Hiking the Sky Pond – Emerald Lake Loop: Rocky Mountain National Park’s Best Day Hike
If you’re looking for the best day hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, we got a good one for you!
You may have heard of the Emerald Lake hike – it’s one of the most popular hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s relatively short and easy but goes by three beautiful alpine lakes. In fact, the views from these lakes are often what you see when you search for pictures of the park.
You may have also heard of Sky Pond. This hike is a bit more of a challenge and is much longer, but it takes you to three awesome alpine lakes, a couple of waterfalls, up a fun scramble, and ends at the most epic mountain view – our favorite in the park!
What if I told you that you can combine both of these into one incredibly epic day hike? Sign me up, am I right? It will be a long day, but super worth it. The Sky Pond - Emerald Lake loop hike really showcases off the very best of what Rocky Mountain National Park has to offer, including 8 lakes, 2 waterfalls, and awesome rocky mountain views.
If you’re short on time in the park, or just up for the challenge, the Sky Pond – Emerald Lake loop is the perfect Rocky Mountain National Park hike to add to your itinerary. In this post, we’ll cover all the details you need to know to complete this epic loop. So let’s get started!
Article Contents
Sky Pond - Emerald Lake loop trailhead
Rocky Mountain National Park shuttle
Sky Pond - Emerald Lake loop hiking stats
Sky Pond - Emerald Lake loop hike overview
Summary of hiking times and distances along the loop
Best time to hike the Sky Pond - Emerald Lake loop
What to pack for hiking Sky Pond and Emerald Lake
Tips for hiking to Sky Pond and Emerald Lake in RMNP
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How to Get to the Trailhead for the Sky Pond - Emerald Lake Loop in Rocky Mountain National Park
This loop starts at the Bear Lake Trailhead – the most popular trailhead in the park, as many of Rocky Mountain National Parks best hikes begin here. This trailhead is found at the very end of Bear Lake Road through the Beaver Meadows entrance.
The parking lot is big, but because it is so popular, it fills up pretty early. When we arrived at 5:45 am to start our hike, the lot was about a fifth full, and filling fast. I would recommend getting there between 6:30 and 7 am to be guaranteed a spot. Spots do show up throughout the day as people finish their hikes and leave, but we would recommend getting as early of a start on this hike as possible to both beat some of the crowds and, more importantly, beat the inevitable afternoon thunderstorms (we’ll talk more about this later).
The Rocky Mountain National Park shuttle
If waking up at the crack of dawn to find a parking spot doesn’t sound appealing to you, you’re in luck! RMNP has a super awesome and convenient shuttle system that runs the length of the Bear Lake Road corridor. Stopping at various places along the road at regular intervals, you can simply take the shuttle to the Bear Lake Trailhead to start your hike and then catch it back to your car when you’re done. Check the NPS website for more on the routes and times.
Even when taking the shuttle, we still recommend getting to the trailhead as early as you can.
Sky Pond - Emerald Lake Loop Hiking Stats
Distance: 11.5 miles*
Elevation Gain: 3,400 feet
Starting elevation: 9,490 feet
Highest Elevation: 10,880 feet
Time to hike: 8 hours (this was our total time but includes about 2 hours of hanging out by the lakes)
Trail Profile:
*A few notes about these numbers: These statistics were tracked by our Garmin watch and refer to a starting and ending point at the Bear Lake Trailhead. The true distance of the actual hike itself is probably more like 11 miles, as we walked around Sky Pond an extra half mile or so seeking out good spots and just exploring.
The Sky Pond - Emerald Lake Loop Hike in Rocky Mountain National Park
This hike is one of RMNP’s best, featuring tons of alpine lakes, epic alpine views, some waterfalls, and a long day out on the trails.
The 8 alpine lakes you’ll visit on this hike include: The Loch, Lake of Glass, Sky Pond, Haiyaha Lake, Dream Lake, Emerald Lake, Nymph Lake, and Bear Lake. Not a bad day!
Here, we break down the Sky Pond - Emerald Lake loop hike section by section.
