Hiking Sky Pond and Glass Lake: Complete Guide to Rocky Mountain National Park’s Alpine Wonders
Sky Pond and Glass Lake are two wondrous natural alpine lakes tucked away in the valleys of Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park.
The hike to Sky Pond and Glass Lake is one of the best trails (if not THE best trail) in Rocky Mountain National Park. Learn how to hike the iconic Sky Pond trail in my all-you-need-to-know guide!
Sky Pond and Glass Lake Trail Basic Information
Sky Pond Location
Where is Sky Pond?
Sky Pond is an alpine lake located in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, just an hour and a half drive from Denver. Sky Pond and Glass Lake are only accessible by hiking. Be prepared for a challenge!
Since Sky Pond and Glass Lake are located in a national park, you must pay an entrance fee when you get to the park. For updated entrance fee prices, I suggest you check first with the National Park Service.
I recommend purchasing the America the Beautiful National Park Annual Pass. If you are an avid traveler like me, you will likely save more money throughout the year .
Sky Pond Parking
Where do you park for Sky Pond?
There is a free parking lot at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. Use Google Maps and search “Glacier Gorge Junction Trailhead.” That will map you directly to the parking lot. I’ve also attached a map below for reference.
The Glacier Gorge Trailhead Parking Lot holds around 30 cars. We arrived there around 6 a.m. and there were only 8 spots left. I recommend coming at 6 a.m. or even earlier to ensure you snag a spot. The National Park Service recommends coming early too.
The photo above was taken at around 6 a.m. As you can see, it’s already pretty filled! However, if you are not an early riser like my boyfriend but I force him to be, you can also use the Rocky Mountain National Park “Park and Ride” Shuttle Bus.
Rocky Mountain National Park Shuttle Bus
If the parking lot at Glacier Gorge Trailhead is full, fret not. You can take the RMNP “Park and Ride” shuttle bus to get to the trailhead for Sky Pond.
The RMNP shuttle service and parking is free. Use Google Maps and search “RMNP Park and Ride.” That should take you directly to the parking lot. I’ve also attached a map below for reference.
Exact times and frequency of stops for shuttle service is ever-changing. Please check with RMNP Park and Ride for its most updated schedule. I recommend arriving before 9 a.m because its parking lot can also fill up quickly.
Take the YELLOW Bear Lake shuttle route and exit off the Glacier Gorge Trailhead stop. I know it’s confusing, but the trailhead for Sky Pond IS the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. The ride is about 10 minutes.
Sky Pond Hike Time, Distance, and Trail Type
The Sky Pond via Glacier Gorge Trail is a 9.4 mile out and back trail. When we hiked Sky Pond, however, my tracker recorded about 11 miles. The extra mileage may be because we wandered a bit around each lake.
How long does the Sky Pond hike take?
My boyfriend and I took about 9 hours to hike the Sky Pond Trail. We started at 6 a.m. and finished at 3 p.m. We took about a 30 minute break at each lake to take the sights in.
If you are an avid hiker and like to go at a fast pace, you can do the hike in 5 to 6 hours.
If you are more like my boyfriend and I who go at a slower pace and take way too many pictures, then I suggest allocating 7 to 10 hours for the hike.
Sky Pond Elevation
The elevation gain at Sky Pond is 1,758 feet. The elevation gain is pretty steady throughout the Sky Pond trail. The steepest section is between Loch Vale and Lake of Glass.
The lowest point is where you start in the parking lot. It is all relatively uphill to Sky Pond except for when the elevation levels out at each lake.
Sky Pond Hike Difficulty
Is the Sky Pond Trail hard? How difficult is Sky Pond?
It depends on who you ask.
I personally would rate Sky Pond’s difficulty as moderate to hard. The only relatively challenging section is the Sky Pond waterfall climb (but more on that later). If it weren’t for the short rock scramble section at Timberline Falls, I would rate it as moderate.
According to the popular app, All Trails, Sky Pond has a difficulty level of hard.
