Ptarmigan Falls
Glacier County, Montana
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Glacier County, Montana
- The walk
- 5.4 miles round trip
- Ground & access
- Mountain trail with 700 feet of gain. Check current bridge, bear and snow notices; tunnel access dates do not establish whether the waterfall approach is open.

Begin at Iceberg–Ptarmigan Trailhead behind the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn area and follow the shared Iceberg/Ptarmigan route to the falls.
Plan your visit
Iceberg–Ptarmigan Trail from Swiftcurrent to Ptarmigan Falls
NPS lists Ptarmigan Falls at 2.7 miles one way with 700 feet of elevation gain. This is shorter than continuing to Ptarmigan Lake or the tunnel.
Mountain trail with 700 feet of gain. Check current bridge, bear and snow notices; tunnel access dates do not establish whether the waterfall approach is open.
Where to start
Visit Montana directs visitors to the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn parking area, then around the road behind the inn to the Iceberg/Ptarmigan trailhead.
Timing & water
NPS warns of autumn snow, active bears and removal of most seasonal bridges by late September. Current route-specific bridge status was not available in the retrieved static trail-status page; check its live map or park staff before hiking.
Before you go
Fees, permits and reservation requirements for this visit have not been confirmed; check with the land manager.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
Redrock FallsNational park trail; easyGlacier County, MT1.9 miS
Swiftcurrent FallsShort walk by the Many Glacier HotelGlacier County, MT3.0 miSE
Apikuni FallsNational Park Service trail with published distanceGlacier County, MT3.1 miE- Hidden FallsNational park trail with optional boat; short steep spurGlacier County, MT3.9 miS
Grinnell FallsPartial: exact waterfall-view turnaround distance unknownGlacier County, MT4.1 miS- Ipasha FallsLake approach documented; waterfall view unconfirmedGlacier County, MT4.7 miNW
- Salamander FallsLong national park hike; falls seen from a distance; exact viewpoint not confirmedFlathead County, MT4.8 miS
- Feather Plume FallsDocumented walking approach; autumn bridge conditions unverified and boats closed for 2026Glacier County, MT4.9 miS
- Haystack Creek FallsFlathead County, MT5.9 miS