Bear Lake Trailhead to Alberta Falls
From the Bear Lake Trailhead, you’ll follow the signs towards Alberta Falls. Each trail junction is very clearly marked so it’s pretty easy to find your way. It’s 1 mile to get to Alberta Falls, and takes about 30 minutes.
The trail starts off at a slight downhill as it heads towards the junction with the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. From this intersection, it’s 0.6 miles to Alberta Falls. The trail is well maintained and has a slight upward grade through the forest until you make it to the falls.
There’s a small viewpoint from the trail out towards Alberta Falls. You can stop here for a quick view and then continue on your way down the trail or wander carefully around the boulders here to enjoy the falls a bit more.
Alberta Falls to the Loch
From Alberta Falls, the trail continues to climb gently until eventually you come out from the tree line. If you started your hike early enough, you’ll get some beautiful alpenglow off the newly exposed mountain faces as the sun starts to rise, and as you continue to climb, you’ll come across some beautiful overlooks back out over the valley.
Along this portion of the hike, you’ll hit two trail junctions. At the junction for Boulder Brook (towards Long’s Peak), continue straight to stick on the trail to The Loch. After about 2 miles into the hike, you’ll hit another major junction along the trail. If you take a left, you’ll be on the trail to Mills and Black Lake. This can be a side out and back hike if you feel like you have the time and energy to add on more mileage to this already long day, but otherwise, you won’t be taking this trail. If you head right at this junction, you’ll be heading towards Haiyaha Lake. You’ll be taking this trail on the way back. For now, continue on straight towards The Loch, which is about 0.7 miles away at this point.
You’ll continue to make your way deeper into the valley. Eventually you will hit a series of switch backs which make for a steady climb up through the forest, but it never gets too steep. If you look carefully at one of the switchback’s turns, you can spot a small waterfall through the trees.
Shortly after finishing the switchbacks, you’ll end at The Loch, your first of a series of beautiful alpine lakes of the day.
If you think the views are cool from your first sighting of the lake…just wait. Continue along the trail that runs around the right side of the lake, and you’ll stumble upon viewpoints that get better and better, really exposing the lake’s epic mountain backdrop.
Definitely take some time to enjoy it here. Many people coming through simply pass on by on their way to their final destination, so there’s never really any overcrowding along The Loch.
The Loch to Lake of Glass
Once passed The Loch, you’ll continue along a forested trail that crosses some small streams using wooden planks and gradually climbs up through the valley.
You’ll eventually emerge from the forest to a beautiful alpine meadow with a rocky moraine ahead, and this is where the trail gets really fun!
At this point, the trail becomes a bit rockier. And you’ll notice a beautiful waterfall in the distance. That’s Timberline Falls, and you’ll be climbing up the side of it in just a bit!
Continue traversing up and over the rocky path that leads up to the base of the falls. Eventually the path becomes a rocky staircase, which is, in combination with the waterfall section of the hike, pretty much the most strenuous section of the day’s hike…but it’s fun!
The rocks become slippery up here as the water from the falls starts trickling through, so watch your step. At the top of this climb, you’ll emerge along the side of Timberline Falls, where you’ll start your short scramble up. The section has pretty good hand and foot holds, but the rocks are, of course, slippery, making it a tad bit more challenging.
Just a short walk from the top across a rocky path will bring you to the base of your second epic alpine lake of the day…Lake of Glass.
Take your time and enjoy the awesome view here, but if you can believe it, Sky Pond is even better, so when you’re ready, keep on going!
Lake of Glass to Sky Pond
We read that many people actually stop at Lake of Glass thinking it’s Sky Pond. It doesn’t really surprise us, since many of the signs along the trail after the Loch only mention Sky Pond rather than Lake of Glass, so without a map or researching the trail ahead of time, you might think this lake is your final destination along this trail. Also, the trail beyond the Lake of Glass is a bit tricky to find. There are no signs here directing you where to go, nor any obvious trail along the lake’s rocky shoreline. We knew this was Lake of Glass and not Sky Pond, but honestly, the only reason we really knew where to go next was by seeing where some other people were going.
