Sky Pond has been taunting me ever since I bought a scratch off “100 Greatest Hikes of National Parks” poster… and when, in 2022, I hiked as far of Lake of Glass and then turned around. So when the familiar “ding” of the group chat for wild ice skating went off as I was trying to find an ounce of focus in that weird space that is the week between Christmas and New Year’s, I knew I just had to take the extra vacation day and have me an adventure!
Tucked in a cirque basin at 10,900 feet, Sky Pond is spectacular and probably one of the highlights of Rocky Mountain National Park. The Sharkstooth, Taylor Peak, and Powell Peak frame this rugged alpine lake. What makes it even better is the whole hike is beautiful and worthwhile, passing The Loch, Timberline Falls, and Lake of Glass. Therefore, Sky Pond is a very popular hike, including in the winter months (which during winter, things are made easier by being able to cross directly across lakes, glissading, and a less sketchy scramble near Timberline Falls). I’ve been wanting to wild ice skate for years now, so could I think of a more perfect place for my first time than Sky Pond? I think not!
I met up with Bethany, Erika, and Kate at 8am at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. Bethany would be joining me on the skating, while Erika and Kate were just along for the hike. We set a fast tempo, opting to take the Fire Trail to shave a mile off the hike. Great company always make the miles fly by, and we were at The Loch before we knew it. Every time I’ve been at The Loch in the winter it has been hellaciously windy, and I immediately noticed it was dead calm. This day was shaping up to be perfect!
We skirted around The Loch and continued along well packed trail that follows Icy Brook. The climb up to Timberline Falls is stout, so we stopped to put on microspikes in anticipation of scaling the ice next to Timberline Falls.
Popping out on Lake of Glass, there still really was no wind, amping Bethany and I for the skating to come (because nobody wants to put on ice skates and end up in Nebraska as they whizz off an alpine lake). We opted to walk straight across Lake of Glass, taking the most direct route to Sky Pond, which sits just beyond and a few feet higher in elevation.
Sky Pond was solidly frozen, and still shaded in the low December light, providing safe ice skating conditions. I had not ice skated in nearly five years, and took to being pretty much a baby giraffe on the ice (so much for growing up figure skating…). The ice was slightly bumpy, but improved the further we went out. The hardest part was avoiding the thin cracks, which could easily catch a blade.
We spun, laughed, and took in the sights for nearly an hour. Eventually my ankles had enough so I skated back to get the skates off my feet and to have a snack. The infamous wind had started to pick up so I piled on the layers while Bethany enjoyed the ice a bit more before calling it a day.
It was a quick hike back to the car. Descending the scramble of Timberline Falls went better than expected, and we enjoyed a short, but sweet, glissade down from Timberline Falls.
The Glacier Gorge parking lot was overrun with people when we arrived back, with so many others enjoying the unseasonably amazing weather. I bid Bethany goodbye, and started the long drive home, complete with an Estes Park traffic jam. I’d be returning early the next morning for an ice climbing class, so it was just a short goodbye to Estes!
I am beyond happy I decided to take the day off of work, and finally check two things off the list I’ve been wanting to do – wild ice skate and hike to Sky Pond. Beautiful weather, great company, and always having an adventure made for a wonderful winter day in the alpine!
Details:
Date Hiked: December 29, 2023
Trailhead: Glacier Gorge
Total Mileage: 9.32 miles, including skating (Garmin Forerunner 255s)
Elevation Gain: 1893 feet
Time: 5 hours 35 minutes, including skating
Weather: Sunny and pleasant, with increasing winds as the day went on
Trail Conditions: Well packed snow
Special Considerations: Sky Pond is located within Rocky Mountain National Park, which has an entry fee and during the summer and fall months a timed reservation system. Wild ice skating can be inherently risky. This blog is by no means an endorsement of ice conditions and/or whether you should attempt skating on Sky Pond yourself.
The Adventuring Heidi 
This is amazing! Sky Pond is probably my favorite winter hike in the park (honestly I like it better in winter than summer). And ice skating on it? With no wind? Amazing! I’m actually impressed it was skatable, I feel like usually it’s so bumpy it wouldn’t be possible. Did you know it was frozen smoothly or was that just good luck?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it was just really good luck that there was no snow cover and the bumps were manageable. The bumps were worse on the eastern edge, which is why we went all the way to back where it was smoother. I think that is the hardest thing about wild ice skating is conditions can change so frequently. And I agree with you, I think Sky Pond is much better in the winter! Less traffic on the waterfall scramble makes it a million times more enjoyable than the summer traffic jam!
LikeLiked by 1 person