Colorado · Cross-country skiing · Near Estes Park

Ptarmigan Tuck

Ptarmigan TuckPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
0.2 mi
distance
44 ft
climb
8,699 ft
high point
Hard
difficulty
Jun, Sep
best months

Ptarmigan Tuck is a cross-country ski route in Colorado, about 2 miles from the town of Grand Lake. It is a short outing, covering just under a fifth of a mile with a total elevation gain of 44 feet, but the climb is rated hard. The route runs between two points, with the high point at 8699 feet and the low at 8642 feet, and the steepest stretch comes at about 0.14 miles into the trip, where the grade reaches about 5%. The most comfortable ski months are December through April, when typical averages from a nearby weather station show highs in the 30s and lows in the single digits, with snow on roughly 10 to 14 days a month. By June, snow is gone, and July brings typical highs around 76°F. Several other ski routes sit within a short distance, including the River Run Connection about 0.1 miles away and Short Cut about 0.2 miles away. Climbers can find the Grand Lake climbing area about 2.3 miles off, and Bull Mountain Campground is about 2.4 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Bull Mountain Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 2.4 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Wild Bear Tavern

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 1 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Estes Park

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun, Sep

    Best time to visit Ptarmigan Tuck

    Best months: June and September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      30° / 4°

      14 wet · 14 snow

    2. Feb

      34° / 6°

      13 wet · 12 snow

    3. Mar

      42° / 14°

      12 wet · 9 snow

    4. Apr

      49° / 20°

      11 wet · 6 snow

    5. May

      59° / 28°

      12 wet · 2 snow

    6. Jun

      71° / 34°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      76° / 40°

      14 wet

    8. Aug

      73° / 38°

      15 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 32°

      12 wet · 1 snow

    10. Oct

      55° / 23°

      10 wet · 4 snow

    11. Nov

      40° / 13°

      11 wet · 9 snow

    12. Dec

      30° / 5°

      14 wet · 13 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Grand Lake 1 Nw, CO, 1.9 mi away at 8,720 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive

River Run ConnectionPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

River Run Connection

Next door

0.17-mile trail in Colorado with 9 ft of elevation gain.

Short CutPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Short Cut

Next door

0.30-mile ski trail in Colorado with 26 ft of elevation gain.

Ptarmigan Tuck ConnectionPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Ptarmigan Tuck Connection

Next door

Ptarmigan Tuck Connection is a 0.28-mile trail in Colorado with 54 feet of elevation gain.

Uphill RoutePhoto: Missvain, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Uphill Route

~25 min drive

Short Colorado uphill climb for fitness and technique practice.

SEE

Granby Ranch

~26 min drive

Granby Ranch is a ski area in Colorado with 6 lifts, 39 runs, and 931 ft of vertical.

Randall'S RompPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Randall'S Romp

Next door

0.87-mile route in Colorado with 36 feet of elevation gain.

Winter'S WayPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Winter'S Way

Next door

1.43-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 171 ft of elevation gain.

Colorado River TrailPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Colorado River Trail

Next door

0.20-mile trail in Colorado with 28 ft of elevation gain.

River RunPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

River Run

Next door

0.62-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 78 ft of elevation gain.

Front 9 LoopPhoto: Loco Steve, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Front 9 Loop

~21 min drive

1.12-mile loop in Colorado with 38 ft of elevation gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors