Mills Lake Trail

Mills Lake is a 5.4-mile out-and-back from Glacier Gorge Junction Trailhead, following Glacier Gorge Trail to a rocky shore beneath the Continental Divide. It gives you two worthwhile stops in one walk: Alberta Falls first, then the lake. The route is listed at about 2.7 miles each way with 816 feet of climbing. Plan roughly three to four hours if you want time at both stops. It is a good half-day choice; if you only want a waterfall, turn around at Alberta Falls and make the walk about 1.6 miles round trip.

From the trailhead, cross Chaos Creek and keep left at the early split with Glacier Creek Trail. Alberta Falls appears a little over 0.8 mile in, where Glacier Creek drops about 30 feet into a narrow gorge. It is a fine payoff on its own, but the lake is still ahead. Beyond the falls, the path climbs through forest and across several creek bridges, with the terrain opening as you gain elevation.

At about 1.6 miles, turn right at the North Longs Peak junction. Roughly half a mile later, Mills Junction is the important choice: turn left for Mills Lake. Straight ahead continues toward The Loch and Sky Pond; the branch to the right climbs toward Lake Haiyaha. The routes share trail for a while, so follow the lake signs at the junctions instead of assuming the broadest path goes to Mills.

Around 2.4 miles, the trail crosses Glacier Creek by footbridge. A faint side path just before it leads to Glacier Falls; that is an optional detour, not part of the mapped route. Continue to the Mills Lake shore at about 2.7 miles, then return the same way.

The rocky shoreline looks across the water to the jagged Keyboard of the Winds, Pagoda Mountain, Chiefs Head Peak and Thatchtop. Give yourself a little time to sit by the water; this is more than a quick destination photo. For a good frame, keep some of the rocky shore or water in the foreground so the peaks have scale. The lake is named for Enos Mills, a naturalist and guide who spent years lecturing and lobbying for the park; Rocky Mountain National Park was established in 1915.

The trail is moderate, but the elevation changes the effort: you start above 9,000 feet and reach close to 10,000. The climb is steady, and several hikers report that the altitude makes it feel harder than the mileage suggests. Most of the route is dirt path with bridges over streams; the final stretch by the lake gets rockier and uneven underfoot. Take your time through that section, especially if you are not used to hiking high.

Start at Glacier Gorge Parking Area and Trailhead on Bear Lake Road. The parking area fills early; during the summer shuttle season, parking at Park & Ride and riding the Bear Lake Shuttle is the practical backup. Bear Lake Road has seasonal timed-entry rules, so check the park's current reservation requirements before driving up. There are no food stops on the walk. Pets are prohibited on park trails; trained service animals are allowed.

If the full 5.4 miles is more than you want, hike to Alberta Falls and turn around. That keeps the waterfall and creek gorge, and leaves out the extra climbing and rocky lake approach. If you continue to Mills, remember that the lake is the destination, not the end of the trail network: Jewel Lake and Black Lake are farther on and make longer, different hikes.