Ptarmigan Tunnel Opening Date This Year

[cdsmith379]

Does anyone know or anyone who has been in the park lately who has seen the snow would guess when the Ptarmigan Tunnel will be opening this year? Will it be open by July 4th?

[orin]

I neither know nor have been in the park lately but the trail conditions page estimates July 13. So probably not. Last year on the 4th I was dayhiking from my camp at Elizabeth Lake up to the tunnel. I met a couple along the way who looked a bit heavily loaded for a dayhike but I didn't think much of it until we reached the closed tunnel doors. It turned out they were on their way to Many Glacier and didn't realize the doors were still closed. Oops!

[PeteE]

From GNP web site:

Ptarmigan Lake to Ptarmigan Tunnel/ 0.9 mi.
Projected initial clearing date: 7/12/2018 per 650

Ptarmigan Tunnel Doors: Projected opening 7/13/2018 per 650

I just came back from Many Glacier. The tunnel isn't open yet.
People have been going up to the tunnel from the MG side.
Some snow crossings left(I think).

The tunnel could open before then but depends on the trail on the north side(shadier side) to be safe hiking.
That's what I was told a couple years ago.

pete