The Loch
- nps.gov
- Estes Park
About
The Loch is a mellow lake tucked up Loch Vale, with Taylor Peak and Taylor Glacier filling the head of the valley. It's a longer day than most Bear Lake Road lakes, but the forest walk in is half the reason to go.
Most people start at the Glacier Gorge trailhead and walk about 3 miles one way, roughly 1,000 feet of climbing, which puts you near 5.5 or 6 miles round trip. The route heads toward Alberta Falls, then turns up into Loch Vale. You can also start from Bear Lake. It's all inside Rocky Mountain National Park, so dogs stay home. It shares the corridor with Mills Lake, and the two make a good pair of options depending on your legs that day.
My advice is to start early and be done before the afternoon storms roll in. Parking on Bear Lake Road fills up quickly, and in summer you need a Timed Entry+ Bear Lake Road reservation for certain hours, so check the NPS site. If the crowd at Mills Lake feels like too much, The Loch tends to feel a little quieter and more wooded. June through September is the easy window. Outside it, expect snow, so carry traction devices and waterproof boots.
