In order to overcome the monumental task of going up the Many Glacier Valley, the authorities of the Glacier National Park decided to go *through* it. So in 1930, a 250-foot long tunnel was drilled through the Ptarmigan Wall, giving birth to its namesake, the Ptarmigan Tunnel.

The Ptarmigan Tunnel allows hikers to easily go to the Belly River Valley from the Many Glacier area and vice-versa. The tunnel?s interior walls are lined with natural rocks. It is wide enough to allow passage of tourist horses. The tunnel is the only man-made tunnel in the Glacier National Park. The tunnel, although not a feat of engineering, is still a commendable feature of the park. It embodies the desire to fully enjoy the park?s beauty without the need to destroy it. The tunnel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.