Sky Pond
Summary: A fantastic hike through Loch Vale that has access to some of Rocky Mountain National Park's most renowned destinations. This hike passes by four waterfalls and three lakes and includes several open vistas of the surroundings. The first mile or so will be the most crowded, but once you are past Alberta Falls the people will thin out. Autumn was a great time to go, but this hike should be enjoyable from early-summer into autumn (before the first snow).Distance: 9.7 miles round-trip (w/ side-trip)Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,950 totalSeason: July to mid-OctoberFees & Permits: None (other than the park entrance fees)Finding the Trailhead: 40.31041 N, 105.64039 W (Glacier Gorge Trailhead). Just inside the east entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park, turn south onto Bear Lake Road and follow it for ~8.2 miles to the trailhead parking lot. The trail begins off the southwestern end of the parking lot. If this lot is full continue ~1.0 mile to the western end of the Bear Lake parking lot and trailhead (40.31200 N, 105.64592 W). The trail begins to the south at the western end of the parking lot and will add ~0.1 miles to your hike (route described here).
The Hike: The Glacier Gorge Trailhead parking lot was full just after 9:15a in early-October, so I had to begin this hike from the Bear Lake Trailhead. Many different trails split off from this trailhead with Bear Lake and Flattop Mountain trails heading north and the Nymph Lake trail and Glacier Gorge trail connector heading south. From the trailhead, immediately head south and then stay left at the split to follow the Glacier Gorge trail connector (Nymph Lake Trail to the right). The trail descends through a thick mixed pine forest with some aspens sprinkled in. After ~0.35 miles and ~200' of elevation loss, the trail crosses over a creek and intersects with a trail coming from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead parking lot (stay right). The trail then levels out momentarily before beginning to the climb to the southeast. The trail then turns south and continues to climb before it reaches the base of Alberta Falls (~0.9 miles). When I was here, a trail crew was repairing a section of the trail at the base of the waterfall. Past Alberta Falls, the trail zig-zags its way up and south. A short distance after the waterfall is an opportunity to leave the trail to the north to get a great view to the northeast. At ~1.7 miles the trail junctions with the North Longs Peak Trail. Stay right and follow the Glacier Gorge Trail as it turns the corner to the south and southwest to reach another great view looking up Loch Vale. From here, the trail mostly levels out and travels southwest just south of East Glacier Knob and above Glacier Creek. Some decent views south into Glacier Gorge can be found. At ~2.2 miles the trail descends into the trees and to the junction with the Mills Lake Trail near the meeting of the two glacier-carved valleys (Loch Vale and Glacier Gorge). Stay right to continue towards The Loch or stay left to head towards Mills Lake. On my way back down from Sky Pond I took the Mills Lake Trail a little ways to see Glacier Falls (see below). From the junction, The Loch Trail heads southwest to the northern side of Icy Brook before beginning the climb. After a few switchbacks and crossing over 10,000', the views open up dramatically at the eastern end of The Loch. Here (~2.9 miles), the trail splits with the main trail following the northern shore to the right. As the trail hugs the northern shore, there are several fantastic viewpoints over the lake to the southwest. Once the trail reaches the western end of The Loch, it follows Icy Brook uphill to the west and southwest. At ~3.6 miles the trail crosses Andrews Creek at the junction with the Andrews Glacier Trail. Continuing to climb to the southwest, the trail reaches the base of Timberline Falls at ~4.05 miles. Here, the maintained trail ends and it is necessary to climb (not technical, but only experienced and confident hikers should continue) the wall to the south to continue. The way is not marked, but the only way to go is up a small cut immediately west of Timberline Falls. Keep decent spacing if traveling with a group and be aware of excess moisture on the rocks. If you are here during the spring runoff and there is a significant amount of water running through this cut, then I would not continue. At ~4.2 miles, the climbing suddenly stops and you've reached the northern shore of Glass Lake with its fantastic views up and down the glacially carved valley. In Autumn, a decent windbreaker and ski hat are a must to spend any amount of time at Glass Lake.
The trail continues up above the western shore of the lake and is most difficult to find immediately from the northern shore. The trail then moves away from Icy Brook shortly before approaching it just below Sky Pond. Here, you can quickly leave the trail to the east to get a closer view of Sky Pond Falls. At ~4.6 miles the northern shore of Sky Pond is reached. Head east to the northeastern tip of Sky Pond for the best views (in my opinion) from the shore. Above the lake looms Taylor Glacier, Taylor Peak, The Sharkstooth, and The Gash. Another great photo opportunity awaits above and just south of Sky Pond (I did not try this). On my way back to the trailhead, I took a short (~0.45 miles round-trip) side-trip to Glacier Falls. I followed the Mills Lake Trail, from the junction mentioned above, to the southwest before it turns to the southeast, crosses Icy Brook on a footbridge, and begins to climb. At ~0.15 miles from the trail junction, an unmarked trail leaves the main trail to the southeast (left). When I was here, there were a couple of branches blocking the side-trail. This side-trail leads to the base of Glacier Falls (~0.2 miles from the trail junction).
