Skip to main content
LakeQuality

Alberta Falls is a roughly 30-foot waterfall on Glacier Creek in Rocky Mountain National Park, one of the park's most popular and family-friendly short waterfall hikes. The trail starts from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead off Bear Lake Road.

Height
30 ft
Type
Cascade
Access
Short Hike
Trail
1.6 mi out-and-back
Elevation gain
160 ft
Best season
Late spring to summer (May-September)
Land manager
Rocky Mountain National Park (NPS)
Watercourse
Glacier Creek

Before you go

Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Rocky Mountain National Park (NPS) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Alberta Falls drops about 30 feet. That makes it the 530th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 23% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.

The Glacier Gorge Trail to Alberta Falls reaches it about 1.6 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 160 feet of elevation gain, rated easy. The nearest town is Estes Park. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Rocky Mountain National Park (NPS) for closures and current conditions.

Late spring to summer (May-September). Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.

Get trip conditions by email

Lake grades, water temperature, and seasonal conditions as the data updates. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.