Alberta Falls

Alberta Falls – OutThere Colorado.

Things To Do

The Glacier Gorge Trail travels past many falls in Rocky Mountain National Park and Alberta Falls is the first one you’ll see at just over three-quarters of a mile along the trail. To get to the trailhead from Estes Park, take US 36 west to the Beaver Meadows entrance, go 0.2 mile and turn left onto Bear Lake Road. At 8.1 miles from the turn there’s a small paved lot on the left, and the trailhead. Descend the trail and follow signs to Mills Lake and Alberta Falls, crossing four footbridges to reach the waterfall that tumbles down Glacier Creek, left of the trail. An out-and-back hike is 1.6 miles, but you can continue on to view more falls, and Black Lake.

Pro Tips

  • If the parking lot is full, turn around and drive 3.3 miles to shuttle parking on Bear Lake Road, then take the free shuttle to the trailhead.
  • In winter and spring, the trail can be icy and snow packed, so pack some traction such as microspikes for your boots and use a trekking pole for balance.
  • Glacier Gorge Trail crosses some avalanche-prone areas so look for marked, alternate routes if there’s snow on the trail, and be prepared to cross frozen Mills Lake and Jewel Lake if the trail’s buried in deep snow.
  • Many more falls are visible along the trail past Alberta Falls, fed by Glacier Creek, Black Lake, and Frozen Lake.
  • —Susan Joy Paul

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