If you are a beginner hiker, then the length and elevation gain will present a good challenge. But if you are in relatively decent shape and can manage some rock scrambling, this trail is definitely doable.
Regardless, you need to be prepared with the appropriate hiking gear. Check out my recommendations on hiking essentials to make sure you are prepared to hike Sky Pond.
Can kids hike Sky Pond?
If you have taken your kids on hikes with high elevation gains before, then Yes they absolutely can. We saw a handful of kids who made it all the way to the end. I was impressed! Then again, those kids were in better shape than me so maybe I shouldn’t have been so surprised.
If this is your child’s first time hiking, then you might want to reconsider hiking Sky Pond. There are several more family friendly hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park with spectacular scenery.
Can You Bring Dogs Into Rocky Mountain National Park?
Unfortunately, per latest National Park Service rules, you are NOT allowed to bring your dog or pet while hiking at Rocky Mountain National Park. The primary reason is that your dog may become prey for the wildlife.
You can, however, take your leashed pet in designated roads, parking lots, picnic areas, and campgrounds.
Sky Pond Camping
Can you camp at Sky Pond?
Yes, but not at Sky Pond itself. The only wilderness designated camping site is at Andrews Creek. You need an official backpacking permit to camp there. I recommend obtaining your permit well in advance.
With that being said, the vast majority of people do not camp at the Sky Pond trail. A day trip is all you need to see all three lakes: The Loch, Glass Lake, and Sky Pond.
Sky Pond Trail Map
There is a map for Sky Pond at the Glacier Gorge trailhead next to the parking lot. I took a photo of it as you can see below. The “You Are Here” arrow marks the Glacier Gorge trailhead.
As always, I suggest using the All Trails app to record your hike in real-time and to make sure you are following the correct path. In the app, they label this particular hike as “Sky Pond via Glacier Gorge Trail.” I have attached a screenshot of the Sky Pond hiking map.
You will start at the black and green circle at the top. As you can see you will pass by three lakes: Loch Vale, Glass Lake, and lastly, Sky Pond (pictured on the bottom left).
Sky Pond Points of Interest
Alberta Falls
Finally, time to begin your journey!
Start the near 10 mile hike on the Glacier Gorge Trail. In no time, you will be making a gradual ascent along a well-marked trail.
I remember hiking this beginning section in the early AM. Those morning sun rays blanketed every rock and tree in a golden warmth. There’s just nothing quite the same as hiking in the early hours. There’s a crispness and quietness like no other time in the day.
From the start of the Glacier Gorge trailhead, in just 0.8 miles, you should reach your first destination: Alberta Falls.
Alberta Falls, another picturesque Colorado waterfall, is a great place to take a short break and enjoy the roaring waters of Glacier Creek. Find a nice flat slab of rock and enjoy the views and noises of the falls. There are plenty of isolated vantage points to perch on.
Past Alberta Falls, you will head into a valley of sorts with mountains on both sides of you. For the next section of the hike, you walk intermittently alongside Glacier Creek which gets its source from the lakes you will soon reach.
Keep on trekking, you will soon reach the next point of interest: Loch Vale.
Loch Vale (aka The Loch)
Loch Vale? The Loch? Loch Lake? I am not sure what the official name of the lake is, but it is the next point of interest on your hike to Sky Pond. I will use those names interchangeably. Loch Vale is the first of three beautiful alpine lakes you will encounter.
The Loch is 2.7 miles from the Glacier Gorge trailhead.
Funny story: the above photo was our first glimpse of The Loch; we thought the lake was just this section right in front of us. *Spoiler alert.* It’s not. Even still, we were already completely enamored by the scenery.
So much so that we stopped here for a quick snack on top of a big rock and a cute little critter decided to join us.
Along The Loch Trail you should come across this sign right next to the lake.
Going right will take you up to Glass Lake and Sky Pond. Going left will take you on a small detour to a viewpoint of The Loch.
Trust me. Go left. If you have the time, go left. And honestly, even if you don’t have the time, still go left. It’s a short detour to one of my favorite viewpoints along the hike. I don’t want you to miss it.
