This summer I’ve gotten into the daily habit of taking an evening walk after dinner with my husband (and our dog). I love this habit because it’s a healthy thing to do physically and it’s a great way to connect. It feels like a mini-date.
Another habit I’m focusing on this summer is getting out in nature as much as possible. Our favorite way to do that is to go on family hikes. Today I wanted to share a hike we did last July in Rocky Mountain National Park.
The hike to Timberline Falls is 8.1 miles round-trip. You can start at the Bear Lake trailhead or Glacier Gorge. Both require a timed-entry permit from May 24 through mid-October.
From the trailhead, the first major landmark is Alberta Falls which is less than a mile. We started our hike around 7:30 in the morning. This area of the park fills up fast, so the earlier you get there the more enjoyable the falls will be. (Unless you are a big fan of crowds with selfie sticks).
We continued our hike up towards Loch Vale, a clear and serene alpine lake. This was a great spot for us to take a snack break. There are beautiful trout in the lake. I imagine this would be an idyllic fishing spot.
The trail follows alongside the Loch – which is much longer than it initially looks. Eventually, we walked through a marshy area where we spotted a deer right off the trail. That last bit of this hike is a rock staircase that goes straight up. It’s a thigh burner.
Our final obstacle was an unexpected snow field that stretched before the quick scramble to Timberline Falls.
But we didn’t make it to Timberline Falls. With all the snow, ice, and flowing water we decided it wasn’t worth climbing up. It’s always slightly disappointing when you turn back early, especially when the end is in sight, but I’ve never regretted my decision to do so.
My girls thought it was epic to slide back down in the snow.
I hope you enjoyed reading about one of our favorite hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. I’ve posted links below that would be helpful if you are interested in exploring this awesome trail yourself.
One simple thing that has brought me joy this week is changing my iPhone home screen to Photo Shuffle. Now when I pick up my phone, I see a different featured photo which are mostly pictures of my daughters over the past years. You can also select ‘nature’ so the pictures are from nature photos you’ve taken.
Another thing that is bringing me joy this week is planning our summer vacation to Rocky Mountain National Park. Last year we hiked several trails that I haven’t written about yet, so I want to share some of our new favorites including Sandbeach Lake.
Sandbeach Lake
Sandbeach Lake is located in the Wild Basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park near Allenspark, Colorado. This is an area that is lower in elevation compared to popular spots such as Bear Lake. The area is also more remote, so sometimes you can luck out with less traffic on the trails. We hiked this on a holiday weekend (July 3rd) starting a little before 8:00 in the morning.
Route Stats: The Sandbeach trailhead starts at 8,312 feet of elevation. On our route we hiked a total of 9.15 miles and gained 2,090 feet of elevation. Our moving time was just over four and a half hours, but with stops it took us five hours and fifteen minutes. With kids our average pace was 29:49.
This website was named after my oldest daughter, our original ‘Rocky Mountain Tot’. We started taking her on hikes when she was only a few months old. When she hiked to Sandbeach Lake she was eight years old and my younger daughter was six. I honestly didn’t expect them to be able to hike over nine miles, but with snack stops and a promise of a sandy beach waiting at the top, they made it!
When we reached the lake, I enjoyed walking along the shore taking in different perspectives of the lake. My girls loved the cool feeling of squishing their toes in the sand in an unexpected location.
In summary, this is a magical destination where you can put your feet in an alpine lake at over 10,000 feet of elevation. If you are looking for a unique adventure, I highly recommend Sandbeach Lake.
“Ultimately, it is your commitment to the process that will determine your progress.” James Clear, author of Atomic Habits.
I still can’t believe my 6-year-old and 8-year-old daughters hiked the 7.6-mile roundtrip trek up to Fern Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park AND enjoy it.
We’ve been coming to Rocky Mountain National Park since they were babies. For a long time, it felt like we would never be able to hike beyond a mile or two. That’s one of the reasons I liked the Fern Lake trail when they were younger. There are several destinations along the way including Arch Rocks, The Pool, and Fern Falls. I’ve posted pictures of each below. When we had a fussy baby, or an impatient toddler, we could turn around at these points and still feel like we accomplished something.
