The Spirit of the Rockies www.thespiritoftherockies.net

Hike Profiles for Rocky Mountain National Park and Surrounding Areas

Andrews Tarn

Andrews Tarn lies at the base of Andrews Glacier in the Loch Vale area of Rocky Mountain National Park. The small lake sits in a basin between Otis and Taylor Peaks, west of The Loch. The last mile of this hike is relatively steep as the narrow trail climbs out of the Icy Brook drainage to Andrews Tarn.

Distance: 4.7 miles one-way Lake elevation: 11,390 feet Trailhead elevation: 9,240 feet Net elevation gain: 2,150 feet Glacier Gorge Trailhead Rocky Mountain National Park

Andrews Tarn and Andrews Glacier

Major Trail Landmarks Alberta Falls (0.6 miles one-way from trailhead) Junction of Loch Vale and North Longs Peak Trails (1.3 miles one-way from trailhead) Junction of Loch Vale and Mills Lake Trails (1.9 miles one-way from trailhead) The Loch (2.7 miles one-way from trailhead) Junction of Loch Vale and Andrews Creek Trails (3.6 miles one-way from trailhead)

Principal Destinations Near Andrews Tarn Mills Lake (2.5 miles one-way from trailhead) - via Mills Lake Trail Timberline Falls (4.0 miles one-way from trailhead) - via Loch Vale to Sky Pond Trail Lake of Glass (4.2 miles one-way from trailhead) - via Loch Vale to Sky Pond Trail Sky Pond (4.6 miles one-way from trailhead) - via Loch Vale to Sky Pond Trail

Backcountry Campsites Near Andrews Tarn Andrews Creek (3.3 miles one-way from trailhead) - 1 individual site

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 when Bear Lake Road is open to vehicle traffic. The trailhead begins across the road to the south. The trail to Lake of Glass begins by hiking past Alberta Falls from Glacier Gorge Trailhead. Past the falls, there are two trail junctions. At the first junction, take the right-hand trail (the left-hand trail is the North Longs Peak Trail). At the second junction, the right-hand trail leads toward The Loch and Sky Pond (the left-hand trail leads to Mills Lake, and an unimproved trail also leads north to Lake Haiyaha). The trail then climbs a steeper grade to The Loch, passes along the north shore of this lake, and leads to a junction with the Andrews Creek Trail. The left-hand trail here leads toward Timberline Falls, Lake of Glass, and Sky Pond. Take the right-hand trail and hike the increasingly steep 1.1 miles to Andrews Tarn at the base of Andrews Glacier.

Sample photographs of the hike to Andrews Tarn

The Sharkstooth from near Andrews Tarn

Andrews Tarn, facing Otis Peak

Andrews Tarn topographic map

Principal summer trail marked by solid red line; unmaintained trail or route marked by dashed red line. Map is oriented with north to the top of the map

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All photographs are property of Mike Amfahr and are protected by copyright laws. Topographic map is property of and copyrighted by Maps a la carte, Inc., and is used on this site with permission.