Sky Pond 🏔️ 5 Lakes, 2 Waterfalls, 1 Hike 🥾 Rocky Mountain National Park Guide

Today we're taking on Sky Pond, one of the premier day hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park, passing Alberta Falls, The Lock, Timberline Falls, and Lake of Glass, with a bonus stop at Mills and Jewell Lakes on the return. Sky Pond can be found in the Bear Lake area of Rocky Mountain National Park and can be accessed via the Glacier Gorge Trailhead with the 8.6 mile roundtrip hike that gains nearly 1,800 feet of elevation. The route to Sky Pond starts near the end of Bear Lake Road at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. Parking is limited here. We started before sunrise and found a spot, but if you arrive later in the day, it's often better to use the free shuttle bus that runs every 15 minutes from the Bear Lake Park and Ride. Alberta Falls will be the first major landmark on the way to Sky Pond and is an ideal introduction to the trail. The path to Alberta Falls is well marked, easy to follow, and popular with families and day hikers. At less than a mile one way, gaining 233 feet in altitude, it's a relatively easy hike, but can still take some effort if you're not acclimated to the elevation. From the Glacier Gorge Trailhead, you'll begin with a short set of stairs before settling into a scenic walk through groves of aspen and pine. As the route climbs, it weaves around large boulders following the path of Glacier Creek. The sound of rushing water grows louder with every step, hinting at what's to come. That sound leads you to Alberta Falls, a powerful 30-foot waterfall on Glacier Creek. The waterfall is named after Alberta Sprague, the wife of Abner Sprague, one of the first non-native residents of the park. Soak up the beauty of Alberta Falls before continuing onward. Much better sights await, including our next stop, The Lock. From Alberta Falls, the trail continues upward, following Glacier Creek and giving beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. Before long, you'll reach Mills Junction, a major trail intersection that we'll come back to later. We'll go straight ahead for now towards The Lock and Sky Pond, and then hit Mills and Jewel Lake on the way back. Lake Hiaha is also an amazing destination that we don't have time for today, but you can check it out in our Bear Lake video. After Mills Junction, the trail quickly steepens through a deep dramatic gorge carved by icy brook, which rumbles through the valley. After a few short switchbacks, you'll reach a scenic overlook, where you can spot a waterfall cascading into the gorge. It's a perfect spot to catch your breath and take it all in before carrying on. Suddenly, as you approach the three mile mark from Glacier Gorge trailhead, the path levels out and The Lock appears. Behind me is The Lock, which is a little bit more than halfway to Sky Pond, at an elevation of 10,187 feet above sea level. The Lock gets its name from the Scottish Gaelic word for lake. From the moment you step near the shoreline, you're surrounded by the mighty cliffs of the Continental Divide. The Lock is especially magical at sunrise, when the first light hits the peaks, casting them in warm hues. On calm mornings, you might catch the gold tinted mountains perfectly mirrored in the water's glassy surface. Directly across the lake, looking westward, towers the Shark Tooth and Taylor Peak, with Taylor Glacier tucked between them. To the south sits Thatch Top Mountain, and if you walk around the north side of the lake, the landscape reveals Powell Peak. From The Lock, you might be able to spot our next stop, Timberline Falls, which is the final obstacle separating you from Lake of Glass and Sky Pond. Passing The Lock, you'll continue uphill and work your way higher through the sub-alpine forest of Fir and Spruce. The towering walls of the Shark's Tooth rise to your right as you make your way closer to the falls. Steep stone steps combine with the altitude to make this one of the most difficult stretches of the trail on your way to Sky Pond. It's where many hikers, including us, really start to feel it. Take your time, catch your breath, and keep chugging along. About four miles from the trailhead, you'll finally reach the base of Timberline Falls. This is Timberline Falls, an amazing waterfall on the way to Sky Pond. Sky Pond isn't too far beyond this point, but to get there you have to go up and around this huge waterfall, getting a little bit wet in the process. The main portion of the waterfall plunges nearly 100 feet and continues cascading down into the valley below. Besides contemplating the beauty of Timberline Falls and feeling the misty water floating in the air, be sure to pause and look back for a stunning bird's eye view of the loch far below, framed by the impressive peaks of the Continental Divide. It's a fantastic