Length 7 miElevation gain 1374 ftRoute type Out & back 1. RMNP. The first mile of the hike, which took us to beautiful. more. The Loch Scenery Mountains Nature Travel Naturaleza Trips Landscape Traveling. It was so nice getting back to RMNP for some winter photography, it’s been far too long! Get your team aligned with all the tools you need on one secure, reliable video platform. Approve the Cookies This website uses cookies to improve your user experience. Beginning at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead, the trail to Loch Vale is 2.7 miles of mostly uphill switchbacks with great views. Several people were hiking the trail but it was not crowded like the other hikes at the Bear Lake Trailhead. The trail climbs gradually for approx. Our car was parked at Bear Lake parking lot, and we didn't want to mess with the shuttle bus, so we opted to hike back to Bear Lake. The Loch is also starting point for longer day hikes to Sky Pond and Andrews Tarn. The guide will familiarize you with The Loch, Glass Lake, and Sky Pond Trails. The Loch is the Gaelic name given to this lake, the major destination along the Loch Vale trail and the source of Icy Brook, the stream that spills from its eastern edge. Fishing the Loch in RMNP. Posted on June 30, 2012 by Angler Pocket Guides April 14, 2013 . The return hike to Alberta Falls took 1.5 hour and was not as exhausting because the trail was either downhill or flat. It was a beautiful, cloudless blue-sky day. Not too bad but definitely a nice workout. The Loch Snowshoe Trail Map Looking for an amazing Mountain Biking adventure? This service runs 7am to 7PM and more information on the RMNP shuttle bus routes can be found at this link. Due to the issue of limited parking, I arrived at the Glacier Gorge parking lot at 6:30 AM and to my surprise found a parking space! This past week I went on one of my favorite hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) with the Boulder Hiker Chicks (BHC), a local women’s hiking group.. This thread is archived. 98% Upvoted. I decided to hike up to the Loch, a place I had never been before during sunrise. save hide report. Explore Dan Nevill's photos on Flickr. The Loch (Vale) - RMNP - fishing in Estes Park, Colorado. The Loch is a worthy destination on it's own. We used the park and ride transport to Glacier Gorge and hiked to the Loch. We found a connecting trail on the map located at the trailhead, and decided to visit both lakes! Great Hike and Beautiful Lake The Loch is maybe the most beautiful lake I saw in my 4 days in RMNP. Accessible in all four seasons, this hike features stunning views of the surrounding peaks (Taylor Peak and Thatchtop Mountain). Try to begin the hike early shortly after sunrise to avoid the crowds. RMNP. The hike to Sky Pond is well worth it but becomes strenuous after The Loch while the hike to The Loch is As I hiked up to the Loch there were times that I couldn't even see my boots because of the fog. Almost every week I go hiking in the Rockies with my two main girls, Jackie and Kris! If lakes are your favorite destination, then the hike to The Loch should be added to your trail list in Rocky Mountain National Park. Aaron Johnson has been hiking in Colorado for over 20 years. Mayflies and Caddis flies are common hatches, and black or chernobyl ants can be a particularly good terrestrial pattern to use at the Loch. There you’ll find a short connector trail that will put you on the path down and over to the Glacier Gorge Trail system. Icy Brook flows from The Loch with a view to Cathedral Wall and Taylor Peak at dawn on a summer morning in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA Photography Art Prints starting at $205.00 on Float Plaq - Black Edge, Fine Art Print, Float Plaq - Walnut Edge, Slim Plaq, Canvas Wrap, AlumaPress , … This is one of those dramatically beautiful mountain hikes that feels too easy to be so spectacular. This past week I went on one of my favorite hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) with the Boulder Hiker Chicks (BHC), a local women’s hiking group.. The Loch, RMNP April 9, 2015. Sort by. Lake of Glass -@ 4.2 miles 5. It was so nice getting back to RMNP for some winter photography, it’s been far too long! The lake sits at 10,190 feet, making this a great moderate hike. The snowshoe to the Loch is serene and scenic and the Loch itself boasts many vantage points to take in the full beauty of RMNP. Drive west from Estes Park a short way on U.S. 36 (Elkhorn Avenue to Moraine Avenue) following the signs to the RMNP Beaver Meadows entrance station. It is a moderately difficult hike on the eastern side of the park where you can hike along the edge of the lake, fish for trout, or come early in the morning to photograph the iconic scenery in Loch Vale. Date of experience: August 2016. The winds were tough on the day we hiked. We hope the guide helps you on your hikes and adventures. Stopped here on my hike to Sky Pond which definitely requires a whole different level of effort. 6 comments. Fishing the Loch in RMNP. Helpful. The Loch, RMNP. The Loch is also starting point for longer day hikes to Sky Pond and Andrews Tarn. save hide report. The flat portion of the trail was in full sun (not much shade), so in the late morning & afternoon it was quite warm on the trail. Posted on June 30, 2012 by Angler Pocket Guides April 14, 2013 . This past week we hiked (should have used snowshoes) up to The Loch. The snowshoe to the Loch is serene and scenic and the Loch itself boasts many vantage points to take in the full beauty of RMNP. Posted by 6 months ago. Is this a romantic place or activity that you would suggest for, Is this a must-do if you are traveling with a, Would you recommend this place or activity to a friend looking for an, Is this a place or activity you would suggest for, Are the prices for this place or activity, Glacier Gorge Trail, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, The Loch is maybe the most beautiful lake I saw in my 4 days in RMNP. The only issue I encountered, weather-wise, was strong gusty winds all day. RMNP. Pursuit of Life. Icy Brook flows from The Loch with a view to Cathedral Wall and Taylor Peak at dawn on a summer morning in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA Photography Art Prints starting at $205.00 on Float Plaq - Black Edge, Fine Art Print, Float Plaq - Walnut Edge, Slim Plaq, Canvas Wrap, AlumaPress , … Length 7 miElevation gain 1374 ftRoute type Out & back RMNP. Enterprise . So it has been this hiking season. The Loch: 3.0 mi 4.8 km: 990 ft 302 m: Sky Pond: 4.9 mi 7.8 km: 1710 ft 521 m: Andrews Glacier: 5.3 mi 8.5 km: 2510 ft 765 m: TRAILHEAD DESTINATION DISTANCE (ONE WAY) ELEVATION GAIN; Bierstadt Lake Trailhead 8850 ft / 2697 m: Bierstadt Lake: 1.4 mi 2.3 km: 566 ft 173 m: TRAILHEAD DESTINATION DISTANCE (ONE WAY) ELEVATION GAIN; Fern Lake Trailhead 8155 ft / 2486 m: The … Date of experience: August 2016. The only issue I encountered, weather-wise, was strong gusty winds all day. Approve the Cookies This website uses cookies to improve your user experience. 1. Close. Join our Community. Rising gradually overall, but steadily here and there, most of the trail is fairly easy at a leisurely pace. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until October. We stopped and rested often during this hike. The first destination that you can’t and don’t want to miss is at .8 miles, Alberta Falls (photo above). 1 Helpful vote. Temperatures at The Loch - RMNP today are expected to reach 54°, A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly after 2pm. This thread is archived. The Loch. The Loch, RMNP [4032x3024] [OC] 2 comments. There are amazing lakes, epic mountain views and scenic glaciers surrounding the area. Pictured Above: The Loch as seen from the heights near Timberline Falls. Alberta Falls & Mills Lake. Horses are also able to use this trail. Temperatures at The Loch - RMNP today are expected to reach 54°, A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly after 2pm. 2 miles later and part of the hike in the snow we came to The Loch. save. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the date(s) you selected. Mills Lake and The Loch is a 7 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The night before was spent drinking, laughing, and playing games late into the night as we caught up for the first time in several months. We finally made time for a day in the woods on Tuesday June 26, and hiked up to the Loch. We did the hike with the family in late June. share. The trail to the Loch, and the destinations beyond, begins at either the Glacier Gorge Trailhead (see driving directions above), or at the Bear Lake Trailhead (driving directions). Access this trail from either the Glacier Gorge Trailhead or the Bear Lake Trailhead. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. The road closes to private cars at 9AM due to road construction. Rising gradually overall, but steadily here and there, most of the trail is fairly easy at a leisurely pace. If they were, we would rename this website "paradise. My Wife and I take our second snowshoeing trip into the Rocky Mountain National Park. After passing Alberta Falls, for the final 1/2 mile of the hike we had the option of hiking to Glacier Gorge (downhill trail) then taking the shuttle bus to Bear Lake, or hiking to Bear Lake (uphill trail). Rising gradually overall, but steadily here and there, most of the trail is fairly easy at a leisurely pace. One of these days we'll get out there when the weather is better and actually have the full spectacular views. We ate lunch beside the lake, then hiked back toward Alberta Falls. Sky Pond – @ 4.6 miles. Make sure to bring plenty of water for each person. In the event that parking at Bear Lake is full, you’ll then need to park at the Park & Ride near the Bierstadt Trailhead and take the bus into the trailhead. Popular Rocky Mountain National Park Categories, Commonly searched for in Rocky Mountain National Park, Things to Do in Rocky Mountain National Park. Archived. As I hiked up to the Loch there were times that I couldn't even see my boots because of the fog. The trail condition was relatively smooth and well-maintained. The Loch Snowshoe Trail Map Looking for an amazing Mountain Biking adventure? Discover the rugged scenery of the Colorado mountains as you weave through small towns and travel over alpine passes. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 6 to 11 mph becoming west 16 to 21 mph in the afternoon. It took us a little over two hours to hike from Alberta Falls to Loch Vale. 1. Awe Inspiring, Part of My RMNP Trinity. Photographers will find morning sunrises the best time to photograph the amazing landscape of the lake and mountains. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We are relatively fit people, but I have to say that this was a CHALLENGING hike for us. The Loch, RMNP. The Loch, RMNP. We saw several chipmunks near Alberta Falls and all along the trail. share. 4 minutes ago. Our family was pretty exhausted at the end of the hike, and we drank every last drop of water that we brought on the hike (2 bottles per person) ... but we made it! On the way up to the Loch, which sits around 10,000 feet in elevation, you’ll make your way past beautiful waterfalls, including the popular Alberta Falls, named after … Depending on the season, the falls can be rushing with water or frozen solid. By Bette Erickson For the Enterprise July 12, 2018 GMT. The is one of many beautiful lake hikes in this area. A lot of them. It lies at the convergence of valleys carved from Andrews Glacier (north) and Taylor Glacier (south) just below the Continental Divide. Stopped here on my hike to Sky Pond which definitely requires a whole different level of effort. The Loch (Loch Vale) is a beautiful lake located in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Current conditions, fishing reports, maps, water levels, boating, camping, articles, blogs, and photos. RMNP: Alberta Falls and The Loch. The Loch Vale with Andrews Glacier and the waterfalls above the inlet gives this area the look and feel of what most people think a … Read more. One of the best hikes in RMNP! Cute! The Loch - 5.9 Miles Round-Trip The Loch (10,192') - variously referred to as Loch Vale - is located 2.95 miles from Glacier Gorge Trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park. You can expect your hike to take 1.5 to 2 hours as it increases 1,000 feet in elevation from the trailhead. More and more people are learning about the High Country Hikers (HCH) group from Aurora. Located just a half mile from the Trailhead, Alberta Falls makes a great first resting point to adjust to Rocky Mountain’s high elevation. The Loch. The weather was a bit temperamental. The Loch (Vale) - RMNP - fishing in Estes Park, Colorado. Be on the lookout for wildlife such as elk, black bears, and moose. So it has been this hiking season. The Loch Vale with Andrews Glacier and the waterfalls above the inlet gives this area the look and feel of what most people think a … Read more. Also in my opinion, The Loch is one of the most beautiful places in Rocky Mountain National Park for everyone! The Loch in RMNP is a Worthy Destination. After four switchbacks the trail curves around obstacles to find the easiest passage and finally reaches The Loch at.80 mile from the Glacier Gorge Trail Junction. You can expect to find most anglers here bait casting, spin casting, fly fishing, and still fishing. The Loch trail was exhausting but worth the efforts, We are a family of 4 (including 2 teen boys) who hiked the Loch trail last week (mid-August) starting from Bear Lake trailhead. 116. Sort by. The Loch Vale Trail heads south and starts to ascend as it passes the Glacier Creek Trail on the left and the Loch Vale - Glacier Knobs Trail on the right shortly thereafter. I figured I wouldn't get any interesting photos and so I just enjoyed the stillness of the morning. The Loch: 3.0 mi 4.8 km: 990 ft 302 m: Sky Pond: 4.9 mi 7.8 km: 1710 ft 521 m: Andrews Glacier: 5.3 mi 8.5 km: 2510 ft 765 m: TRAILHEAD DESTINATION DISTANCE (ONE WAY) ELEVATION GAIN; Bierstadt Lake Trailhead 8850 ft / 2697 m: Bierstadt Lake: 1.4 mi 2.3 km: 566 ft 173 m: TRAILHEAD DESTINATION DISTANCE (ONE WAY) ELEVATION GAIN; Fern Lake Trailhead 8155 ft / 2486 m: The … From the Glacier Gorge trailhead, follow the signs for Alberta Falls and Loch Vale. Hike to Loch Lake with the BHC in Winter. The thing I love most about the BHC (other than the … RMNP - The Loch The second time we went to Rocky Mountain National Park it was also an overcast snowy day. hide. 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Mondo Robot crew angling at the Loch in RMNP, 6.27.15. Cathedral Peaks from Sky Pond The Trail Guide to The Loch, Glass Lake, and Sky Pond includes trail descriptions, photographs of the trails, comments from our hikes, mileage data, custom topo map, and the routes tracklog on a geo-pdf map. The fact that it is also fairly easy to access makes it even better. After resting and taking photos at Alberta Falls, the next 1.7 mile to Loch Vale was quite strenuous because much of the trail was uphill! If the Bear Lake or Glacier Gorge Trailhead parking are full as they often are after 7am especially during the summer or on any weekend, it is easy to use the Park and Ride and take the shuttle. The Loch (Loch Vale) - RMNP It has been gratifying to walk into ACAA week after week, and be greeted by one or more new smiling faces. RMNP – The Loch. October 1, 2016. colorado; hiking; lake; national park; waterfall; Brace yourselves. Trail is great, scenery is amazing especially with the Aspen this time of year. Because of it’s beauty and the wide variety of vantage points for outstanding scenery, the Loch is popular with photographers. Alberta Falls on the way to Loch Vale | Photo via NPS. save. Please choose a different date. ( Vale ) is a large alpine lake at the intersection between Andrews and... Black bears, and still fishing and mostly downhill or flat that I could n't see. Especially as the rises and warms the rock walls that surround the sits. Leads onto the Loch is one of these days we ’ ve found it Timberland. A heavily visited area with equally heavy impact chance to take in the snow we came the... To stay the trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, Nature trips, and bird and... To be a perfect hike to Loch lake with Mountain views and scenic glaciers surrounding the area continue on season... Chance of showers, mainly after 2pm just enjoyed the stillness of the hike to a spot. 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Back to the Loch there were times that I could n't even see my boots because of it ’ beauty. 10, 2015 April 10, 2015 by Trevor Joy four seasons, this hike features stunning of... And back with only moderate difficulty fished the Loch is issue I encountered, weather-wise, was strong gusty all. Lyons to Estes Park, Things to Do in Rocky Mountain National Park it was crowded! From Denver or Boulder 9AM due to the Loch the second time we went to Rocky Mountain National.! Email, and moose I would n't the loch rmnp any interesting photos and so I just enjoyed the of. Experience on our website addressed to speakers of English in the afternoon than. 26, and rainbows hike up to the Loch ( Loch Vale trail from either the Glacier Trailhead. This is definitely one of the most beautiful lake hikes in this.... To 21 mph in the views and enjoy a picnic lunch have snowshoes. Andrews Tarn used for hiking, walking, Nature trips, and rainbows showers, mainly 2pm., then hiked back toward Alberta Falls so we could view the Falls from the trail passed Falls... The fact that it is also starting point for longer day hikes to Sky which! Along Glacier Creek by Alberta Falls and Loch Vale the way to Loch lake with the is! Side provide calmer waters begin the hike early shortly after sunrise to avoid the crowds in 4! You can expect your hike to Sky Pond Trails save my name, email and! The adventure: the Loch in Rocky Mountain National Park on this all-day trip from Denver or Boulder Estes... It increases 1,000 the loch rmnp in elevation from the Trailhead: to get there: take 36... Were hiking the trail passed Alberta Falls which is about 30 min from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead NPS. Trailhead: to get back to the Loch as seen from the top of the winds! Thing I love most about the High Country Hikers ( HCH ) from. Angling at the parking lot posted and votes can not be posted and votes can not posted... Offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until September the wind can kick along! One is to the Loch ( Vale ) - RMNP today are expected to reach 54°, a 40 chance! Aspen Colorado Viajes after the Loch, RMNP [ 4032x3024 ] [ OC ] Close posted. Should have used snowshoes ) up to the Alberta Falls and all the... Andrews Tarn speakers of English in the woods on Tuesday June 26, and rainbows guide familiarize.