The Loch, Glass Lake and Sky Pond are accessed from Glacier Gorge Trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park. A moderate hike leads past Alberta Falls to the Loch, a scenic lake framed by the Continental Divide. Travel intensifies up Treeline Falls to a broad alpine terrace holding Glass Lake and Sky Pond.

Glass Lake and Sky Pond are separated by only .4 miles and less than 100'

A narrow bench midway up Timberline Falls is a great place to break and view the falls

Looking down on Glass Lake from the Sky Pond outlet

The Loch Vale corridor was carved by a 'valley glacier', which were prevalent in the Park 15,000+ years ago

Alpine Mertensia Flowers are common along streams and in damp soil beds

Cross-country travel through open alpine meadows between Sky Pond and Andrews Glacier

The 'Sharkstooth' and 'Gash' loom large over the Loch, divisive formations between the Icy Brook and Andrews Creek headwaters

Steller Jays, one of the most common montane and subalpine forest dwellling birds in the Park, are thought to mate for life and produce 3-5 eggs each year

A rough but clear trail connects Glass Lake and Sky Pond

Sky Pond outlet

Columbine are common in open, sunny areas above Timberline Falls

Taylor Peak (13,153') caps the valley in which Glass Lake and Sky Pond lie

Krummholz - a German word meaning twisted wood - describes the stunted, deformed growth of spruce and fir trees near treeline

The sun rises over a very placid Loch

The rocky inlet area of Glass Lake

Alberta Falls in early morning

A steep climb above Sky Pond leads to an alpine meadow below Taylor Peak and Taylor Glacier

The trail between Glass Lake and Sky Pond passes through an idyllic alpine landscape

Timberline Falls roars down valley and is fed from the Glass Lake outlet

The main chute of Timberline Falls

Glacier Gorge sees heavy traffic all year, and winter trails are generally well-defined leading to the Loch and Mills Lake