Mills Lake
- nps.gov
- Estes Park
- Open now · open 24 hours
About
Mills Lake is the big payoff in Glacier Gorge: a subalpine lake with mountains all around it and a waterfall on the way in. It's a real hike, not a stroll, but it's the one I send friends on when they want the full Rocky Mountain picture.
From the Glacier Gorge trailhead it's 2.7 miles one way to Mills Lake, with about 816 feet of climbing. From Bear Lake it's 2.8 miles one way and 727 feet. Either way you're talking around 5.5 miles round trip. The trail passes Alberta Falls on the way, so you get water along the route. Both trailheads are on Bear Lake Road inside Rocky Mountain National Park, and dogs aren't allowed on the trails.
Go early. The Bear Lake Road lots fill fast, and in summer you'll need a Timed Entry+ Bear Lake Road reservation for certain hours, so look at the NPS site first. Afternoon thunderstorms build over the high peaks, so plan to be heading down by early afternoon. I'd skip it on a July weekend midday and aim for a weekday or the shoulder season. In winter the snow stays deep on the trail, so bring traction devices, waterproof boots, and real patience. Pack out everything, and stay on the trail where the tundra is fragile.