scene and one of the most dramatic moments of the hike so far. To reach Sky Pond from here, you have to scramble up the steep section of rocks to the right side of the waterfall. It isn't as hard as it might sound or look at first, just take your time. You will need to use every limb and have good balance for the first bit, but the beginning is the hardest part. Carefully find solid footing and use your hands to guide you up the rocks. We saw a few people call it a day and turn back from here, and from what we've heard, this spot is nearly impassable for much of the year due to ice. Despite it being very wet, we were fortunate to make it all the way up. Once you get to the top, Lake of Glass comes into view. Lake of Glass sits at an altitude of 10,808 feet above sea level, and is surrounded by boulders, meadows, and krummholz, which is German for crooked wood, these stunted, twisted, and bent trees. Lake of Glass is both fed by and drains into the perennial icy brook. Why the name? On a calm morning, the water is a perfect dark mirror reflecting the cathedral spires and Taylor Peak. Despite its name, Lake of Glass is often not calm and reflective, because it sits on a high shelf that acts like a wind tunnel. Looking back from the edge of Lake of Glass, you can see the entire Glacier Gorge Valley stretching out below you, a scene that makes the grueling climb worth every step. Lake of Glass is often a mistake lake. Because it's so stunningly beautiful and follows such a difficult climb, many hikers drop their packs here, falsely thinking they've reached Sky Pond at the end of the line. Don't make the same mistake. To get to Sky Pond, you simply have to navigate along the north shore to the right of Lake of Glass. The trail here isn't well groomed. It's a rugged but manageable scramble over large granite boulders and through krummholz, those twisted trees that look like rocky mountain bonsai. Sky Pond Only 0.3 miles beyond Lake of Glass and about 4.2 miles from the trailhead, Sky Pond finally comes into view. It rests at roughly 10,900 feet, tucked beneath the towering granite cliffs. Up here is the land of marmot and pika. Listen closely for the high-pitched eep of the pika hiding beneath the rocks. We were lucky enough to spot both, the pika cautiously hiding from us and the marmot just hanging out soaking up the sunshine. The landscape here is simply spectacular. The alpine lake is surrounded on three sides by sheer rock walls. Off to the right are the granite spires of the Shark Tooth. Directly across the lake, you have a front row view of Taylor Peak. With Powell Peak coming into view towards the south. It's a magnificent reward for making it this far. Take all the time you need. But soon enough, it's time to head back and make your way to Mills and Jewell Lakes. Whether tacked on to the Sky Pond hike or as a standalone trip, Mills Lake and Jewell Lake are two of the most rewarding and peaceful destinations in the Glacier Gorge area. From the Mills Junction we passed earlier, you can make your way to these lakes, following Glacier Creek deeper into the valley. Without this detour, the hike to Sky Pond from the Glacier Gorge trailhead is an 8.4 mile round trip. But if you still have a little extra energy left in your legs, the hike to these gorgeous lakes adds less than a mile and a half to the journey. Mills Lake. Some of our favorite views in the entire National Park were found on the way to this lake. Mills Lake will be the first lake you reach from the Mills Junction. You'll cross tiny streams in a thick forest that gradually opens up into a wide glacial valley framed by the mighty mountains. As you approach the lake, the trees part and Mills Lake takes center stage. It's a long, narrow, and crystal clear subalpine lake stretching towards the dramatic skyline comprised of Chief's Head Peak, Pagoda Mountain, and Longs Peak. This is one of the most iconic scenes in Rocky Mountain National Park. Jewel Lake. If you continue just a bit further, the trail leads to Jewel Lake, a smaller, quieter lake tucked into the upper end of the valley. Jewel Lake is more calm and secluded, surrounded by willows, marshy edges, and open views of the mountains. It's a great place to spot wildlife, especially moose in the early morning or evening hours. The terrain between Mills and Jewel Lake is gentle, making this extension an easy add-on for anyone seeking a view. The two lakes together offer a completely different perspective of Glacier Gorge. Wide, open, and serene, compared to the dramatic cirques and waterfalls you experienced on the Sky Pond route. From Jewel Lake, you have the option of continuing an additional 1.7 strenuous miles to Black Lake, but for us, that was enough and we called it a day. Be safe out there, leave no trace, and please click all those nice buttons. We love ya. Go places.