Date of Trek: June 16, 2009

Summary: A 6.2 mile hike that begins by following a brook with numerous cascades, continues to stunning views at higher elevations, and finishes with a gorgeous waterfall.  Take the free shuttle back to your starting point.

The stats

What you will see

Where you will go

What I think

It’s been almost a year since I did this hike, but I do remember it as being very enjoyable.  It starts in the valley and starts climbing immediately.  You’ll climb 1500ft in less than 3 miles.  However, you almost don’t notice because you are following a lovely creek with lots of waterfalls and cascades.  I could have spent hours photographing here, but I forced myself to press on, knowing I had a long way to go.

Once you get to the higher elevations, the epic panoramas are plentiful.  You’ll be wandering through alpine meadows and stands of evergreens.  I remember the trail being rather wet in places due to spring run off, often leaving me with wet feet (I hike in Vibram Five Fingers).

After reaching the North Longs Peak trail, you start to descend again.  Gorgeous views are still plentiful and the evergreens start to intermix with beautiful aspens.  Eventually, you reach and cross the Glacier Gorge, a raging river at that time of year that eventually spills over Alberta Falls.  You get to see that too. I got rained on during this portion of the trip…a lot.  Remember that you’re in the mountains and the weather can change suddenly.  Dress and pack accordingly.  I had rain gear along, but I learned that it was no longer waterproof.  I guess my 15-year-old North Face jacket had reached the end of its useful life.  I bought a new rain jacket that evening.  Naturally, it didn’t rain the rest of my time in the park.

From the falls, you head to the Glacier Gorge trail head and parking area.  Catch the free shuttle to the Bierstadt Lake parking area and walk the 0.2 miles back to the Storm Pass trail head where you parked.

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