If you grew up in Montana, you've almost certainly been to Glacier National Park. And if you're REALLY familiar with Montana, you may have heard of the unique tunnel, the Ptarmigan Tunnel, which is located inside the park. After all, there aren't many places in the area where you can walk right through a mountain, right? It's one of the most unique tunnels in Montana, and worthy of a visit, so lace up those hiking shoes and let's get going!
The Ptarmigan Tunnel was built in 1930 through the Ptarmigan Wall.
The tunnel was created for horses and for early park tours. Its existence made an incredibly tough trail much easier to get through.
The tunnel was originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corp.
To create the tunnel, two opposing steel jackhammers drilled from either side of the mountain and a series of rounds of dynamite gradually broke through it in less than three months.
The 250-foot tunnel is currently part of one of Glacier's most popular hikes.
Still, many Montanans who are not avid hikers have no idea that it even exists.
It's also on the National Register of Historic Places.
Ptarmigan Tunnel Trail shares the first half of its trail with the Iceberg Lake Trail, eventually arriving at Ptarmigan Lake located at the base of Ptarmigan Wall.
There are some spectacular views on this trail, like this one. You'll want to sit for a spell and just take it all in!
Have you been through the Ptarmigan Tunnel? Did you know about this unique tunnel in Montana? Let us know in the comments below! And if you're interested in learning more, here are some other fascinating facts about Glacier National Park. And if you're interested in other beautiful mountain hikes, our previous article highlights some of our favorites!
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