Rocky Mountain National Park · Hard · Out and back

Sky Pond from Glacier Gorge

Past Alberta Falls and The Loch, then a scramble beside Timberline Falls to Sky Pond, under the spires of the Sharkstooth.

Distance
8.8 mi (14.1 km)
Ascent
1,670 ft (509 m)
Time
About 5 h
High point
10,883 ft (3,317 m)
Grade
Hard

Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked by Global Adventurer.

0 km5 km10 km3,317 m2,803 m
Sky Pond from Glacier Gorge
Oceanic7777 · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The hike

The walk starts at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead on Bear Lake Road, which has a small parking lot and a stop on the Bear Lake shuttle. The trail passes Alberta Falls, climbs into Loch Vale to The Loch, and carries on up the valley to Timberline Falls. A steep scramble beside the falls leads to Lake of Glass, and a short walk beyond is Sky Pond, beneath the Sharkstooth spires and Taylor Peak. Return the same way.

It is 8.8 miles (14.1 km) round trip with 1,670 feet (509 m) of climbing; allow about 5 hours. The grade is Hard: a long day at high altitude, with a hands-on scramble near the end.

The scramble beside Timberline Falls is on steep, wet rock and can be icy in autumn. Sky Pond is at about 10,900 feet, so altitude and cold are real concerns. Summer thunderstorms are common: plan to be below treeline by early afternoon, and turn back if storms build. From May 22 to October 18, 2026, a Timed Entry+ Bear Lake Road reservation is needed to drive Bear Lake Road between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m.

The Glacier Gorge lot is small and fills early; over the same dates, the Bear Lake shuttle stops at the trailhead.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.

Good to know

  • Past Alberta Falls and The Loch into the head of Loch Vale
  • A short scramble beside Timberline Falls leads to Lake of Glass
  • Sky Pond sits under the Sharkstooth spires, at about 3,300 m

Getting there

Start: Glacier Gorge Trailhead · Free parking. 40.31085, -105.63995

Directions to the start

Places to stay nearby

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Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line and figures come from OpenStreetMap and our own checks; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.