If you look to the east you’ll see almost the entire Many Peaks section of the park, including the trail you just traversed. The view along here is impressive, with the towing cliffs of rock looming up next to the trail. Stay on the Iceberg Lake Trail, which turns southwest making a gradual climb along the Ptarmigan Wall. Shortly thereafter, you’ll reach Ptarmigan Falls, which is a beautiful spot to take a break and hang out for a while.Ī short time later, the trail intersects with the Ptarmigan Tunnel Trail, which climbs steeply up to the Ptarmigan Lake and the historic Ptarmigan Tunnel.
When you hit Ptarmigan Creek, you’ve reached the halfway point to Iceberg Lake. Hikers in summer should see an abundance of wildflowers during this leg of the hike. The trail then takes a turn to the northwest, passing through a lush valley with spectacular views of Altyn Peak and Mount Wilbur. The road in front of the Swiftcurrent Inn is often a good bet.Īfter embarking on the Ptarmigan Trail you’ll have a steep climb for about. There’s parking at the trailhead, but only for a small number of cars, so you might have to find somewhere else to stash your vehicle. The hike to Iceberg Lake begins at the Ptarmigan Trail, which starts at the cabins behind the Swiftcurrent Inn. Follow the protocol for bear safety, making noise on the trail, especially as you come around a blind curve. Take note that the trail moves through a prime grizzly bear habitat and is often closed for public safety when bear activity poses an extreme hazard, so check with the ranger station before planning your hike. Because the lake lies in the shadow of Mount Wilbur it usually has big ice chunks floating in it – thus the name – often even at the end of summer. The majority of the trail passes through open terrain with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and meadows and great opportunities for viewing wildlife. There are a few steep places, but hikers in fair shape should find it relatively painless.
The trail’s popularity is due to the fact that despite an elevation gain of 1200 feet over the 4.8 mile trek to the lake, the trail moves at a gradual incline for the most part. The hike to Iceberg Lake is extremely popular and the trail can be quite crowded, so don’t plan on having it all to yourself, especially in the summer months. Trail Highlights – Fantastic views, gorgeous alpine lake, wildflowers, wildlife.
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