Trail Description: The hike to The Loch in Rocky Mountain National Park begins from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead, located on Bear Lake Road almost 8 miles from the turn-off at Highway 36. Loch Leven Lakes Trail is a 8.8 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Norden, California that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Trail was very well marked & not very busy like the Bear Lake trail.. Be aware that the temperature drops & the winds pick up immensely as you get closer to the Loch. Rocky Mountain National Park offers so many hiking options for all abilities and interests that it can be difficult to choose one. Horses are also able to use this trail. We hope the guide helps you on your hikes and adventures. There is a lot of uphill climbing and an elevation gain of over 1,800 feet. The Loch Vale comes very highly recommended. It took us close to two hours to get to the lake. Take a left onto Hampshire Rocks Road. Washer and Dryer hook ups. The trail is a mix of ankle high packed snow and slushy dirt, but certainly doable. Would definitely hike again & continue further up the mountain with proper gear. Whichever route you take, you get absorbed into an Arcadia of exquisite streams, seasonal wildflowers, and idyllic nature. If you happen to be the first person, We had clear skies and no wind, even at the Loch, which isn’t the norm. Find Loch Leven Lakes Trail in Sacramento with Address, Phone number from Yahoo US Local. Once you make your way to The Loch, you will experience some of the pristine beauty that the Rocky Mountains hold. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until October. After 0.6 miles the trail winds along Glacier Creek by Alberta Falls, one of the park's most famous waterfalls. We used the park and ride transport to Glacier Gorge and hiked to the Loch. D The Loch trail was exhausting but worth the efforts We are a family of 4 (including 2 teen boys) who hiked the Loch trail last week (mid-August) starting from Bear Lake trailhead. Following the trail, you will pass by several green meadows and small lakes. Plus, from the Loch you see a bunch of well-known, gorgeous peaks, and Taylor Glacier. The Loch trail was exhausting but worth the efforts, We are a family of 4 (including 2 teen boys) who hiked the Loch trail last week (mid-August) starting from Bear Lake trailhead. Hiked this trail 10/17/20 absolutely gorgeous. This is a great hike any time of year and I highly recommend it! Popular Rocky Mountain National Park Categories, Commonly searched for in Rocky Mountain National Park, Things to Do in Rocky Mountain National Park. The trail condition was relatively smooth and well-maintained. Weather cleared up but bundle in layers, falls are icy. The winds were tough on the day we hiked. Horses are also able to use this trail. 36 out of Estes Park to the RMNP entrance, then go to Bear Lake Rd.,drive it to the Glacier Gorge Th. At the beginning of the hike, it is really easy to lose track of the trail but you usually end up back on the trail as long as you keep going up the rocks. Saw a lot of people with sneakers who turned around, it was definitely not sneaker conditions. Parking was full so we had to park in a lot down the road and walk an extra 5-10 minutes to the trailhead. Listed in the RMNP trail guide as The Loch, the body of water at the end of the trail is also referred to as Loch Vale, Lake Vale, and Lake Loch. About Reserve at Loch Lake. After passing Alberta Falls, for the final 1/2 mile of the hike we had the option of hiking to Glacier Gorge (downhill trail) then taking the shuttle bus to Bear Lake, or hiking to Bear Lake (uphill trail). The Loch Vale Trail heads south and starts to ascend as it passes the Glacier Creek Trail on the left and the Loch Vale - Glacier Knobs Trail on the right shortly thereafter. Continue on towards The Loch by veering left at this junction. User Rating. You can also purchase a park specific annual pass for $70. Loch Leven Trail is a moderate to difficult hike with a more than 1,000-foot elevation change over a 3.5-mile trail to the first lake in the Loch Leven chain of lakes in the Tahoe National Forest. Loch Leven Trail is a moderate to difficult hike with more than a one thousand-foot elevation change over a 3.5-mile trail to the first lake in the Loch Leven chain of lakes in the Tahoe National Forest. Less crowded than the hike to Dream Lake, it is nonetheless a busy and popular trail. Cute! The Loch Lake Trail via Glacier Gorge Trail [CLOSED] is a 5.4 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Take the Loch trail and climb up through some switchbacks until arriving at the lake. One of the best hikes in RMNP! moderate although still an exhausting ascent. The first portions of the trail are favored by anglers and swimmers, but scenery and solitude reward those who travel to the final lake. Can't wait to hike this again. The views are great so make sure your phone/camera is charged and ready to go. This trail was a lot of fun. This is my second major hike ever, and I was about to do it in 4.5 hours in and back with stopping for lunch. Get there early, be prepared, and wear good hiking shoes. Most likely there will be trail from previous snowshoer. Snow chains/spikes were very helpful in icy parts and on the lake. The Loch was a peaceful and beautiful mountain lake, and there were not very many people there. The lake is frozen solid and if you have skates and want to skate on an alpine lake this would be the place to do it. If the Bear Lake or Glacier Gorge Trailhead parking are full as they often are after 7am especially during the summer or on any weekend, it is easy to use the Park and Ride and take the shuttle. Note: As of October 2020, this area is closed due to wildfire. All this … Trail Review: Rating: Moderate Distance (Round-trip): 8.4 miles Elevation Gain: 1,580 ft. Take Hwy. Take the free shuttle to the Glacier Gorge Trailhead, as parking is limited. No wind but holy hell was it cold!! The Loch Lake Trail via Glacier Gorge Trail is a 8.7 kilometer heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Gets a lot colder the closer to the top. Our car was parked at Bear Lake parking lot, and we didn't want to mess with the shuttle bus, so we opted to hike back to Bear Lake. The Loch Lake Trail (5.6 miles, 1,040 ft, moderate): The Loch is one of the coolest lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park. 28.5km 693m 5-7h. The lake is frozen solid but looks beautiful in front of the high snow covered peaks behind it. Not too bad but definitely a nice workout. Snow all the way up from the parking lot. (11/22). Did this hike on 11/27/20. Had our traction but did not end up using anything. Separate entry area before the huge gathering room. