Timberline Falls Trail

Timberline Falls is a hard out-and-back from Glacier Gorge Trailhead, climbing through Glacier Gorge past Alberta Falls and The Loch before reaching a steep rock-step approach to the falls. The park’s route table puts the base 3.8 miles from the trailhead, or 7.6 miles round trip; mapped tracks come out close to 4 miles each way, so expect a reading nearer 8 miles on some devices. Allow 5–7 hours with stops. You can see the falls without climbing the scramble above them.

The path climbs through trees, with steps in the first stretch. At the early fork, take the branch toward Alberta Falls. At about 0.8 mile, the creek drops through a narrow rocky gorge; the falls are a good first break and the route is named for Alberta Sprague, one of the area’s early settlers. Keep going uphill through the forest to Mills Junction, where the Loch Vale route continues straight.

The Loch sits at about 10,190 feet, with Taylor Peak and Taylor Glacier across the water. As you follow the north shore, Thatchtop and the Sharkstooth frame the valley and Powell Peak opens up farther along. Beyond the lake, the trail climbs again. At the Andrews Glacier split, stay left toward Timberline Falls; the right branch leads toward the glacier and a backcountry campsite.

The route follows Icy Brook to a final climb of roughly 200 feet in 0.15 mile on rock steps. A view of Timberline Falls opens before the base, where the main cascade drops about 100 feet and the valley falls away toward The Loch. This is the turnaround for this hike. Continuing up the chute beside the falls toward Lake of Glass and Sky Pond is a much rougher hands-and-feet scramble, outside the route described here; wet or icy rock makes it harder.

Start at Glacier Gorge Trailhead on Bear Lake Road. Its parking lot fills early; the park recommends using Park & Ride and the Bear Lake shuttle when the lot is full. Bear Lake Road has seasonal timed entry, so check the current reservation rules before setting out. Pets are prohibited on park trails.