Hike Profiles for Rocky Mountain National Park and Surrounding Areas

Sky Pond The hike to Sky Pond passes several lakes and waterfalls as it leads through Loch Vale to a shelf below Taylor Glacier and Taylor Peak. The outstanding scenery and varied environments along this trail make it a very popular trail for day hikers.

Distance: 4.9 miles one-way Lake elevation: 10,620 feet Trailhead elevation: 9,180 feet Net elevation gain: 1,440 feet Glacier Gorge Trailhead Rocky Mountain National Park

Sky Pond

The red star in the map above shows the relative location of Sky Pond to RMNP boundaries (in green) and major roads (in gold)

Major Trail Landmarks Alberta Falls (0.9 miles one-way from trailhead) North Longs Peak Trail junction (1.6 miles one-way from trailhead) Junction with Loch Vale / Mills Lake / Lake Haiyaha Trails (2.2 miles one-way from trailhead) The Loch (3.0 miles one-way from trailhead) Junction of Loch Vale and Andrews Creek Trails (3.9 miles one-way from trailhead) Timberline Falls (4.2 miles one-way from trailhead) Lake of Glass (4.5 miles one-way from trailhead)

Principal Destinations Near Sky Pond Mills Lake (2.8 miles one-way from trailhead) - via Mills Lake Trail Andrews Tarn (5.0 miles one-way from trailhead) - via Loch Vale to Andrews Creek Trail

Backcountry Campsites Near Sky Pond Andrews Creek [PDF Link] - (3.9 miles one-way from trailhead) - elevation 10,560' - 1 individual site

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. The trail to Sky Pond 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 and Sky Pond. At Timberline Falls, scramble briefly up slick rocks beside the falls before leveling on to a shelf at Lake of Glass. The trail narrows past Lake of Glass, but is visible as it makes its way to Sky Pond.

Sample photographs of the hike to Sky Pond

The Loch

Lake of Glass

Sky Pond and Taylor Peak

Sky Pond and the Cathedral Spires

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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.