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. We ate lunch beside the lake, then hiked back toward Alberta Falls. It only took us an hour to get back to the trailhead. From here the trail breaks the trees every so often exposing sweeping views of Rocky Mountain National Park. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the date(s) you selected. The Great Trossachs Path is a fantastic walk that we have split up into two… Read More. Loch Lake was absolutely stunning and their were many scenic views along the way. Take a left onto Hampshire Rocks Road. Icy Brook and Andrews Creek, both originating from glaciers on the Continental Divide to the west, feed the 10,190-foot-high lake. Very cold and windy, face covering and sunglasses help. Mills Lake, Black Lake, Frozen Lake Trail [CLOSED], Bear Lake - Odessa Lake Via Fern Lake Trail [CLOSED], Andrews Tarn and Andrews Glacier Trail [CLOSED], Sky Pond via Glacier Gorge Trail [CLOSED], Glacier Gorge to Glacier Creek Trail [CLOSED], Tyndall Glacier and Nymph, Dream, Emerald, and Haiyaha Lakes [CLOSED], The Spearhead via Glacier Gorge Trail [CLOSED], Bear Lake to Alberta Falls to Mills Lake [CLOSED], Glacier Gorge Trailhead to Jewel Lake [CLOSED], Mills Lake via Glacier Gorge Trail [CLOSED], Bear Lake to Sky Pond via Glacier Gorge Trail [CLOSED], Shelf Lake and Solitude Lake via Glacier Gorge Trail [CLOSED], North Long's Peak Trail to Boulder Brook [CLOSED], The Loch Lake Trail via Glacier Gorge Trail. We are relatively fit people, but I have to say that this was a CHALLENGING hike for … Hiked on 10/19 & had a great time! Still very manageable. High-altitude wetlands can be seen on the trail’s remaining quarter-mile. Loch is Scottish for lake… A great trail and worth the hike, but give yourself a little extra time to complete. We climbed up the boulders next to the Alberta Falls so we could view the falls from the top. Please choose a different date. Great views all the way. Loch Vale Lake was frozen solid, walked across it! Super great. Gorgeous 3bedroom 2.5 bath town home if the middle of Lake Mary and Sanford. The ice is on a steep incline that involves some scrambling. Started at about 7:15 on a Sunday 11/29 and were the 3rd group out I think? This is a great place to photograph peak 12,707 and its reflection on the lake. Layer up. Also don’t forget to keep going to Sky Pond, most people assume that once you hit the peak above the waterfall that you’re at Sky Pond - it’s another quarter mile further. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until October. Loch Leven Lakes Trail is a pretty easy hike for anyone to complete. We had actually planned on continuing on to Sky Pond. We are relatively fit people, but I have to say that this was a CHALLENGING hike for us. On the easier side of “moderate”. The Loch is the Gaelic name given to this lake, the major destination along the Loch Vale trail and the source of Icy Brook, the stream that spills from its eastern edge. It lies at the convergence of valleys carved from Andrews Glacier (north) and Taylor Glacier (south) just below the Continental Divide. You can hike up to the lake, which is about 4.6 miles, or drive up with your 4×4. Make sure your socks and gloves are top notch. To get there take Interstate 80 east to the Rainbow Bend exit. Bring your trekking poles if you need them. The Loch Trail is an out-and-back, 5.6-mile roundtrip hike to a pristine lake named The Loch that’s surrounded by towering mountains. Left Denver around 530 got to the trail by 7 and we got one of the last parking spots. As it is level and barrier-free for most of its length, it is suitable for walkers of all ages and abilities, for cyclists, for wheelchair and motorised scooter users. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes a half day. Would definitely consider this on the easier side of moderate. A bit crowded for my liking (even with reservations) but it’s RMNP so of course people like myself come out and hike it! Due to the extreme popularity of the Bear Lake Road area you may want to consider using the free park shuttle to access the trailhead during peak season. It took us a little over two hours to hike from Alberta Falls to Loch Vale. The south access road and dam top are 1.1 miles round trip with another 70-foot elevation change. Recommend bringing spikes for those spots. This was 3rd time hiking this trail and it the first time I could actually see the lake and surrounding mountains. The Loch Leven Lakes Trail at Tahoe National Forest near Emigrant Gap, California is a moderate 8-mile out-and-back hike that features beautiful vistas of the popular alpine lakes, the Loch Leven Lakes. We did the hike with the family in late June. The north access road is 2/10, with a 70-foot elevation change. Sky Pond is rated as a difficult hike. Because of it’s beauty and the wide variety of vantage points for outstanding scenery, the Loch is popular with photographers. It was pretty much a. gradual uphill hike the whole way. 2 miles later and part of the hike in the snow we came to The Loch. The Loch (Loch Vale) is a beautiful lake located in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. After nearly three miles you reach your first major landmark, Loch Leven, a lake at an elevation of 10,750 feet. For more information, please visit https://www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm