It was great, even with the snow and wind! Wild Basin Trailhead. Fees are $25 per vehicle/motorcycle. Amazing hike! Cub Lake was beautiful and worth the hike. From downtown Estes Park take 66 to the Beaver Meadows Park Entrance. If the parking lot is full, just continue on to Bear Lake Trailhead, park there, and continue the journey. We even went to Mills lake and it was absolutely beautiful. Great trail! The About 6.8 miles rt if you do all 3. Bonus for trek back was big bull moose in pond joined shortly by a momma elk and baby. All Rights Reserved. Trail was great, when you follow AllTrails path it takes you near the fire trail, the path is mostly an animal path, it’s beautiful, but there are some tough spots and you can lose the trail in some areas. Glacier Gorge Junction Trailhead from Mapcarta, the free map. From the Glacier Gorge trailhead, follow the signs for Alberta Falls and Loch Vale. Rocky Mountain National Park charges a fee to enter. Approximate hiking time: 8 hours. Photos from: July 2010, 2014 Glacier Gorge Trailhead Elevation: 9,240' Range: Rocky Mountain National Park Map Coordinate System - Geodetic Base (NAD83) Trailhead Latitude: 40.310658, Longitude: -105.640174 Route: Glacier Gorge Trail, The Loch Trail, Sky Pond Trail One Way Distance: 4.90 miles The other place to go is upper Glacier Gorge. This is the most common path to head towards Mills Lake. (1), Rocky Mountain National Park Shuttle Schedule, Basic Rocky Mountain National Park roadmap. Distance and elevation gain: 19.8 km (12.3 mi. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports. Spikes and trekking poles recommended. Download the free Mchenrys Peak topo map. It is very easy to find your way through the trail, very well marked. Max elevation: 3521 m (11,555 ft.). Glacier Gorge Trailhead hosts numerous out and back hikes. Learn about Rocky Mountain National Park's Glacier Gorge Trail. My kids an I went this past Thursday and it was beautiful. Due to the extreme popularity of the Bear Lake Road area you may want to consider using the free park shuttle to access the trailhead during peak tourist season. Visitors will experience more solitude the further they travel from the Trailhead. Bring layers, for when you get to the top. Elevation Gain: 940 ft Beginning at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead, the trail to Loch Vale is 2.7 miles of mostly uphill switchbacks with great views. Distance: 0.9 miles one-way Waterfall elevation: 9,400 feet Trailhead elevation: 9,180 feet Net elevation gain: 220 feet Glacier Gorge Trailhead First two miles were heavily trafficked but had the best views and a waterfall. What a day! Make sure to pick a rock to relax on at loch lake, great views and fishing is good too. Not too slippery, relatively easy coming down but towards the end it gets a bit steep so any elderly should be cautious! Trail Location: Glacier Gorge: Roundtrip Length: 9.0 Miles: Trailhead Elevation: 9240 Feet: Total Elevation Gain: 1780 Feet: Avg. Glacier Gorge Trail is a 5.8 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. Located at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead parking area, the trail to Alberta falls leisurely makes its way to one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Rocky Mountain National Park. The hike to Alberta Falls in Rocky Mountain National Park begins from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead, located on Bear Lake Road almost 8 miles from the turn-off at Highway 36. This hike has a little bit of everything—ice-blue glacial lakes ringed by snow-capped peaks, river and stream crossings amidst towering pines, and heart-stopping vistas of the park. The southernmost entrance to RMNP is just outside of Allenspark, Colorado. My first time to Rocky Mountain National Park. Highly recommend! "Shut up, Brain, or I'll stab you with a Q-tip!" 1. There is a separate parking area for Bear Lake. Continue hiking along the Glacier Gorge Trail until arriving at a trail junction for The Loch Trail. Trail started in meadows with river running through. Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. Alberta Falls. You can also purchase a park specific annual pass for $70. Glacier Gorge Trail is a 9.3 kilometer heavily trafficked loop trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. Driving Directions. --Homer Simpson, Glacier Knobs (West Glacier Knob and East Glacier Knob), East Glacier Knob West Slope and West Glacier Knob South Slope, Images Follow the Bear Lake Road as it passes the beautiful, vast Moraine Park area and continue about 7 miles to the Glacier Gorge Trailhead parking lot on the left side of the road.Limited parking is available along Bear Lake Road. It is located near Estes Park, Colorado. In Rocky Mountain National Park … Bus schedules are posted here. Facts About the Hike. There was a few muddy spots and some bugs, which were expected. Fantastic hike. … It reaches the North Longs Peak Trail junction (1.6 miles : 9,768'), banks SW and flattens through a small gorge between Thatchtop Mountain (12,668') and rock formations called the Glacier Knobs. Beautiful scenery at the gorge and surrounding