alberta falls

My husband and I hiked in RMNP and our first stop was Alberta Falls. This is a neat little area and perfect for a picnic break. We went on to see Mills Lake and the Loche Vale which I would also highly recommend. What a beautiful park!!

This hike is all about what you make of it. Only about a mile each way, but in the winter the falls are frozen. We got to the falls and hiked up and down the frozen water and turned this into much more than just gazing at a waterfall from the top of the cliff.

December is a good time to hike to the falls, but know that they will be frozen.Needed traction devices. Poles were also helpful. It was a beautiful day, but very windy and cold so be prepared. It was fun to see the falls in a different season. We have seen it in spring, summer & fall before. Nice 1 mile hike to the falls, so it is a 2 mile total hike. Not too bad of elevation gain, & we are from 8 ft above sea level. Great hike for a family.Took our kids here many times starting in 1987. We usually take 1 hour to do this hike, but we stay a long time at the falls area just to enjoy the view. Go early on winter weekends because the parking lot fills up fast.

RMNP is beautiful even during Winter season. Visiting RMNP during winter is one of the best experience of lifetime.You surely will carry memories to cherish for life after visiting RMNP.

To me, the Alberta Falls are the best in the park. No, you cannot stay in the park, no lodging unless you have an RV or tent and even then you need reservation in summer and fall. But you can find plenty of accommodations in the near by Estes Park. As an added benefit, you will see plenty of Elk on the Streets of Estes Park in the winter. Please don't try to talk to them, because they can be really dangerous and cause damage to you or your car. The Park is open 24/7 year-round and admission fees are the same as all other National Parks. Backcountry camping is allowed but you need a permit. Bring plenty of food and water with you and enjoy the beautiful views year round. Call in advance for seasonal route closings and keeps your eyes open for the cute pica, a local inhabitant.

We picked this as a quick hike to do with our kids in early August and ended up spending just about as much time seeking out parking as we did hiking as the overflow shuttle lot was full as were all of the other lots. After much searching we finally secured a spot and took the shuttle to the trailhead. Once there it was an easy in and out scenic hike to a pretty waterfall. If crowds are not your thing you should definitely avoid this in peak season. There are other falls in the park that take a little more effort to get to but do offer a lot more solitude. The loop around Bear Lake is also accessible from this trailhead and makes for a nice stroll. Bonus: if you like to fish there are pull offs along the road that allow access to some good fishing on Glacier Creek.

The falls were one of the busiest spots we visited still in the middle of November, had to wait our turn to take photos. If you don't have much time do squeeze in this hike very short and pretty. If you have longer do continue on to Loch Lake, very beautiful.

I recently visited the Denver area on business, and was looking for something to do outdoors to explore the area. The hotel desk clerk recommended a drive to Estes Falls, and a hike. I researched the area, and saw that Alberta Falls was an easy and short hike, so I decided to try it out! Warning: Estes Park and the trailhead for Alberta Falls is a good 2 hour drive, so I had to hurry in order to get there and back before it was too dark.Upon arriving in the town, I saw a group of elk beside the lake, and they were a beautiful to see. Then, I paid the $20 to enter the Rocky Mountain National Park (kind of a riot since it was only me in the car), and drove the 5 or so miles to the trailhead, which was a gorgeous drive. After arriving at the trailhead, it was well-lit, and plenty of people around, which was good for me, since I was hiking alone.The trail was short and well-marked, as well as maintained so that it would be accessible for most hikers. I saw many people with small children. At the top of the falls, there are hundreds of chipmunks running around begging for treats from visitors. It was neat to have them crawl up your leg or arm, and they were extremely gentle.All-in-all, a great place, and I really wish I could have stayed longer.

The trail was icey in October and therefore a little slippery but so worth it! This is also not a bad hike for your first day in higher altitudes. The views were gorgeous and the falls...beautiful! Very peaceful.

Alberta Falls in one of many great waterfalls in RMNP once again pay attention to the scenery and wildlife in the area, each time yo go you see something new

As we were passing the parking area for Alberta Falls it looked like a ghost town. Only about two other vehicles. Glad we did the hike up to the fall as as the view was great as well as the sound of the rushing waters. The hike is not bad at all....

If I could only go on one trail, I would choose differently. But if you are going to go on a few while you are here and you should. It is worth the hike.

I visited Alberta Falls during the last weekend in September at the beginning of an eight mile loop. The leaves were changing, the elk bugling, the weather was perfect, and the whole front range was headed to Alberta Falls. The hike itself wasn't too difficult being under a mile to the falls, with some up hill here and there. I would say most all experience levels are capable of reaching the falls having seen a wide spectrum of ages there. The trail is wide, smooth, and generally well groomed. As mentioned before as well as in previous posts, this trail can get busy. Expect to see people often. A few more words of advice; When the sign says take the shuttle, take the shuttle. I thought I was out early enough to snag a spot at Glacier Gorge TH, but ended up just wasting close to an hour by the time I actually got on the bus. Also, once you are actually on the trail, you will come across an overlook of cascades. Keep going, the falls are about a tenth of a mile further. Finally, if you have the time and ability, keep going to The Loch. Amazing picture perfect views including Andrew's Glacier. Its all up hill to this point, but well worth it!

This is an easy hike that is very pretty and also popular (so if you are looking for solitude, this is not the hike for you - try Bridal Veil Falls instead). If you are using the tram, the easiest way to do this is to start at Bear Lake and go downhill to the Alberta Falls Trailhead. After the hike, then you go downhill to the Glacier Gorge area and pick up the tram there. Just saves your knees a little bit!!!This is an easy hike though - all ages can do it and you don't need to be in great shape. The falls are beautiful!!

Nice short hike to the falls, not much elevation gain. Just under 2 miles round trip. The falls are spectacular, bigger than you would think and some of the easiest to get to. Bring your camera and have some fun. You can continue on up,for some more adventure and explore one of the lakes.