Flattop Mountain - 8.6 Miles Round-Trip

Flattop Mountain (12,324') is located 4.3 miles from Bear Lake Trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park. The summit is best described as a long, flat saddle on the Continental Divide between Hallet Peak and Ptarmigan Point. This level expanse offers a rare opportunity to explore the tundra with relative ease. The Flattop Mountain Trail closely follows a route used by native tribes to reach alpine hunting grounds.

Trail Map | Photo Gallery

A strenuous climb on well-kept trails leads through diverse forests and open tundra to the summit, with exceptional views and wildlife viewing throughought. 

50% of this trail runs above treeline. Expect strong sun, wind, cool temperatures and rapidly changing weather. Get an early start to avoid afternoon storms:

The trail rises quickly over Bear Lake through young aspen to the Odessa Lake - Mill Creek Basin Trail split (.45 miles : 9,725'). It climbs steadily in a spruce-fir forest to the Flattop Mountain Trail (1.0 mile : 9,965'), which steepens considerably on a rough, winding path.

Thick timber breaks at Dream Lake Overlook with good views up Glacier Gorge, and of Keyboard of the Winds on Longs Peak's west ridge (1.6 miles : 10,470').

Steady, steep climbing resumes in a thinning forest to Emerald Lake Overlook (2.9 miles : 11,357') with a revealing look over the valley carved by Tyndall Glacier, one of five active glaciers in the Park.

Grades moderate as you transition through treeline (2.5 - 3.0 miles : 11,440'), where the forest is gradually reduced to thin bands of willow and krummholz.

Krummholz - a German word meaning twisted wood - describes the stunted, irregular growth patterns of trees in the ecological transition zone between subalpine forests and alpine tundra. Poor soil, thin air, strong winds, and extreme weather limit growth at these elevations.

Still, the tundra's grasses, lichens, and wildflowers support marmot, pika, ptarmigan, elk, bighorn sheep and mountain goat.

Grades steady on a well-defined path into open tundra. Tread carefully over snowfields, and use cairns for guidance. The trail reaches a hitchrack (3.9 miles, 12,135') with a close look at Hallett Peak (12,713') across the Tyndall Glacier gorge.

The trail scales a perennial snowfield over the hitchrack and levels on the final run up to Flattop Mountain (4.3 miles : 12,324'). No sign marks the summit, however the Flattop Mountain Trail - Tonahutu Trail junction is generally recognized as your final destination.

A good map will help you identify landmarks such as Hallett Peak, Otis Peak (12,486'), Taylor Peak (13,153'), Longs Peak (14,259'), Notchtop Mountain (12,129'), Ptarmigan Point (12,363') and portions of the Mummy Range, Never Summer Range and Grand Lake area.