The Loch Trail

The Loch is a 6-mile out-and-back from Glacier Gorge Junction Trailhead to the lake and back; allow 3 to 4 hours. The park's trail table lists The Loch 3.0 miles one way and about 990 feet above the trailhead. You follow the Glacier Gorge approach past Alberta Falls, then continue on the Loch Vale corridor to a high lake beneath Taylor Peak and Taylor Glacier. It is a steady hike rather than a stroll: the upper climb steepens, and the lake sits around 10,190 feet.

After crossing Chaos Creek, take the left branch toward The Loch. Alberta Falls is just over 0.8 mile in. Continue past the North Longs Peak junction at about 1.6 miles to Mills Junction roughly half a mile later. For The Loch, continue straight on Loch Vale Trail; the other branches lead toward Mills and Black Lakes or Lake Haiyaha. Trails continue beyond the lake toward Lake of Glass and Sky Pond, but those extensions add distance and are not part of this hike.

The lower approach runs through conifer forest on a dirt trail with short wooden bridges. At Alberta Falls, Glacier Creek drops about 30 feet into a narrow rocky gorge. This is a worthwhile stop even if you turn back here. The path beyond the falls is less even and the climb continues, so use the falls as a decision point if you want a shorter day.

Beyond Mills Junction, the route steepens through short switchbacks beside Icy Brook. The brook drops over small cascades; a view of a waterfall opens at the third switchback. The last stretch is the hardest part, with rocky, uneven footing and a sustained climb. Snow or ice can linger on the upper route into early summer, so conditions may still feel wintry after the lower trail is clear.

The trail reaches a subalpine lake at about 10,190 feet. Taylor Peak and Taylor Glacier rise across the water; Thatchtop and Sharkstooth frame the gorge. Walk to the shore and give yourself time to look back along the cirque. For a useful photo, keep some water in the foreground with the glacier and rock walls behind it; that gives the scene a clear sense of scale.

Loch Vale is a high-elevation watershed shaped by glaciers, with lakes, forests, wetlands and alpine terrain. Scientists have studied the basin since 1982, first tracking atmospheric deposition and later expanding the work to nitrogen, carbon cycling and climate change. The trail's lake is part of that broader watershed, not an isolated viewpoint.

Start at Glacier Gorge Junction on Bear Lake Road. The small lot can fill; if it does, use another established parking area or the park shuttle when operating. Roadside parking can result in towing. Park entry fees or a pass apply, and the Bear Lake Road corridor has seasonal timed-entry reservations; check the current permit rules before arriving. Pets are prohibited on park trails, including this one. No food service or potable-water refill was confirmed along the route.

Turn around at Alberta Falls for roughly 1.6 miles round trip. You still reach the waterfall and its small gorge, while skipping the steeper upper route and the long climb to the lake.