Rocky Mountain National Park

Sky Pond Viewpoint–The Loch, 10 sights

10.8 mi · ▲ 2,514 ft · 4 hr 51 min

Sky Pond Viewpoint–The Loch, 10 sights is a 10.8-mile out-and-back in Rocky Mountain National Park near Beaver Point, CO. The route passes Bierstadt Lake, Bear Lake and The Loch before reaching Sky Pond Viewpoint at the turnaround, 5.4 miles in. It climbs 2,514 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 11/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi8,632 – 10,201 ft · steepest grade: 18%11.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Park & Ride Trailhead 40.32894, -105.60232
Nearest town Beaver Point, CO

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Sky Pond Viewpoint–The Loch, 10 sights

10.8 mi · ▲ 2,514 ft · 4 hr 51 min

Elevation 8,631–10,201 ft

Out & Back · Rocky Mountain National Park

Trailhead: Park & Ride Trailhead · 40.32894, -105.60232

Weather Sep 4: Heavy drizzle, high 76°F / low 53° · precip 10% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:31 PM

No dogs on part of this route · Transit-accessible: stop 84 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Bierstadt Moraine Trail, heading SW.
  2. 1.3 miPass Bierstadt Lake.
  3. 50 ftTurn right onto Bierstadt Lake Trail, heading NW.
  4. 0.4 miBear right onto Bear Lake-Bierstadt Trail, heading SW.
  5. 1.5 miPass Bear Lake.
  6. 250 ftBear right onto Bear Lake Trail, heading S.
  7. 450 ftTurn right onto Emerald Lake Trail, heading S.
  8. 50 ftContinue straight onto Bear Lake / Glacier Gorge Trail, heading S.
  9. 0.3 miTurn left onto Glacier Gorge Trail, heading S.
  10. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Fire Trail, heading E.
  11. 0.9 miTurn right onto Glacier Gorge Trail, heading S.
  12. 100 ftContinue straight onto Sky Pond Trail, heading SE.
  13. 0.6 miPass The Loch.
  14. 250 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  15. 50 ftReach Sky Pond Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  16. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Glacier Gorge Trail, heading NE.
  17. 100 ftTurn left onto Fire Trail, heading NE.
  18. 0.9 miContinue straight onto Glacier Gorge Trail, heading E.
  19. 0.1 miTurn right onto Bear Lake / Glacier Gorge Trail, heading E.
  20. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Emerald Lake Trail, heading NW.
  21. 50 ftTurn left onto Bear Lake Trail, heading NW.
  22. 450 ftBear left onto Bear Lake-Bierstadt Trail, heading N.
  23. 1.6 miBear left onto Bierstadt Lake Trail, heading E.
  24. 0.4 miTurn left onto Bierstadt Moraine Trail, heading NE.
  25. 1.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

87% dirt13% unspecified

Weather

Heavy drizzleTemperature 76°F53°
Precip10%Wind8 mphUV8Humidity30%
Rained 0.1″ 5 days ago
Hourly temperature
80°50°
Sunrise 6:34 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:31 PM
Sat 75°56°
Sun 73°52° 29%
Mon 71°54° 21%
Tue 74°50° 23%
Wed 76°51° 33%
Thu 78°53° 41%

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Transit-accessible: stop 84 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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