| Blacktail Ptarmigan Rocks | |
| Elevation Ft: | 4448 |
| Elevation Ref: | [1] |
| Prominence Ft: | 427 |
| Prominence Ref: | [2] |
| Isolation Mi: | 0.90 |
| Parent Peak: | Roundtop (4,786 ft) |
| Country: | United States |
| State: | Alaska |
| Region: | Anchorage |
| Region Type: | Borough |
| Part Type: | Protected area |
| Part: | Chugach State Park |
| Range: | Chugach Mountains[3] |
| Map: | USA Alaska |
| Label Position: | left |
| Coordinates: | 61.3325°N -149.4303°W |
| Topo: | USGS Anchorage B-7 |
Blacktail Ptarmigan Rocks is a 44480NaN0 mountain in the U.S. state of Alaska.
Blacktail Ptarmigan Rocks is located 5miles east of the community of Eagle River in the western Chugach Mountains and within Chugach State Park.[3] Precipitation runoff drains to Knik Arm via Peters Creek from the north slope and Meadow Creek from the south slope. Although modest in elevation, relief is significant as the summit rises approximately 2,150 feet (655 m) above Meadow Creek in 0.6miles. An ascent of the summit involves hiking 7.6 miles (round-trip) and 3,030 feet of elevation gain, with the months of May through October offering the best time for visiting this popular destination.[4] The mountain's toponym appears on USGS maps, but it has not been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names. This landform is also known locally as "Blacktail Rocks" or "Blacktails."[5] The mountaineer Vin Hoeman named the peak for the dark lichen covering the southern cliffs.[6]
Based on the Köppen climate classification, Blacktail Ptarmigan Rocks is located in a subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.[7] Weather systems are forced upwards by the Chugach Mountains (orographic lift), causing heavy precipitation in the form of rainfall and snowfall. Winter temperatures can drop below 0 °F with wind chill factors below −10 °F.