To get to Sky Pond from the Lake of Glass, you basically just traverse along the right side of the lake across the rocks and boulders. Once you get around to the back side of the lake, a rock/dirt trail will start to appear to let you know you’re on the right path. From here, it’s a pretty easy and quick walk to get to Sky Pond, without too much more climbing. The only tricky thing about this part of the hike to Sky Pond is the altitude, as you’re nearing 11,000 feet.
You’ll know you’re getting close when you can see the characteristic spiky rock tower backdrop of Sky Pond starting to appear on your right.
Finally, you’ll emerge at the base of Sky Pond – our favorite view in Rocky Mountain National Park! The lake is surrounded by a gorgeous mountain backdrop, including those characteristic rock towers known as the Shark’s Tooth.
A small crowd might form here at the base of the lake (when we were there, there was about a dozen or so people), so we would definitely recommend wandering around and finding a quiet secluded place to enjoy the lake in solitude. We wandered over to the left side of the lake to get a straight on view of the Shark’s Tooth (highly recommend!). And keep your eyes out (and ear’s open!) for cute little pikas and marmots scurrying around the rocks.
We hung out at the lake, enjoying the views, taking pictures, and eating lunch for about an hour and had our secluded little spot all to ourselves while we watched the small crowd forming at the base of the lake.
Sky Pond to Lake Haiyaha
Eventually, you’ll have to say good bye to Sky Pond. Afterall, you’re not even half way done with this epic Rocky Mountain National Park hike! You still have 5 more lakes to see!
From Sky Pond, you’ll basically just retrace your steps all the way back down to the junction to Haiyaha Lake that we mentioned above.
View from Sky Pond back down to the Lake of Glass
The midday crowds coming up to Timberline Falls
At the junction, follow the signs for Haiyaha Lake. This trail is a steady climb and mostly through the trees, with fleeting views out into the valley here and there. Despite the trail to Sky Pond becoming extremely crowded, this trail was still pretty quiet, which was nice.
You’ll eventually come to an intersection just before you reach the lake. Right will take you down to Dream Lake. Head left for now to continue onto Haiyaha Lake, just a ten minute walk from here.
As you get closer to the lake, the path becomes a bit bouldery, and you’ll have to climb your way up and over large rocks and boulders to get to the lake’s edge. The lake is surrounded by these big boulders, so just scramble your way to a good safe looking rock and enjoy the views.
We loved Haiyaha Lake because it’s not only another beautiful alpine lake with a gorgeous mountain backdrop, but because it’s not highly visited. There’s only a handful of people there and everyone kind of claims their own little secluded space along the lake so you feel like you have it all to yourself. Enjoy it while you can…because the next three lakes (Nymph, Dream, and Emerald) are some of the most crowded places in the park.
Lake Haiyaha to Dream Lake
When you’re ready, retrace your steps back to the junction and continue on the path towards Dream Lake. This part of the trail was a pleasant surprise for us. There are really nice overlooks out over the valley with a clear shot at Long’s Peak.
Eventually you’ll take a few long switchbacks through the forest that drop you steadily at the foot of Dream Lake. Here, you’ll drop about 300 feet in a half mile, so it’s a pretty steady downclimb and goes quite fast.
The switchbacks drop you off right at the junction with the main trail to Dream and Emerald Lakes. Follow the signs to Dream Lake, which is just a few minutes walk from here.
Dream and Emerald Lakes are part of the most popular day hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. Their stunning views and surprising accessibility make them a super popular choice for a lot of visitors looking for an easy hike. And, if you were just hiking to these lakes, we would probably agree that the hike is quite epic.
But the catch from doing these lakes as part of a loop with Sky Pond? After the solitude you’ve experienced at the four previous lakes along this hike, Dream and Emerald Lakes might seem a bit…chaotic. And maybe a bit overwhelming. Compared to the morning’s four previous lakes that you’ve already visited, Dream Lake might seem like a zoo! There will be tons of people here, and lots of families and kids, so just go in expecting that…at any time of day really. We thought this took a way from these lakes just a little, as it no longer seemed we were in the quiet backcountry of the Rockies. Don’t get us wrong, we thought the lakes were still gorgeous, and maybe if we hadn’t done Sky Pond earlier that morning, we would have felt differently.
With all that said, this area is popular for a reason…the views from Dream Lake are pretty great, and if you can zone out the crowds, it’s worth the hike out to it. We didn’t spend much time here, just took a few minutes to soak in the views and continued on.
Dream Lake to Emerald Lake
From dream lake, it’s a short but steady, and crowded, climb up to Emerald Lake. There’s a bit more climbing here up a rocky path, where most of the challenge comes simply from the altitude as you crest over 10,000 feet (but if you’ve been to Sky Pond already, you’ve already been up to 11,000 feet!).
The trail ends right at a rocky viewpoint at the base of Emerald Lake. There’s not a lot of space here and it gets pretty crowded, so definitely don’t expect to find any solitude. We ended up finding an open spot to eat a snack and enjoy the views for a bit.
This guy was quick…but don’t worry…he didn’t get in!
Emerald Lake to Nymph Lake and Bear Lake Trailhead
Right around 2 pm, we started hearing rumbles of thunder that were quickly growing louder and are characteristic of the afternoon storms so common in the Rockies. So, we decided to head out and get back below tree line before it came.
And, so did everyone else.
As we tried to quickly hurry down the trail, there was a huge exodus of people out of the mountains. It was basically just a train of people on the trail as everyone tried to escape the impending rain, which gave us a sense of how truly crowded the Emerald Lake trail really is!
We went right by Dream Lake again, this time just pushing forward as fast as the line of people allowed. From Dream Lake back to the Bear Lake Trailhead, the trail is a pretty easy dirt trail with a steady but gradual downhill grade, and makes for a fast hike out, especially if you’re trying to outrun a storm! We made it out from Emerald Lake to the trailhead in about 30 minutes.
On our way, we spotted the 7th lake of the day…Nymph Lake. Compared to the previous lakes of the day, this one didn’t seem as grand, but it was pretty nonetheless, and we took just a brief second to admire the views as the rain started.
Views from the hike to Emerald Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park
We didn’t quite make it off the trail in time before it started pouring, and at one point even hailing. The thunder was super loud, rumbling through the mountains, and we kept seeing flashes of light. It was a pretty unsettling but I felt comfort knowing that at least we were below tree line.
We emerged at the Bear Lake parking lot with hordes of people coming off all the trails and rushing to their cars. And as we drove down Bear Lake Road through the valley back to our campsite, we could see the streaks of lighting in the sky around us. Definitely made it out just in time!
Bear Lake
If you haven’t been chased out by a thunderstorm on your hike back to the trailhead and you still have time, we recommend you take a gander around Bear Lake itself. Just a few steps away from the trailhead, Bear Lake is the most popular lake in the park due to its accessibility and beauty. A 0.6 mile flat and super easy path circles the lake and gives beautiful views, making a perfect ending to your epic hike in Rocky Mountain National Park with your 8th alpine lake of the day.
We didn’t get so lucky to end our hike this way due to the storm, but we did find ourselves back here the next day when it was much nicer.
Sky Pond - Emerald Lake hike: times and distances
Here are some numbers based on our own hike to Sky Pond and Emerald Lake to help you plan your day on the trails:
Bear Lake Trailhead to Alberta Falls
Time: 30 minutes
Miles: 1 mile
Alberta Falls to the Loch
Time: 50 minutes
Miles: 1.73 miles (Alberta Falls to the junction with Lake Haiyaha: 1 mile)
Elevation of the Loch: 10,194 feet
The Loch to Glass Lake
Time: 55 minutes (10 minutes from the top of Timberline Falls to Sky Pond)
Mile: 1.27 miles
Elevation of Glass Lake: 10,815 feet
Glass Lake to Sky Pond
Time: 20 minutes
Miles: 0.45 miles (4.45 miles total from the trailhead)
Elevation of Sky Pond: 10,879 feet
Sky Pond to Lake Haiyaha
Time: 2 hours
From Sky Pond to Lake Haiyaha: 2.25 miles
From the junction to Lake Haiyaha: 1.25 miles
Elevation of Lake Haiyaha: 10,215 feet
Lake Haiyaha to Dream lake
Time: 45 minutes
Miles: 1 mile
Elevation of Dream Lake: 9,940
Dream Lake to Emerald Lake
Time: 15 minutes
Miles: 0.6 miles
Elevation of Emerald Lake: 10,121
Emerald Lake to Bear Lake Trailhead
Time: 30 minutes (but we were booking it, plan for more like 45 minutes)
Miles to Nymph Lake: 1 mile
Elevation of Nymph Lake: 9,727
Miles from Nymph Lake to trailhead: 0.5 miles
Elevation of the trailhead: 9,490
Total hike time: approximately 6 hours
Total distance hiked: approximately 11 miles
Best Time to Hike the Sky Pond - Emerald Lake Loop in Rocky Mountain National Park
The best time to hike in Rocky Mountain National Park is mid-summer to early fall. Depending on the snowpack from the winter, the snow can linger in the higher elevations into June, and sometimes even July. Be sure to check the conditions on the NPS site before you go.
In early September, it starts to get a little cooler, but it’s still nice for hiking. However, be prepared for snow to happen at any time. The year we visited, a huge snowfall happened in the second week of September, creating huge snow drifts that temporarily closed some park roads!
What to Pack for Hiking to Sky Pond and Emerald Lake
Sturdy hiking boots – for this hike I would definitely recommend you wear good hiking boots with grippy soles, ankle support, and waterproofing, mostly for the hike up to Glass Lake around the Timberline Falls portion
Rain gear – a rain coat and pack cover in case you get stuck in the pouring rain like us!
Trail map – the trails are well marked and well signed but always a good idea to have to see how far you have left and help you plan
Hat and sunscreen – a good portion of the hike is exposed and the summer sun can be strong
Layers – you’ll be climbing up to just below 11,000 feet!
Lots of water and snacks - staying well hydrated will help with the altitude
Tips for Hiking the Sky Pond - Emerald Lake Loop in Rocky Mountain National Park
Start early. We’ve mentioned this a few times already but it’s worth reiterating. Starting early will help you avoid the crowds (at least along the trail to Sky Pond…the ones on the trail to Emerald Lake are unavoidable). This is a benefit to driving and parking at the trailhead rather than taking the shuttle and arriving when the rest of the crowds do. Then again, taking the shuttle reduces congestion at the parking lots and reduces park emission…so there is definitely a trade-off!
Afternoon storms. The storms here appear like clockwork. Every day we were in RMNP, we got chased out by these. Take these seriously and don’t plan to be above tree line after around 1-2 pm! This is another good reason to get an early start on this hike since it’s pretty long.
Do Sky Pond first. You can go either way along this loop, but we definitely recommend doing Sky Pond first (the order in which we described the trail in this post). Emerald Lake will be crowded no matter when you go, so getting to Sky Pond first will allow you to have more solitude there. Plus, you get a good chunk of the elevation gain out of the way as you climb to Sky Pond.
Should you skip Emerald Lake? We personally liked the loop because doing the whole loop versus just an out and back to Sky Pond doesn’t add a whole lot of mileage but you get to see 4 more lakes. Even though it was crowded along the Emerald Lake trail, and we will admit that the crowds at the end of our hike were a bit frustrating after experiencing more solitude throughout the morning (we felt like we had emerged from the wilderness to almost like a crowded attraction), we were still glad we did it and combined both hikes at once. But, if you’re not into crowds, it’s totally fine to just to the out and back to Sky Pond. You’ll still get to experience what I consider the most epic lakes of the entire loop!
The Sky Pond – Emerald Lake loop is truly one of the most amazing day hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. Let us know if you’ve done it or if you have any questions…comment below!