Loch Vale Gorge Climbing

From Estes Park, follow the signs to RMNP. After the entrance station (~10 if your blew the alpine start), turn left and head towards Bear Lake. Park in the Glacier Gorge parking lot (now 0.3 miles from the old parking lot at the hairpin turn), about a mile before you reach Bear Lake. Follow the trail to Glacier Gorge. After a couple of miles you'll have to make a decision: left takes you into Glacier Gorge and All Mixed Up and the climbs at Black Lake; right takes you to the Loch. (Here's a great shortcut that will save you 30 minutes: Head right immediately after you cross the second overbuilt bridge-the ones with the handrails. Follow the drainage up until you intersect the GG trail about 100 yards from the GG/Loch junction. Summer climber's note: This is not the summer shortcut which parallels the drainage on the left. The winter route follows the creek bed and is quite skiiable.) For rad skiing when the conditions are good, don't take the trail down from the Loch, follow the drainage. Pick up the trail near the junction with the Glacier Gorge trail.