Another reason I like the Fern Lake trail is because it tends to melt out earlier in the season compared to other higher hikes. The trail begins at 8,155 ft.
In early June, we spotted several elk and moose. Spotting three moose on a trail was a first for us. Other hikers who posted on AllTrails.com also reported ‘moose traffic jams’.
Arch Rocks
Between the animal spotting and wildflowers, the trail was wonderful even before we arrived at Arch Rocks. The journey to Arch Rocks is 1.2 miles from the trailhead.
The trail follows the Big Thompson River. In spring and early summer, it is common to spot extra waterfalls flowing in.
The pool
At 1.7 miles from the trailhead, you reach a wooden bridge that crosses over The Pool. This destination is one of our favorite 2-4 mile hikes in the park.
We continued beyond The Pool to Fern Falls which is a little under a mile and gains 400 feet of elevation.
Rocky mountain national park fire damage
This section of the hike gets pretty sad because a lot of the forest was damaged by wildfires.
Fern Falls
I wish I could insert a special effect that would allow you to feel the cool mist. Even a video of Fern Falls doesn’t do it justice.
We’ve never made it past Fern Falls, but after a quick snack break, we decided to continue hiking up to Fern Lake. There were small patches of snow along the way, but we were able to do it without equipment beyond waterproof hiking boots. Hiking poles would have been helpful in some spots.
Our girls love hiking in snow! We packed layers that we could easily take on and off along the trail as we went. The temperature dropped noteably right before we reached Fern Lake. We gained a total of 1,380 feet of elevation.
I love hiking to lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park, and this new-to-me lake was stunning.
My older daughter’s advice to kids who want to hike is ‘Don’t give up. Keep on trying – it will be worth it.’
On our way back down the trail, we spotted a couple moose and a elk. Can you see the elk hidding among the trees in the photo of my daughter below? When I asked her advice to other kids who want to hike she said, ‘there is still beauty on the way down’.
This Father’s Day weekend, we want to give a gold star to my husband whose ‘commitment to the process’ is starting to pay off. We appreciate him getting us out in the mountains and among the trees!
From Beaver Meadows Visitor Center follow Hwy 36 west to Bear Lake Road (approximately 1.3 miles). Turn left onto Bear Lake Road and follow for 1.3 miles, then turn right onto Moraine Park Campground Road. After a short distance turn left at a sign indicating that Riding Stable and Trailheads are ahead. This road will take you along the edge of Moraine Park to the TH. The TH is at the end of the road.
What entrance should I use into Rocky Mountain National Park?
As of 6/16/23: NPS states that Fall River Entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park is under construction so only one lane is open to enter. Visitors are encouraged to avoid the Fall River Entrance and use the Beaver Meadows Entrance via U.S. Hwy 36.
Do I need a reservation to hike in Rocky Mountain National Park?
The Fern Lake hike is in the Bear Lake Corridor, so you must have both a pass into the park and a timed-entry permit called Park Access Plus between 5am and 6pm. The reservations can be made at Recreation.gov. Reservations typically open a month in advance. Some of the reservations open up the night before at 5:00 pm. When we are hoping to get a pass for the next day, we set an alarm on our phone so we can get on the site right at 5:00 before they all sell out. This video helps explain the system in more detail.
Where should I go if I can’t get a Park Access Plus reservation?
There are a lot of great options! Some of our favorites include:
Today I wanted to share a short post about a short hike. Nymph Lake is located in the Bear Lake area of Rocky Mountain National Park. Known for the pond lilies that float on its surface, Nymph Lake is located only a half mile from the trailhead.
Nymph Lake is one of our favorite short hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. You can find more short hike suggestions here. Continue the trail beyond Nymph Lake to amazing destinations including Dream Lake, Emerald Lake, Lake Haiyaha, and more.
rocky mountain tot 