Alberta Falls
- nps.gov
- Estes Park
About
Alberta Falls is the easy win in Glacier Gorge: a short walk through aspen and pine to a waterfall that's loud in early summer. It's popular for good reason, and the trail keeps going if you've got more in you. Go early, or take the shuttle.
Start at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead on Bear Lake Road inside Rocky Mountain National Park. The falls are 0.8 miles one way, so the whole outing is about a mile and a half round trip. It's a gentle climb, fine for most kids and anyone who walks regularly. The water is at its best when the snow's melting, early summer, and it's still worth a stop in fall.
The trailhead lot fills fast, and the park tells you to leave your car at the Park & Ride and take the free Bear Lake shuttle instead. I'd listen. In summer you'll need a timed-entry reservation, so check the NPS site before you drive up. Dogs aren't allowed on any Park trail, even this short one. Winter turns the path icy, so bring traction. The crowds thin out the moment you pass the falls, and the trail goes on toward Mills Lake if you want to keep walking. Keep your footing near the wet rocks at the falls.
