Colorado · Cross-country skiing · Near Estes Park

Ptarmigan Tuck Connection

Ptarmigan Tuck ConnectionPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
0.3 mi
distance
44 ft
climb
8,675 ft
high point
Hard
difficulty
Jun, Sep
best months

Ptarmigan Tuck Connection is a short cross-country ski route in Colorado, about 2.2 miles from the town of Grand Lake. The trail is only 0.28 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 44 feet, and it is rated hard. The climb is steep at the start, with a 6% grade at about 0.1 mile, and the route runs from a low point of 8,623 feet to a high of 8,675 feet. Winter is the natural season for this kind of skiing. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show January highs around 30°F with lows near 4°F and about 14 snow days. By May, highs reach about 59°F with only a couple of snow days, so the snow season is short and the route is best suited to winter conditions. The Ptarmigan Tuck Connection sits close to two other cross-country ski routes, River Run and Randall's Romp, each about 0.1 mile away. Bull Mountain Campground is about 2.3 miles off, and the Grand Lake climbing area is about 2.5 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Bull Mountain Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 2.3 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Wild Bear Tavern

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 2 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 Connection

    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, 2.1 mi away at 8,720 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive

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.

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

Ptarmigan Tuck

Next door

Ptarmigan Tuck is a 0.19-mile ski trail in Colorado with 66 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.

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.

River Run LoopPhoto: Don Graham from Redlands, CA, USA - God bless it!, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

River Run Loop

Next door

0.42-mile loop with 49 ft gain in Colorado.

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.

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.

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.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors