DIRECTIONS:

Get a reservation for timed entry to Rocky Mountain National Park, in advance, and if necessary, https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10086910. Enter the park, ideally, at the Beaver Meadows Entrance. Once through the entrance gate, turn south on Bear Lake Road. Follow Bear Lake Road for 8 1/4 miles to the Glacier Gorge Trailhead and good luck parking. Alternatively, during the summer, take the park shuttle from the park and ride on Bear Lake Road.

HIKE DESCRIPTION:

The hike to Alberta Falls is incredible! The only problem is that everyone else knows it’s incredible too. During the summer or fall this hike will be crowded. You can mitigate the crowds by hiking in the early morning, on weekdays, or in the evening. This hike is the start to two of my favorite hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park, Black Lake and Sky Pond, and all the other amazing destinations in between, like Mills Lake, and the Loch. When you are hiking those other, longer, trails this is the part of the hike that you try to breeze through because it is often very crowded…Alberta Falls is the reason that it’s crowded.

If you can find a time to hike and actually enjoy this trail segment, then it is an incredible hike. I took my 7 year old on an early summer, Wednesday evening hike and it was very enjoyable. It was wonderful to finally introduce him to the section of the park, as we often avoid it due to the crowds, this is a great hike for kids. The hike is easy enough though it does gain a bit of elevation. Almost the entire hike is through aspen groves and pine forest with footbridges and rock outcroppings along the way for views and rest-spots. Be sure to stay on the correct trail at the 1/4 mile point where there are two trail junctions in a row. The falls themselves, are powerful and beautiful. There is a popular viewpoint and if you can get a spot there, this is best vantage point for the falls. If the falls are not too crowded then you can scramble up the rocks to the top of the falls providing a view from the creek down as well as a grand view across the park.

If the falls are your destination then soak it in, and head back down the same way. If the falls are just the start of your adventure, then…I’m jealous of the sights you will see as you venture further into Glacier Gorge, this is why this area is a National Park, it truly is special…