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INFO For information on permits, current trail and camp conditions, and wilderness guidelines, go to nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/backcountry.htm
PERMIT A wilderness permit is required for all overnight camping in the backcountry. Reservations accepted ($20 administrative fee for permits during peak season). nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/backcntry_guide.htm
CONTACT Rocky Mountain National Park, (970) 586-1206; nps.gov/romo
-Mapped by Jenn Fields
Trail Facts
- Distance: 8.7
Waypoints
LVL001
Location: 40.310388, -105.640336
Head southwest from the Glacier Gorge trailhead.
LVL002
Location: 40.308479, -105.642015
Cross bridge over Chaos Creek.
LVL003
Location: 40.307799, -105.642793
Turn right at Y-junction; follow signs for Loch Vale.
LVL004
Location: 40.307639, -105.643442
Turn left at T-junction, following signs for Loch Vale. (These trails are well-marked.)
LVL005
Location: 40.303847, -105.638394
Alberta Falls: This popular 25-foot-high waterfall pours over granite slabs into a pool.
LVL006
Location: 40.299592, -105.639507
Turn right at Y-junction.
LVL007
Location: 40.298426, -105.640061
The trail runs across the base of Glacier Knobs, two side-by-side, 10,000-foot mounds.
LVL008
Location: 40.297432, -105.645947
Bear right at Y-junction. From here, the trail switchbacks up to The Loch.
LVL009
Location: 40.293799, -105.655607
The Loch: This picturesque lake sits at the mouth of Loch Vale, a rugged, two-mile-long gorge. Take in this spectacular mountain scene before retracing your route back to the trailhead.