RMNP: Hike to Alberta Falls

The hike to Alberta Falls is a nice one for families. You will walk through beautiful Aspens and pines, have nice views of the mountains and enjoy the peaceful sound of Andrew’s Creek along the way. Starting from Glacier Gorge parking lot the hike is 0.8 miles long. There is an elevation gain of 160 ft (49 Meters). The trail is very popular and well maintained. Be sure to start early in the morning to avoid large crowds.

To begin your hike, start in the Glacier Gorge parking lot and follow signs for Alberta Falls. If the parking lot is full continue driving till you reach Bear Lake parking lot and follow signs for Alberta Falls from there. It is 0.4 miles walk from Bear Lake to where the trail meets up with the one from Glacier Gorge parking lot. (The hike would be 0.9 miles total from Bear Lake parking lot.) The beginning of the trail at Bear Lake is downhill so on your way back take the free shuttle from Glacier Gorge back to Bear Lake to save yourself from more uphill trekking.

Once on the trail to Alberta Falls take your time and enjoy your surroundings. We stopped several places to take pictures. The Aspen trees are super photogenic, especially in the fall.

The sound of the falls will welcome you to your destination. There is a plethora of large rocks to sit on and have a snack. We did not linger for too long due to the fact we were hiking to Andrew’s Glacier, but the falls were a nice spot to rest and drink some water. From Alberta Falls there are many other trails you can take such as to The Loch, Sky Pond or Glacier Gorge. As mentioned before this trail also links up with the ones around the Bear Lake area. Happy hiking!