For a vacation that is active and adventurous, it's hard to top Rocky Mountain National Park. For a real challenge, try the Sky Pond hike from the Glacier Gorge trailhead Find out what makes this epic hike worth the trek!
Parking Areas
If possible, park in the glacier gorge parking lot, but it is small and usually full in peak season. If not, continue on Bear Lake Road to the Bear Lake parking lot which is much bigger and where you can almost always find a parking spot. From there you hike downhill half a mile to the Sky Pond Trail or catch the free park shuttle straight down to Glacier Gorge.
First Time Tips
First, you'll want to make sure you have the appropriate timed entry reservation for both the park and access to Bear Lake Road Corridor if you're planning to drive instead of taking the shuttle bus. You can read more about that process in our post Visiting Estes Park. If you're hiking in the summer months, get an early start if you can. Not an early riser? No problem, just pack a raincoat. The later you're up there, the more likely the chance of rain. Pack lots of water to stay hydrated in this higher elevation. Ideally, have a reservoir so that you can sip throughout your trek.
Sky Pond Trail
We did this hike in early July. The trail begins very wide and well established with moderate elevation gain until you get to Alberta Falls. Alberta Falls is a very picturesque, large, loud scenic waterfall with lots of big rocks. (Careful with kids!) Keep going on this trail, and once you're past Alberta Falls the trail becomes more rocky. You'll be going up a ridge and gaining elevation very quickly. At this point you'll be thankful you're wearing hiking boots that extend past your ankles to provide more support (hopefully waterproof!) This is over a mile and then you'll hit Loch Vale Trail. There will be a split here and you'll go to the right to reach Sky Pond. The left will take you to Black Lake (beware of mosquito swarms).
Loch Vale Trail
The hike from here is steep grade, lots of boulders, switchbacks, but with a very impressive view of the river and Glacier Gorge. When you reach the loch (Scottish for lake) you might encounter a little bit of snow even in the summer season. As you walk around the lake, it's flatter and a nice break on your ankles. It's about a mile around the lake. Then your last stretch when you're fully past the loch is very steep. It is straight up mountain climbing with large steps and basically climbing staircases. Next you'll see a snow bank and waterfall. You can cross the snow or go around it, depending on the time of year you go. You'll want to wear spikes, be super careful, or go around it if you can.
You'll next go up about 100 feet of rock scrambling up a waterfall. It's wet, slippery, and exhilarating. It's doable, just tread carefully. When you reach the top, you'll see the Lake of Glass. You might think this is Sky Pond, but it is not. It is beautiful though with snow banks around it, huge boulders, and of course the idyllic glass lake.
Next, you'll climb up a rock formation and follow a short winding trail next to an icy brook, up some more boulders, and you'll reach your final destination of Sky Pond. This medium sized lake is surrounded by mountain cliffs and glaciers. It's fed by waterfalls from the glaciers. You might see trout and marmots. It's a great place to explore, fish, or just hang out and enjoy the view for as long as you want. Just keep an eye on the weather. This is the highest you can go without technical rock climbing gear, which is really cool!
Skill Level
Sky Pond hike in Rocky Mountain National Park is not suitable for all skill levels. It would fall somewhere between moderate and difficult, clocking in at almost 10 miles. There are parts that you cannot do without climbing up rock walls. All Trails classifies it as "hard" with 1,774 feet of elevation gain. When you're climbing those rocks and doing the uphills, you'll feel like you're doing a cardio workout. Your heart rate will be high and you'll have the weight of your pack on you. Spending a day to adjust to the altitude would be helpful before attempting this hike, especially if you're prone to altitude sickness. Not quite ready for such a tough hike? If you're looking for an easy hike to experience at Rocky Mountain National Park, try the Bear Lake trailhead and maybe start with the Emerald Lake hike.
Recommended Gear
This is one of our favorite hikes, but there are a few pieces of gear we were really glad we had:
- A Good Pack: A framed pack like this one keeps the weight off of your back and shoulders. With a hip belt, it transfers the weight to your hips. This particular pack is water resistant with a rain cover, so there's no chance of your things getting wet. It has a water reservoir and 35 liters of space for extra water and your essential rain jacket/snacks.
- Water Bottle: When purchasing a water bottle choose one that is light weight, doesn't leak, and insulates. This one is our pick.
- Traction Cleats: When you're walking around on snowy ledges, you'll want to slip these traction cleats on to prevent you from slipping. They go on easily and stay put to give you just enough grab to keep you in place.
- Good Boots: These are the top of the line, but something like this would be a good choice for this type of hike. If you're an avid hiker you will definitely want to invest in a good pair of hiking boots. They will last you a long time. These boots are 100% water proof and will protect you from things like snow and jagged rocks.
- Waterproof Sunscreen: Remember, at this elevation you will burn easier (and experience wind burn). You'll want sunscreen and a wide brimmed hat.
