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.
Helpful Links:
Timerline Falls trail info from RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
AllTrails.com trip reports from fellow hikers.
Rocky Mountain National Park Timed Entry
Rocky Mountaion National Park Fishing guidelines
Our Hike to Sky Pond which goes up, over, and through Timberline Falls
rocky mountain tot 