Day 4: Rocky Mountain National Park
Sky Pond via Glacier Gorge Trail
Friday, September 16, 2022 was my last, and definitely my longest, day at Rocky Mountain National Park, as it was the day I hiked to Sky Pond, a 9+ mile round-trip hike with approximately 1,600 feet of elevation gain. The trail is challenging, but rewarding, with spectacular views, making it one of the best hikes in the park.
I left the hotel at 4am, arriving at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead by 5am. There are two trailheads to reach Sky Pond: Glacier Gorge Trailhead and Bear Lake Trailhead. Glacier Gorge is the ideal place to start, as the distance is the shortest. But, the parking lot is small and fills up quickly. Arriving at 5am, I didn’t have any trouble finding a spot. According to nps.gov, it’s best to arrive at Glacier Gorge by 6am and Bear Lake by 8:30am to get parking. If both lots are full, the free park shuttle is a good alternative.
I again had a 6–8am timed-entry reservation to Rocky Mountain National Park, but I didn’t need to show it since I entered the park before 5am.
Once on the trail, I followed the signs to Alberta Falls and Sky Pond. Alberta Falls, one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the park, is about ¾ mile into the hike. Since it was still very early in the morning, I couldn’t see the falls very clearly at that hour, but I was excited to catch a better view on my way back down later in the day.
Past the falls, the trail gradually gains elevation. Around 2.5 miles in lies The Loch, a beautiful subalpine lake surrounded by mountains.
Beyond The Loch, the trail climbs again, leading to Timberline Falls, a waterfall you scramble up to reach Lake of Glass. The rocks are slippery, so take your time. If you have hiking poles, make sure to stow them in your pack so your hands are free for the scramble.
Beyond the scramble, Lake of Glass is just steps away, while Sky Pond is about a half-mile farther.
I reached Sky Pond around 10am, feeling exhilarated from the hike. My plan was to stay for a while, have a snack, and enjoy the accomplishment. However, the winds were strong at that altitude, so I didn’t last long before deciding to eat lunch back at The Loch.
I finished the hike around 2pm, taking just over 8 hours in total. Be sure to bring plenty of water, food, and layers for the hike. In my daypack, I carried my Patagonia jacket, long-sleeved base layer, dry-wick short-sleeved shirt, and rain jacket, and ended up using all of them at one point or another during the hike (it rained lightly for about 30 minutes on the way down).
After the hike, I stopped at Estes Park Mountain Shop to return the hiking poles I’d rented, then went back to the hotel to shower and change before driving Trail Ridge Road again to see the overlooks I’d missed on Wednesday.
Additional Overlooks on Trail Ridge Road
I drove as far west as Farview Curve Overlook, stopping briefly at Rainbow Curve Overlook, arriving at Farview Curve Overlook around 6pm. The overlook offers breathtaking views of the Kawuneeche Valley and the Never Summer Mountains, which form the park’s western boundary. Afterward, I made my way east, stopping at Medicine Bow Curve to take in the northernmost areas of the park. My last stop was Forest Canyon Overlook, where I arrived around 7pm, just in time for sunset.
Perched high above the forested slopes, the overlook offers sweeping views of Forest Canyon, Longs Peak, Stone’s Peak, Hayden Gorge, and the Gorge Lakes. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the changing hues of the sky reflected off the rugged peaks, creating a stunning display of color. It was a beautiful way to end the day.
Downtown Estes
Back in Estes Park, I dropped off the car and walked to Ed’s Cantina, a vibrant, locally owned restaurant serving traditional Mexican food, margaritas, and beer, where I treated myself to dinner and a margarita.