Pristine. Magical. Quiet. Still. These are the words that come to mind when I take myself back to this spot.
By going left, you will walk along a little peninsula that juts out into the middle of Loch Vale.
As you can see, The Loch is much bigger than we initially thought from our first glimpse.
We had the entire place to ourselves to enjoy The Loch in peace. While I laid on my back, hands resting at the back of my head, my boyfriend audio recorded the mellow waters crashing against the land’s edges. Nature’s music.
Naturally, we also took a quick photo shoot.
The bruin pride is rampant.
Have I convinced you yet to go left at that trail junction?
By the way, those snowy patches on the left hand side is where Glass Lake and Sky Pond are. The journey is still far from over!
We spent a good 15 minutes alone soaking up the views before we headed back to the junction and continued along the main trail, technically now, The Loch Trail.
Past Loch Vale, my boyfriend and I came across a family of deer. There were other hikers taking pictures and we decided to join them. The other hikers eventually left and we decided to take an extended break.
Suddenly, a bunch of the deer became agitated and started hustling away. Before I could process what was happening, a massive animal made its presence. Mid- snack, my boyfriend and I became struck with fear. The animal was looking at us with our snacks in hand.
When the momentary physical paralysis waned, I instinctively breathed to my boyfriend “keep on moving, let’s get out of here.” My boyfriend, still stunned, didn’t move, but I forcibly pushed him along. “Don’t make eye contact” I said sternly. We trudged along on the trail, praying to not be trampled over or something.
I am no expert on animals, but after doing some research looking on Google, I believe we saw a rare sighting of a bull moose. I could be totally wrong, but the thing was beastly. I mean it scared the smaller deer away!
Not sure if just moving along was the right thing to do, but we consider ourselves so lucky to have avoided a potentially dangerous situation. Sound off in the comments below.
What would you have done? What should we have done? I just know I wanted to get the heck out of there…
Anyhow, you’ll continue through some grassy meadows with wooden planks marking the way. Eventually, you will reach the next point of interest: Timberline Falls.
Sky Pond Waterfall Climb
The Sky Pond waterfall climb is what makes this hike a more challenging one. It is a very short section where you have to rock scramble along the side of the waterfall.
Thankfully, it is easier than it looks. I remember seeing photos of the Sky Pond waterfall climb before I hiked the trail and I was very intimidated. I read reviews and it seemed very difficult.
In my opinion, if you have any experience with rock scrambling before or are just naturally adventurous, then you will have no problem.
However, if you are scared of heights or not used to using all your limbs to help yourself up, then this might be the stopping point for you.
I remember hiking next to a family of three: a mother, father, and their middle-aged daughter. The mother unfortunately was not able to make it to the top.
The daughter was and decided to see Glass Lake really quick and come back down to rejoin her parents. She didn’t want her parents to wait for her too long. However, they all seemed in good spirits about it.
In all honesty, even if you are skeptical of your ability to do the Sky Pond waterfall scramble, I still recommend doing this hike, because the views are still incredible up to this point.
Glass Lake
Congrats! You’ve successfully climbed up the infamous Sky Pond waterfall. Now you get to enjoy another treat: Glass Lake (or Lake of Glass). Seriously why do these lakes all have multiple variations of names?
When we arrived at Glass Lake the sky had turned grey. I think it made the views more special. With the packs of snow on the mountains, the weather made it feel cooler literally and figuratively.
Lake of Glass made such an impression on me that it’s the cover photo of my website! Just scroll up to the top! The panoramic shot captured what I love about travel: seeing unexpectedly beautiful places.
Sky Pond is the grand finale, but Lake of Glass is an underrated gem.
We did a bit of wandering at Glass Lake and from one side you can appreciate how far you’ve hiked in the vast Colorado valley. From Glass Lake, you can see The Loch in the distance.
A wild marmot appears! It was so cute. Just chilling on the rocky landscape near Glass Lake.
