Ptarmigan Tunnel

Ptarmigan Tunnel is a hand-carved passage cut directly through a rocky ridge in Glacier National Park, and the views from both portals make the 10-mile round-trip hike entirely worth it. The western portal opens onto a sweeping alpine panorama looking back toward Iceberg Lake and the Many Glacier valley, while the eastern portal reveals the remote Belly River drainage below, giving you two completely different landscapes to work with. Shoot from just inside the tunnel mouth to frame the circular portal opening as a natural border around the scene beyond, a classic composition that works well with a wide-angle lens. Early morning light on the western side is especially strong, hitting the surrounding peaks with warm tones before the valley fills with haze. The tunnel is only accessible mid-July through September, so plan accordingly; the trail gains significant elevation and snow can linger well into summer, so traction devices may still be useful early in the season. (Glacier National Park, Montana, United States)