peaks. Half way through trail isn’t well marked and was covered with snow so I had to turn around, but I got to see the beautiful views again. The challenge here is that navigating this gorge with lots of snow is one thing, but you are also approaching 10,000 feet of elevation, which, at least in my opinion, is where you really start to feel the effects of less oxygen. We hiked for like 2 hours and we loved it. Glacier Gorge is located southwest of Estes Park, just south of Bear Lake. Individuals seeking all day hikes will find connecting trails to Bear Lake , as well Glacier Gorge is a great ending destination to a multi-day backpacking trip from Longs Peak . (If you get there before 6:30 you don’t have to pay the $20 entrance fee.) We were the only ones on that part of the trail, on a busy day. My favorite was Mills lake. Glacier Gorge Junction Trailhead is a bus stop in Colorado and has an elevation of 9203 feet. Length 5.8 mi Elevation gain 1138 ft Route type Loop Trail Features: Alpine Lake, Glacier: Trail Location: Glacier Gorge: Roundtrip Length: 9.3 Miles: Trailhead Elevation: 9240 Feet: Total Elevation Gain: 2300 Feet: Avg. Yes, it sucks but it’s a mutual respect for us all to know we’re safe. Bring your mask and please wear it. Fire trail was not marked but other then that this was a solid trial. Just beyond the Beaver Meadows entrance station, turn left onto Bear Lake Road. If you haven't been in the area for a while, you may want to know that as part of the Bear Lake Road Reconstruction Project page, the Glacier Gorge Trailhead has been moved back by 0.3 miles. Glacier Gorge Trailhead is the primary means of accessing Glacier Gorge - arguable the most scenic area of Rocky Mountain National Park. Day hike options for all levels! Elev Gain / Mile: 495 Feet: Highest Elevation: 11,380 Feet: Trail Difficulty Rating: 13.9 (strenuous) Parking Lot Latitude: 40.31035: Parking Lot Longitude-105.64038 As an alternative, you can park at the shuttle bus terminal and board the bus for Bear Lake. The trail offers a number of activity options. Aconcagua mountain page is a child of the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits.' Elevation Gain: 32 feet Difficulty: very easy Estimated Time: 0.5 hours. Glacier Gorge Junction Trailhead: Stunning and challenging hike - See 10 traveler reviews, 23 candid photos, and great deals for Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, at Tripadvisor. Glacier Gorge Trailhead is the second stop. The trail was easy but the climb was hard on someone from the flatlands. Andrews Tarn and Andrews Glacier are accessed from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead, 8.4 miles from the Beaver Meadows Entrance Station on Bear Lake Road. It is past Glacier Gorge Trailhead, which serves as the starting point for the hiking trail to Alberta Falls and The Loch. A full 4K 360° VR compatible video from Glacier Gorge trailhead to Bear Lake trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park. Continue only .02 mile to the Bear Lake Road and turn left. 1.2 km until reaching Alberta Falls. ), 910 m (3,000 ft.). 1/7/21. The Glacier Gorge Trail is located 8.0 miles from Estes Park, Colorado (CO) in Rocky Mountain National Park. After 0.6 miles the trail winds along Glacier Creek by Alberta Falls, one of the park's most famous waterfalls. 2. Due to the popularity of the Bear Lake Trailhead, you should plan to arrive early in the morning or consider the park shuttle when it is running, typically from late May to mid-October. Distance: 9.5 miles out-and-back Starting Elevation: 9,240 feet (at Glacier Gorge Trailhead) Highest Elevation: 10,880 feet (at Sky Pond) Elevation Gain (trailhead to Sky Pond): 1,640 feet Total Elevation Gain: 2,125 feet Difficulty: Strenuous Length of Time: 4 to 6 hours These hiking stats are starting from Glacier Gorge Trailhead. Lots of traffic on this trail. Compare elevation, range, calories and other trail … Great hike to do if you’re looking for an easier-moderate hike. Driving directions: From Estes Park, take US-36 and enter Rocky Mountain National Park through the Beaver Meadows Entrance. The trail offers a number of activity options. © 2006-2020 SummitPost.org. The elevation of the trailhead is 9,475 ft. and if hiking here during the summer peak season and on weekends I would definitely take the park bus shuttle to this area as it gets very crowded even in the early morning (although we got lucky twice during on stay and parked in the lot at the trailhead). Cold yes, but totally refreshing and worth it! This is another trailhead in the Bear Lake area offering access to more of the excellent trails in this part of the park. We didn’t expect snow but as soon as we parked it started to snow. (2), Comments Aconcagua mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children. Length 5.9 miElevation gain 872 ftRoute type Out & back It is unmarked in some spots so it’s easy to go off the trail so be aware of that. Grinnell Glacier Editor's Pick. So close to so many great views! Elev Gain / Mile: 394 Feet: Highest Elevation: 10,900 Feet: Trail Difficulty Rating: 12.60 (strenuous) Parking Lot Latitude: 