My absolute favorite part of the Sky Pond hike wasn’t even one of the lakes themselves. My favorite part was the section between Glass Lake and Sky Pond.
So we’re hiking. My boyfriend out in front. We make a turn. Then, the most fairy-tale like scenery hits us out of nowhere. Blue skies. Green grass. Snowy mountains backdrop. Chills. All over.
There have only been a few times in my life where I truly couldn’t believe what I saw with my own two eyes: Niagara Falls, Cathedral Rock, and now this section of the Sky Pond trail.
I mean are you kidding me?
Sky Pond
Just a short trek from Glass lake (about a quarter mile), and you’ve made it to Sky Pond!
Reaching Sky Pond felt like such an accomplishment. I remember looking around, seeing hikers of all ages, and nodding in a communal approval. Everyone worked their butt to get here. The Sky Pond trail is no joke.
My boyfriend decided to take a short nap on a slab of rock, which by the way, we do not recommend. Taking a nap in high alpine country will give you a headache.
Cresting over the lake on the right-hand side is the iconic Sharkstooth peaks. The Sharkstooth sits at 12,360 ft of elevation gain and creates an ethereal feeling at Sky Pond.
Yeah I think I was mid-pose for this. Sorry about all the back-facing pictures. We’ll take more of our faces if we become more photogenic somehow. Heh.
Can you fish at Sky Pond?
Yes. Apparently Sky Pond fishing is a thing! Mostly brookies at Sky Pond. You can catch brookies and trout at Glass Lake. I didn’t see anyone fishing when we were there, but just in case you were curious!
After soaking in the view it was time to say goodbye to Sky Pond. It was way quicker going back to the car. Probably because it was downhill and we weren’t making any more stops.
It took us less than 2 hours to get back to the Glacier Gorge Trailhead parking lot.
By the time we reached my car, we were completely famished. We drove to Estes Park and ate much-needed pizza.
Top 3 Tips for Sky Pond
#1 Acclimate to the Elevation
Rocky Mountain National Park is…well… in the mountains. The elevation at Sky Pond for instance, ends above 10,000 feet above sea level. As such, you may want to acclimate for a day or two to the elevation before going on a hike in the Rocky Mountains. Altitude sickness is not fun.
Another tip is DO NOT take a nap during the hike! No sleeping! We learned this from our Air BnB host later in our Colorado trip: when you sleep, your breathing slows down, and you get less oxygen. Less oxygen means more headaches.
We had BAD headaches during the hike that could have been more easily prevented. Learn from our rookie mistakes.
#2 Get an Early Start for Sky Pond
If you get an early start to Sky Pond, you can park directly at the trailhead and not have to wait for the Park and Ride bus service.
Also, hiking in the morning, gives these beautiful colors to the hike that is simply more special than when hiking midday.
It was probably around 1 p.m. when we made the return trip back to the car and there were SO MANY people hiking up.
It was so nice to hike earlier in the morning in solace. There is no way my boyfriend and I could have enjoyed the viewpoint at The Loch by ourselves for 15 minutes had we gotten a later start.
#3 Bring Water and Salty Snacks
This is probably a given, but please bring enough water.
Carrying a large water canteen, like a ThermoFlask, is important. I bring mine on every hike and it is a lifesaver.
The hike is long and tiring. In high altitudes, it is easy to dehydrate quickly.
You should also bring salty snacks. We lose sodium when we sweat. If the sodium in our bodies depletes, we can experience cramps, headaches, and dizziness. I personally like to bring salty trail mix and beef jerky.
Verdict: Should you Hike the Sky Pond Trail?
Yes! Duh.
Overall, I give Sky Pond a perfect 10 out of 10.
The Sky Pond trail in Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the top 5 hikes I have ever done in my life. The alpine lakes are gorgeous. There are amazing sites all along the trail — not just at the end.
Please hike this trail and then let me know what you thought of it!
Well that’s it folks. It has been a year-plus long hiatus since my last post on my travel blog. This one was long overdue. Here’s to more posts in 2022!
Til the next adventure,
– Keanu @9to5TravelGuy