RMNP: Hike to Sky Pond
During our trip to Rocky Mountain National Park this is the hike we almost did not go on, but are 100% thankful we make the trek. After completing the hike to Andrew’s Glacier our legs were gassed. We heard how beautiful Sky Pond was and decided to push through to the end. Little did we know we would end up climbing a waterfall and meeting some furry friends. From start to finish the hike to Sky Pond is 9.8 miles (15.8 km) with an elevation gain of 1,650ft (503m). It is and out and back, strenuous hike. Due to the waterfall scaling we do not recommend this one for kids or kids in carriers.
Start your hike at the Glacier Gorge parking lot. If the parking lot is full continue on to the Bear Lake parking lot and either take the shuttle to Glacier Gorge parking lot or hike the 0.4 mile connecting trail. At either trail follow signs for Alberta Falls. From the Glacier Gorge Parking lot, it is 0.8 mile to the falls. Alberta Falls is a 30-foot waterfall surrounded by beautiful aspen trees. There is lots of space to spread out and enjoy the views.
From Alberta Falls, follow signs for The Loch. The Loch is a large lake 2.3 miles from Alberta Falls. During this part of the hike we walked along Glacier Creek and had great views of the mountains. The woods were peaceful during the morning. We were amazed at how large the Loch was. There were kayakers, paddleboarders and fishermen/women enjoying their morning around the lake. We strolled around the lake and continued our hike.
Once you pass the Loch the path continues along Glacier Creek. There are meadows periodically dotting the landscape where we saw evidence of elk bedding there for the night. It was around half a mile to where the trail splits off towards Andrew’s Glacier versus Sky Pond. Continue straight and follow signs for Sky Pond. The next stop on our trek was Timberline Falls. This beautiful waterfall is a nice spot to stop and cool off before continuing the next part of the trail.
The next segment of the trail starts off with a bit of climbing. Far right of Timberline Falls there is a part of the falls where the water is slower or not flowing at all. Here there are several hand and foot hold spots to climb over the falls. Be wary, the rocks are quite slippery when water is flowing. After climbing over the falls it is a short walk to Lake of Glass.
Lake of Glass is another beautiful lake with brilliant color. We strolled around and met a very friendly marmot looking for snacks. He didn’t approach us but casually sat on a rock patiently waiting for a hiker to give him treats. As we continued our way around Lake of Glass we walked through some meadow and low brush areas. Finally, we reached our destination.
Sky Pond opened up before us with an epic view of Taylor’s Peak in the background. We also had some views of glaciers peeping out from over the ridge beyond the lake. We stopped here to rest and take in the moment. The water was a bit choppy in the breeze, the smell of pine filled the air and we had a big area of the lake to ourselves.
On our way back climbing down the waterfall was not as difficult as we thought it would be. The rest of the hike was a bit of a blur. Earlier in the day we hiked to Andrew’s Glacier. At this point we had woke up at 4am and then hiked over 8 hours of strenuous terrain so we were pretty tired. Once we got to Glacier Gorge parking lot we took the free shuttle to Bear Lake parking lot to retrieve our car. After 10 hours of hiking our bellies were ready for a heavy meal instead of protein bars and apples. We highly, highly recommend Nepal’s Cafe. We ate some of the best noodles we’ve ever had and the tea is was superb. We hope you enjoy this hike as much as we did. Happy hiking!
