Clamber over boulders and past large waterfalls on your way to the otherworldly rocky topography surrounding this scenic alpine lake.
Sky Pond is the stunning water basin at the end of Loch Vale Trail, in the southern part of Rocky Mountain National Park. It is just past Lake of Glass in the mountains, where snow turns the topography white in winter. Climb up the 9-mile (14-kilometer) round-trip trail, which is moderate with some difficult sections, overcoming rocks and other obstacles on the way.
Start from Glacier Gorge Trailhead. While on the trail, stop at Alberta Falls and admire the 30-foot (9-meter) cascade. The falls are named for Alberta Sprague, an early settler and one of the first visitors to the area after it became a national park. Turn right at the North Longs Peak Trail fork, making your way to Loch Vale Trail. Pass its namesake lake and snap photos of the dramatic summits of Thatchtop Mountain and The Sharkstooth.
The next major landmark will be Timberline Falls. Beyond it lies the trickiest part of the trail, where you’ll have to climb up large boulders. Stop for breaks as you go, taking a few moments to marvel at the beauty of the falls, whose main chute drops about 100 feet (30 meters).
Continue on to admire the still waters that give Lake of Glass its exceptional character, before the next short path to nearby Sky Pond. At an elevation of 10,900 feet (3,300 meters), it shines white with snow for the long winter. Take in the views of the lake, which is bounded by dramatic cliff walls.
Find Sky Pond toward the southeastern end of Rocky Mountain National Park, in Colorado. Drive southwest from the heart of Estes Park for 12 miles (19 kilometers) to reach Glacier Gorge Trailhead in about 30 minutes and walk the trail to reach the pond. You can also reach the trailhead via the free park shuttle.
While in the Estes Park area, make sure to see other nearby sights such as Emerald Mountain, the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and East Glacier Knob.
Purchase a weekly or annual pass to enter the park and access the trails.
