The Loch
Estes Park pioneer Abner Sprague used a pun to name The Loch and Loch Vale, the valley in which this photogenic lake sits. He named these features for a guest at his lodge, a banker named Locke. Sprague changed the spelling to Loch, the Scottish word for lake, a clever joke that causes some confusion a century later. But many people who judge this to be the prettiest lake in Rocky Mountain National Park think calling it The Lake is appropriate. Named for Sprague’s wife, Alberta Falls may be the most-photographed falls in the park. Beyond the falls the trail climbs amid rocks through land slowly recovering from a 1900 forest fire. Watch for colorful wildflowers growing against burned, weathered wood. Highlights: Alberta Falls, The Loch.
Driving Directions
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Directions to: The Loch
print directionsTrail Statistics & Information
| Activity | Hiking |
|---|---|
| Nearby City | Estes Park |
| Length | 5.4 mi |
| Skill Level | Easy to moderate |
| Season | Best summer and fall |
| Trailhead Elevation | 9,230 ft |
| Top Elevation | 10,180 ft |
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