Hike Profiles for Rocky Mountain National Park and Surrounding Areas
Alberta Falls

A very popular short hike to this waterfall begins from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead along Bear Lake Road.
Distance: 0.9 miles one-way

Waterfall elevation: 9,400 feet

Trailhead elevation: 9,180 feet

Net elevation gain: 220 feet

Glacier Gorge Trailhead

Rocky Mountain National Park
Alberta Falls in autumn
The red star in the map above shows relative location of Alberta Falls to RMNP boundaries (in green) and major roads (in gold)
Major Trail Landmarks
Glacier Basin and Bear Lake connector trail junctions (0.3 miles from trailhead)
Principal Destinations Near Alberta Falls
Bear Lake (0.8 miles one-way from trailhead) - via Bear Lake/Glacier Gorge connector trail
Mills Lake (2.8 miles one-way from trailhead) - via Glacier Gorge Trail
The Loch (3.0 miles one-way from trailhead) - via Glacier Gorge and Loch Vale Trails
Backcountry Campsites Near Alberta Falls
There are no designated campsites close to Alberta Falls
The Glacier Gorge Trailhead is on the east side of the Continental Divide near Bear Lake. From the Beaver
Meadows Entrance Station on U.S. Highway 36, head west less than a quarter mile and turn south on Bear
Lake Road (toward Moraine Park). Follow Bear Lake Road approximately 9 miles to the small parking
area at Glacier Gorge. This lot often fills up early in the morning, especially in summer months. This area
is also accessible by the Bear Lake shuttle service when applicable, normally May through October. Note
that the Glacier Gorge Trailhead was moved in 2004, resulting in an additional 0.3 miles of hiking distance
each way. This change is not reflected in older guidebooks or maps.

This is a short hike, and is only moderately steep (approximately 5 % grade). Alberta Falls is typically visited
en route to other popular Glacier Gorge destinations, but is also a popular destination itself.
Sample photographs of the hike to Alberta Falls
Glacier Gorge Trailhead
Trail to Alberta Falls in spring
Trailside aspens in spring snow
Alberta Falls
Alberta Falls topographic map
Principal summer trail marked by solid red line; unmaintained trail/route marked by dashed red line.
Map is oriented with north to the top of the map

USGS Quad Map: McHenrys Peak - Latitude: 40.304 deg. N - Longitude: 105.638 deg. W
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Topographic map is property of and copyrighted by Maps a la carte, Inc., and is used on this site with permission.