Hike To Three Stunning Alpine Lakes In Rocky Mountain National Park

To get to the alpine lakes The Loch, Lake of Glass and Sky Pond, begin at Glacier Gorge Junction Trailhead (9,240 ft). You can park at the trailhead if you get there very early in the morning, as there are only a few spots and fills up pretty fast. The best way to reach the trail is to park at the free park and ride lots, where you can pick up a shuttle that will take you to your trailhead. Once you arrive at the Glacier Gorge Junction Trailhead, you will begin a steady and fairly easy climb to Alberta Falls. A lot of hikers on this trail are there to see the falls and don't continue further as it gets pretty steep and rises in elevation. So you will be able to enjoy your hike in peace and able to keep your own pace. A little past Alberta Falls you will come to a junction, and will want to keep right towards The Loch. This area becomes somewhat challenging as it is a constant rise and steep hike, so don't feel ashamed to take a few breaks and enjoy the surrounding scenery. You will then come to another junction, and here you will want to continue straight ahead for 0.8 miles until you reach The Loch. Once you arrive find a place to sit and relax around the beautiful lake. Take in the clear water, surrounding snow capped mountain peaks, and watch a few people try their hand at fly fishing. If you have lunch, be prepared for some brave chipmunks to climb on you to try and get a small bite. After you rest for awhile, if you feel like you still have some left in the tank, continue on for about 1.4 miles to Lake of Glass and Sky Pond. Once you get past The Loch, depending on the time of year (I went in late June) you will find that the snow has still not melted so be prepared to climb up snow fields (the way back down is a little challenging, but there is a shoot people have made to slide down but it can burn your skin since the ice is so cold, so determine if you will be able to come down safely before continuing up the snow field). Once you climb up towards Timberline Falls, you have a stunning landscape view of The Loch and Rocky Mountain National Park. To get to Lake of Glass, you need to climb up rocks to the right of the falls and it can get tricky especially if the rocks are wet so make sure to take your time. Once you make it up, you will see Lake of Glass, which truly is a lake of glass. The water perfectly reflects the mountains and it is absolutely stunning so make sure to snap some pictures. A short distance further, you will find Sky Pond. There are rocks right along the lake to sit and rest before heading back down. Here you will find a breathtaking alpine lake, with the dominant Sharkstooth above you. If you're lucky you will see marmots scurrying around the rocks. Be careful on your climb down, especially down the rocks at Timberline Falls and the snow fields that follow right after. This hike can be challenging but every drop of sweat and sore muscle is worth it. The views are amazing and there are many opportunities for breathtaking photos.