wildflowers and some pretty epic views. As always thanks for checking out the blog and I’ll see you on the next post.