Alberta Falls, The Loch, & Sky Pond, Colorado
Total Distance: 9.8 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,765 feet
Trail Type: Out-and-back
Difficulty: Advanced
The Hike: I truly mean it when I say that this trail is one of the prettiest hikes I have ever done. From gushing waterfalls to sparkling blue alpine lakes, this hike should be at the top of everyone’s list when visiting Rocky Mountain National Park.
The trail first takes hikers to the base of Alberta Falls, which is among the most popular attractions within the park. Most of the water coming down these falls has actually come from Sky Pond at the top of the trail. Keep hiking up into the mountains until you reach “The Loch”, which is a picturesque alpine lake with towering mountains as a backdrop. The surrounding rocks make this a great spot for a snack break, and many hikers actually end up turning around at this lake. I highly recommend to keep moving forward though because although The Loch is gorgeous, things only get better from here. The trail will bring hikers high above tree line, where you will actually get the chance to see The Loch from above. After rock scrambling through a literal waterfall at Timberline Falls, hikers will be brought to the scenic Glass Lake. After a mild rock scramble, the trail takes you about 30 feet above the water and you can see fish swimming and the teal water from above. Finally, after walking through a prettier strength of alpine hiking than my mind could ever come up with, you are brought to the grand finale: Sky Pond.
Eat your lunch surrounded by towering jagged mountains, with a perfectly blue and clear lake in between. This hike is scenic from start to finish, and you’ll want to make sure your camera roll is full of space for countless pictures.
The Details: There are a few different parking options for this hike, but regardless of where you park, arrive early as parking is extremely limited (most parking lots in RMNP are full by 7:30am). If you sleep in, then no worries – there is a free visitor’s shuttle that will take you to the trailhead. To use the shuttle, simply park at the “Park and Ride” across from the Glacier Basin Campground (40°19'47.3"N, 105°36'00.1"W)
If starting at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead (preferred by most): Follow signs for “The Loch” and “Sky Pond” throughout your hike. After hiking for .9 miles, you will be dropped at the base of Alberta Falls. After snapping a few pictures, keep climbing for another 2.1 miles until you reach Loch Lake, better know as “The Loch” or “Loch Vale”. After taking a break at this picturesque lake, things start to get interesting. Follow the smooth trail along the lake until it starts climbing up and above the trees. At 3.7 miles, the trail will approach the bottom of Timberline Falls. The official route is to climb up the rocks on the side of the falls. You will get wet on this section as you will be climbing up and through an active waterfall. After climbing up the falls, you will be brought to views of Glass Lake. After stopping for a minute to take in the views, keep hiking for the final .4 mile stretch to Sky Pond. Once eating lunch and taking a break at the pond, backtrack your steps to the parking lot.
If starting at the Bear Lake Trailhead: Follow signs towards Alberta Falls for .4 miles until you come to a trail intersection with multiple signs. Continue following signs towards “The Loch” and “Sky Pond”. At this point, you have met up with the above route from Glacier Gorge and all directions are the same. (Starting at Bear Lake will add an addition .2 miles to the hike, bringing the total to 10 miles.)
Gear: For this hike, we recommend bringing along either the Winter or Summer Day Hike Essentials, depending on the season. Micro-spikes or Snowshoes are strongly advised in the winter.
*The information in this article is for planning purposes only. Actual trail conditions may vary depending on environmental factors. It is always advised to get the latest trail information from a park office or ranger before you begin your hike.