Black Lake Trail

Black Lake Trail is a 9.6-mile out-and-back from Glacier Gorge Trailhead to Black Lake, passing Alberta Falls, Mills Lake and Jewel Lake before Ribbon Falls and a high cirque beneath McHenrys Peak and Chiefs Head. Count 4.8 miles each way and about 1,400 feet of gain. Allow about seven hours with stops. The route earns the effort with scenery all along the way, but it is a strenuous, high-elevation hike; if you are short on time, Mills Lake is a strong shorter turnaround.

After crossing Chaos Creek, follow the left branch at the first junction; the right branch heads toward Bear Lake. Alberta Falls comes at about 0.8 mile. At 1.6 miles, turn right at North Longs Peak Trail. Roughly half a mile later, turn left at Mills Junction; straight continues toward The Loch and Sky Pond, while the right branch goes toward Lake Haiyaha. Follow the signed Black Lake route from there. These junctions are easy to mistake when several popular hikes share the same approach.

At about 2.6 miles, reach Mills Lake, tucked below Half Mountain. The rocky east shore is a good place to pause, with the Keyboard of the Winds, Pagoda Mountain, Chiefs Head Peak and Thatchtop in view. Mills Lake is named for Enos Mills, whose lectures, lobbying and thousands of letters and articles helped lead to the park’s creation in 1915. The trail skirts the lake’s eastern side to Jewel Lake at about 3.1 miles, where the mountain backdrop grows more imposing. Wooden bridges carry the path across marshy ground between and above the lakes; it is possible moose habitat, so scan the wet meadows without counting on a sighting.

Past Jewel Lake, the trail climbs steadily through subalpine forest. At roughly 3.5 miles, pass the side trail toward Glacier Gorge Campground and stay on the main route. The walk changes from lake shore and bridges to a quieter, narrower valley. Alberta Falls and the small Glacier Falls side path are earlier waterfall stops, but save some time for the larger cascade higher up.

A meadow opens toward Ribbon Falls at about 4.6 miles. Climb beside the falls, then pick through rough rock and boulders for the final approach to Black Lake, around 4.8 miles from the trailhead. The lake fills a glacier-carved cirque below McHenrys Peak and Chiefs Head Peak. From the north shore, The Arrowhead rises off to the right, McHenrys stands ahead, and The Spearhead and Chiefs Head sit above the headwall. Keep a strip of water in the frame to show how the rock walls tower over the lake, and stay on the established shore.

The 9.6-mile figure counts the full return walk from Glacier Gorge Trailhead. A separate 5.0-mile one-way figure begins at Glacier Gorge Junction, while trailhead directions put Black Lake about 4.8 miles each way. The longer 11.7-mile route continues past Black Lake toward Frozen Lake; that is not this hike. Glacier Gorge parking is off Bear Lake Road and fills early. If the lot is full, use the Park & Ride and the Bear Lake shuttle when it is operating. During the seasonal timed-entry period, entering Bear Lake Road requires the Bear Lake Road reservation during designated hours; check the current entry rules before you go. Pets are prohibited on park trails.