Sight · Rocky Mountain National Park
After a real climb, alpine peaks mirror across the lake.
Overview
The Loch is a subalpine lake tucked into Glacier Gorge beneath a steep wall of peaks. It earns the hike for its close-up basin view of Taylor Peak and Taylor Glacier. Plan on about 6 miles out and back and 990 feet of climbing from Glacier Gorge Junction; at roughly 10,190 feet, it feels like a real uphill outing, not an easy lake stroll.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs the uphill worth it?Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Rocky Mountain Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Rocky Mountain National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Rocky Mountain audio tourRecorded for this place
Glacier Gorge and Alberta Falls“The Glacier Gorge trailhead is coming up, the starting point for Alberta Falls.”
Plays as you drive up to The Loch in the Parkwolf Rocky Mountain Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“…No cell service for majority of the day but had continuous access to the app - the maps, the tour guide as you drive is amazing. Highly recommend purchasing the subscription.”
Guide
The trail passes Alberta Falls, then keeps climbing beside Icy Brook and up steep switchbacks before the lake opens into view. The route carries on toward Sky Pond, but The Loch makes a satisfying destination on its own; continuing is a much longer day. Start with enough daylight for the return, especially if you plan to go farther.
Taylor Peak and Taylor Glacier rise across the water, while Thatchtop and Sharkstooth frame the gorge. Put the water in the foreground for the classic reflection; from the north side, Powell Peak comes into view too. This is a photo stop worth the walk to the lake, not a roadside pullout.
The lake sits in Loch Vale, a high-elevation watershed carved by glaciers. Researchers have monitored the basin for decades, tracking what arrives in rain and snow along with streamflow, lake and stream chemistry and biology, weather, and plant species. The still water is part of a much longer record of how a remote mountain ecosystem changes.
Wildlife
3,124 sightingsElkMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
1,601 sightingsMooseMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
19 sightingsMountain GoatMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
19 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
30 sightingsGolden EagleMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
270 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 11 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Rocky Mountain. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ModerateFour Lakes Loop5.7 mi · 4 hr · 1.5 mi awayFour lakes and Alberta Falls on a high country loop
ModerateEmerald Lake Trail3.4 mi · 2.5 hr · 1.5 mi awayThree alpine lakes, then Hallett Peak and a waterfall.
EasyBear Lake Loop0.6 mi · 30 min · 1.5 mi awayA short lakeside loop with Hallett Peak in view.
ModerateLake Haiyaha Trail4.2 mi · 3.5 hr · 1.5 mi awayA boulder-lined alpine lake beyond Nymph and Dream lakes.
ChallengingBear Lake to Fern Lake Trailhead9.2 mi · 7 hr · 1.5 mi awayTwo lake detours, then a long descent to Fern Falls.
ModerateBear Lake to Two Rivers Lake and Lake Helene Trail6.3 mi · 3.5 hr · 1.5 mi awayTwo high lakes, faint spurs, and a close view of Notchtop.ChallengingOdessa Lake Trail from Bear Lake8.2 mi · 5.5 hr · 1.5 mi awayA long climb, then Odessa Gorge opens to the lake.
ModerateBierstadt Lake from Bear Lake Trailhead4.4 mi · 3 hr · 1.5 mi awayA Bear Lake climb to a lakeshore under the Continental Divide.
Sight · 0.8 mi awayTimberline FallsA 100-foot waterfall above The Loch, after a hard climb.
Sight · 0.8 mi awayMills LakeA ten-acre glacier-carved lake beneath the peaks of Glacier Gorge.Sight · 0.9 mi awayLake HaiyahaA mountain lake tinted green by a 2022 rockslide.
Sight · 1.2 mi awaySky PondA long climb ends at a high lake ringed by spires.
Sight · 1.2 mi awayDream LakeA mile from Bear Lake, Hallett Peak fills the skyline.
Sight · 1.2 mi awayNymph LakeA short uphill walk to summer lily pads and mountain views.
Sight · 1.3 mi awayAlberta FallsA short, uphill hike ends at a thunderous waterfall.
Sight · 1.3 mi awayEmerald LakeThree lakes in, the trail ends beneath steep mountain walls.Parkwolf’s Rocky Mountain ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