40.31035: Parking Lot Longitude-105.64038 We chose it to see a little different scenery than the mountain trails we’ve bee doing. Got steep at end. The hike to Mills Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park begins from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead, located on Bear Lake Road almost 8 miles from the turn-off at Highway 36. The trail was great but quite busy and many people didn’t have a mask or worn them around their neck which is not helpful. I'd really do other things in the area. Headed toward Alberto falls from bear lake parking lot for 2 miles then came back, lots of thunder, the same way. Bear Lake Loop. Starting at the Glacier Gorge trailhead, the trek up to Sky Pond and Lake of Glass is thoroughly enjoyable, offering hikers a comprehensive look at the sheer beauty of Rocky Mountain National Park. View Glacier Gorge Trailhead Image Gallery - 2 Images. Trailhead: Glacier Gorge. Trail was beautiful. Hike Profiles for Rocky Mountain National Park and Surrounding Areas: Alberta Falls A very popular short hike to this waterfall begins from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead along Bear Lake Road. Blue Lake- from the end of the trail, head east and north to arrive at Blue Lake after a short time. The lake has an elevation gain of 1,765 feet and its total distance is 8.1 miles. For example, the Continue on the trail … If the parking lot is full, just continue on to Bear Lake Trailhead, park, and begin hiking from there. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until September. Lots of people our enjoying the hike. From here the trail ends and there are several options to go from here. When you get to the waterfall, just keep going up and just take your time. There are two common starting locations for this hike, both are below: Glacier Gorge Trailhead | 5.6 Miles| 780 Feet Elevation Gain. … We took glacier gorge to Loch, then also hiked to Mills and back down on glacier gorge. From Black Lake, the trail continues up above the lake before leveling out at the bottom of Upper Glacier Gorge. Glacier Gorge Trailhead to Jewel Lake is a 5.9 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. The last mile was not marked and went in the gorge so we took fire trail out which was parallel to the planned route. We went around 6:15 and were able to see part of the sunset before we turned around. (If you get there before 6:30 you don’t have to pay the $20 entrance fee.) No matter what time of the year it is, a hike around Bear Lake is always beautiful. Amazing views. This is a great spot to relax and catch your breath before climbing higher in elevation. Glacier Gorge Trailhead is the primary means of accessing Glacier Gorge - arguable the most scenic area of Rocky Mountain National Park. Due to the extreme popularity of the Bear Lake Road area you may want to consider using the free park shuttle to reach the trailhead during the peak tourist season. We finished the trail with a 4 year old and a 8year old. Located in one of the most scenic areas of Rocky Mountain National Park, Glacier Gorge Trail offers spectacular scenery, wildflowers, waterfalls, alpine lakes and wildlife. The trail climbs gradually for approx. There are two common starting locations for this hike, both are below: Glacier Gorge Trailhead | 9.0 Miles| 1,765 Feet Elevation Gain. This is the most common path to head towards sky pond. Trail is well marked, easy to walk but the elevation makes this trail moderate in my book! If you are entering on foot, horse, or bike the fee is $15 per person. From downtown Estes Park take 66 to the Beaver Meadows Park Entrance. Cascading waterfalls, towering cirques, and alpine lakes. It is well worth the hike to see the amazing views,it is spectacular. Trail info: see ProTrails and Hiking RMNP. Not a single person on fire trail. The Glacier Gorge Trailhead is located on the left side of the road and has limited parking. The trails were packed down and clearly marked. The best trail to hike between June to September is Sky Pond via Glacier Gorge Trail that offers many activities. Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. Amazing hike! Breath-taking views and I even took a dip in the water! Within the Many Glacier region of the park and departing near one of … The trail drops to Glacier Junction (2.1 miles : 9,804'), a point marking the convergence of two immense glacial valleys with access to several of Rocky Mountain's most renowned destinations. The Loch Lake Trail via Glacier Gorge Trail, Mills Lake, Black Lake, Frozen Lake Trail, Bear Lake - Odessa Lake Via Fern Lake Trail [CLOSED], Tyndall Glacier and Nymph, Dream, Emerald, and Haiyaha Lakes, Bear Lake to Sky Pond via Glacier Gorge Trail, Shelf Lake and Solitude Lake via Glacier Gorge Trail. The linked trail does not go all the way to glacier gorge but will take you to Alberta falls and a little further. Easy hike with access to scenic views along the way including views of Alberta falls. Also hiked to Mills and back hikes worn them around their neck which is not helpful cascading waterfalls, cirques! 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