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| Hiking | 14.70 Miles |
2,720 AEG |
| | Hiking | 14.70 Miles | 7 Hrs 55 Mns | | 1.86 mph |
| 2,720 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Bear Lake TH - Alberta Falls - Xjct - Mills Lake - Jewel Lake - back to Xjct - The Loch - Timberline Falls - Lake of Glass - Sky Pond - back to Xjct - Lake Haiyaha - Dream Lake - Emerald Lake - Dream Lake - Nymph Lake - Bear Lake TH. Distance and AEG approximate.
Glacier Gorge TH parking was already full shortly after 9am, so I went further to Bear Lake TH that still has plenty of parking spots. The trail was very busy up to Alberta Falls that had plenty of water and photographers, behind it trail usage significantly dropped. Went further up to get the views of Glacier Gorge. Turned left at X-junction to Mills Lake. There are new log bridges on stream crossings along this trail. Trail along Mills Lake provides a lot of spaces along the shore to sit, relax and admire the views especially if the light is good. Saw some from-the-shore fishermen and a walk-in one. Went a little further to Jewel Lake then turned back.
Another left turn at X-junction and the trail steadily ascends along the stream with 4 switchbacks until it reaches The Loch. Turned right at the fork (left branch is a dead end at Loch's mouth), went around The Loch noticing some picnicking groups ashore and inflatable-boating fishermen afloat.
Further up the trail again follows the stream, crosses another stream at which there's a junction to Andrews Glacier. At Timberline Falls the trail steeply ascends to the falls and enters the side stream of it - you actually need to climb through the falls, but it's non-technical and very short. Just above the falls lies Lake of Glass making a good views downstream from it's other side. Sky Pond, the end point of this trail, is just behind Lake of Glass.
While I was accumulating elevation gain going up to Sky Pond, heavy clouds accumulated in the sky. When I was finishing my lunch, Fisherman & Son were running around the Pond probably bringing some Big Fish to bay, the rain began. Upon reaching the falls I found that trail stream was stronger and had a sloppy experience climbing down wet rocks. Then I decided to skip Andrews Glacier branch because I felt running out of time though initially it was on plan.
At X-junction I turned left once again and proceeded to Lake Haiyaha accompanied by intermittent rain. Trail goes downhill for a little while and then it's all uphill. Lake Haiyaha partly covers a depression filled with huge angular boulders, so you need to cross the boulder filed to get to the lake. Didn't notice any fishermen on this one, but they were probably there hiding between boulders.
Having descended to Dream Lake, I found a group of picnickers swept from the shore by another rain blast. Well I'm not that easy and all wet anyway, so I went up to Emerald Lake, made an internal checkmark and headed down. Halfway between Dream and Nymph lakes I caught up with due ragazze belle with who I kept company to the trailhead. I got so carried away describing beauty of Yellowstone park to these nymphs that I didn't even notice Nymph Lake that we were passing by. But it was still raining and I already had an impression that for some unknown reason lakes lit by the sun look much better than same lakes in the rain, so I don't regret about it. This can also be a reason to come back. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
Our first day would be through Rocky Mountain National Park on our way through the state in an 8 day loop that would be mostly new ground for me as well.
