Ptarmigan Trail #35

White River National Forest

Available for hiking, and mountain biking (up to the Wilderness boundary), the 6.38 mile (to the summit of Ptarmigan Pass), Ptarmigan Trail offers panoramic views of the Continental Divide, Gore Range, Tenmile Range and Williams Fork Range.

From the Ptarmigan trailhead, travel 3.46 miles to the Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness boundary and a fork in the trail. Turn right and travel 2.95 miles back down to the trailhead, or stay on Ptarmigan Trail about 0.48 miles past the wilderness boundary to another fork.

At this fork turning left will take you 1.05 miles to the summit of Ptarmigan Peak (12,498'), turning right will take you 2 miles to Ptarmigan Pass (11,777'). Both routes continue on into Arapaho National Forests after passing Ptarmigan Pass.

To reach Ptarmigan Trail from I-70 take exit 205 for Silverthorne/Dillon, and travel 0.2 miles north along Highway 9 to the intersection of Wilderness Drive & Rainbow Drive. Turn right onto Rainbow Drive, travel to the 3 way stop sign and turn right onto Tanglewood Lane. Travel along Tanglewood Lane to Ptarmigan Trail and turn right. Follow this road for about 0.8 miles to the trailhead parking on the right. The trail begin across the road from the parking area.