Mills Lake Trail

Mills Lake is the lake at the mouth of Glacier Gorge, 2.8 miles from the Glacier Gorge trailhead past Alberta Falls, with Longs Peak and the spires of the Keyboard of the Winds standing straight up the gorge from its far shore. It is the best view in the Bear Lake corridor for the effort, 750 feet of gain on a good trail, and the trailhead is also the start for Loch Vale and Sky Pond, which is why its lot is full at 6 AM.

From the Glacier Gorge trailhead, the trail climbs gently through aspen and pine to Alberta Falls at 0.8 mile, a 30-foot cascade on Glacier Creek that is the family turnaround. Above the falls the trail climbs through rock and forest to the Glacier Gorge junction at about 1.9 miles, where the Loch Vale trail goes right.

Stay left for Mills Lake. The trail crosses Glacier Creek on footbridges and climbs over granite slabs to the lake at 9,940 feet, a long lake with flat rocks along its east shore for sitting and the gorge running south to Longs Peak. Jewel Lake is a short walk beyond, and Black Lake is 2 miles farther up the gorge for a long day. Return the same way for 5.3 miles.

The Glacier Gorge trailhead is on Bear Lake Road, a half mile below Bear Lake, and is a shuttle stop. The lot holds about 30 cars and is full by 6 AM in summer; the Bear Lake shuttle from the Park and Ride is the reliable way in, and the Bear Lake lot is a half-mile walk down the connector trail. The Bear Lake corridor timed-entry permit and the park entrance fee apply. Toilets at the trailhead.

No dogs anywhere on park trails. The walk to Alberta Falls suits any kid; the full trip to the lake is why the listing is for older ones, and school-age children manage it. Carry water; the lake needs a filter. The slabs at the lake are the picnic spot and the place to be off before the storm. Estes Park is 25 minutes away. The best hikes in RMNP roundup covers Loch Vale and Sky Pond from the same trailhead, and the Bear Lake trailhead guide covers the shuttle.