The Loch
From USHikingtrails
The Loch
Known for its beauty and majestic setting, the Loch (also called Loch Vale) is one of the most popular destinations in Rocky Mountain National Park.
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Trailhead Information
Glacier Gorge Junction
Near To: Estes Park and Bear Lake, Colorado
Driving Directions To Trailhead
From Estes Park, continue west on Hwy 36 to the Beaver Meadows entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park. Just beyond the entrance, turn left and head south on Bear Lake Rd. for about 8.2 miles. Trailhead and parking lot are on the left. Restrooms available, no water. Due to its popularity, the trailhead parking lot is often full by 8:00 on summer weekends. If so, you can continue about 1 mile further and park at the Bear Lake lot (a 1/2 mile trail connects to the Alberta Falls trail). Alternately, you can drive back on Bear Lake Rd. to the Park & Ride shuttle bus parking area across from Glacier Basin Campground, where you can park your car and ride the shuttle bus to Glacier Gorge Junction. See the Rocky Mountain National Park Shuttle Bus Information Page for shuttle bus stops and schedules.
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Glacier Gorge Junction
Maps & Images Lat: 40.31045 Long: -105.64035
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Trail & Hike Description
The trail to The Loch starts at Glacier Gorge Junction. The initial part of the trail is the route to Alberta Falls (see the entry for Alberta Falls for more details on the lower part of the trail). After leaving the falls, the trail strays away from the creek for a time and climbs a hillside above Glacier Creek. Soon, it winds its way near to the creek again, providing pleasant views of the creek as you hike upward. At about 1.9 miles, the trail intersects with the North Longs Peak Trail (an alternate route to Longs Peak from the well-known route that starts on the east side of the Peak off of Hwy 7). A short distance further, the trail flattens out and turns to the west, skirting along the edge of the Glacier Creek valley through a rock-strewn area. This rocky stretch is mercifully short, and the trail soon enters a more heavily forested area. At about 2 miles from the trailhead, you first reach the junction of the trail to Lake Haiyaha to the right, almost immediately followed by the trail to Mills Lake, branching to the left. Here you proceed straight.
The last 0.7 miles to The Loch travels alongside and above Icy Brook. After leaving the trail intersection, the ascent steepens. Before the first switchback, there is an overlook which provides a view of the brook as it cascades down the canyon. After a number of switchbacks, you arrive at the northeast end of The Loch, offering some of the most magnificent vistas of the lake and surrounding peaks. Beyond the Loch is Taylor Peak and Powell Peak. Andrews Glacier is visible from most vantage points.
A rocky peninsula extends into the lake, offering numerous places to spread out a picnic lunch and to enjoy the views.
Those seeking more adventure can continue on to Timberline Falls, Lake Of Glass and Sky Pond (see separate trail description, about 1.3, 1.5 and 1.9 miles respectively, with about 900 feet altitude gain to Sky Pond). Or you can return 0.7 miles to the trail junction, and on the 1/2 mile to Mills Lake. (My favorite option for a day's outing - two of the Park's finest lakes in one day!) For a loop, the trek to Lake Haiyaha is about 1 mile from the trail intersection, then an additional 2.1 miles to the Bear Lake Trailhead, passing Dream Lake along the way. Or you can return to Glacier Gorge Junction, adding a rest stop and Alberta Falls.
The Loch In Winter
Snowshoeing to The Loch
The first route follows a summer horse route that branches off to the right (south) of the Alberta Falls Trail at the second wooden bridge from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead (GPS Coordinates N40.3066, W105.6414). The route ascends more directly than the summer trail - but is steeper in places, easily negotiable with snowshoes, but possibly a challenge for the skier. Winding through pine and aspen forest and rock outcroppings, the trail eventually joins the junction of the trails leading to Lake Haiyaha, Mills Lake, The Loch and Alberta Falls (GPS Coordinates N40.2976, W105.6455). Continue towards Mills Lake, and near the triangular hitching rail, the trail splits, the left-hand route going on to Mills Lake, and the right-hand route to The Loch. From here, the trail enters the streambed of Icy Brook, the frozen stream itself becoming the trail. The incline gradually increases, until a final, steep ascent near the lake, surrounded by rocky walls of the canyon on either side. At the top of the ascent, you leave the canyon, and arrive at the northeast corner of Mills Lake.
The second route follows the trail to Alberta Falls. At the Falls, instead of veering to the right and ascending the summer trail, snowshoe directly up the Falls, and continue up the frozen streambed of Glacier Creek. There are a couple of small dropoffs that require some scrambling, but are easily negotiable. You'll soon arrive at a wooden footbridge, the point where the North Longs Peak Trail crosses Glacier Creek. At this point, we climbed out of the riverbed, and followed the summer trail to the southeast, paralleling Glacier Creek, to the junction of the trails leading to Lake Haiyaha, Mills Lake, The Loch and Alberta Falls. From this point, follow the Icy Brook streambed, as described in the first route above.
When we snowshoed this route in early March, we took the route up Glacier Creek to The Loch, and returned via the first route, down the summer horse trail.
For those willing to undertake a moderately difficult snowshoe hike, the winter trek to The Loch offers views of Rocky Mountain National Park and Glacier Gorge that are much different than those seen in summer: More serene, in ways more stark, yet providing spectacular beauty reserved only for the winter hiker. See photos in the Photo Gallery below for examples.
External Links & References
Suggested hike list on National Park Service Rocky Mountain National Park web site
The Loch Picture Gallery
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Click on the picture to see a larger version. Contribute additional pictures - the more the better! |
 Glacier Creek below The Loch |
The Loch (Loch Vale) and Andrews Glacier in the background |
 The Loch |
 Alberta Falls In Winter |
 Glacier Gorge In Winter - Taken Above Alberta Falls |
 Bridge Over North Longs Peak Trail At Glacier Creek |
 Final Ascent Up Icy Brook Streambed To The Loch |
The Loch In Winter |
