Ptarmigan Tunnel, pedestrian tunnel in Glacier County, Montana
Ptarmigan Tunnel is a pedestrian passage carved through a mountain ridge in Glacier National Park, about 250 feet long with rough natural stone walls and a simple arch structure. It was constructed to allow hikers to cross between areas without climbing over the peak, featuring masonry reinforced portals at each opening.
Built in the early 1930s under designer Ole Westman, workers used picks, chisels, and dynamite to carve the tunnel through solid rock in less than three months from both sides. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986, recognizing its importance to the park's early development.
The tunnel represents the spirit of adventure and outdoor exploration that has drawn visitors to Glacier Park for generations. Hikers often share stories about passing through it, and it has become part of the park's identity as a place where nature and human effort come together.
The tunnel is open from mid-July through October when steel doors remain unlocked, and visitors should wear sturdy hiking boots as the stone surface can be slippery when wet. Temperatures are cooler at this elevation, so bringing a jacket and layers is recommended, and starting early in the day offers quieter conditions inside.
Heavy steel doors were installed in the 1970s to secure the tunnel during winter closures, adding an unexpected layer to this handmade mountain passage. This later addition reveals how park managers adapted the original structure to protect it from seasonal damage and control visitor access.
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