Glacier Gorge Private Hike

Estes Park, CO
4.9 (36 reviews)

Trip Highlights

  • Alpine Lakes & Views
  • Wildlife & Wildflowers
  • Stunning Waterfall
  • Top-shelf Backpack & Trekking {oles
  • Amazing Natural & Cultural History
  • Tasty Trail Snacks & Picnic Lunch

Description

The Glacier Gorge Hike takes us into the justifiably very popular Bear Lake – Glacier Gorge part of Rocky Mountain National Park. This area features mountain scenery that is as breathtaking and beautiful as any in the world, literally. Glacier Gorge is a sub-alpine valley that drains several high mountain cirques. Our hike is characterized by dense forests, meadows, waterfalls, alpine lakes, glaciers and mountain cirques.

Our hike takes us past Alberta Falls, a beautiful waterfall below treeline. We’ll continue up a timbered valley with a tumbling creek to Loch Vale, a mountain lake at over 10,000 feet ringed by granite cliffs. We’ll stop on the idyllic shores of Loch Vale and enjoy a picnic lunch. From here we have many options which include hiking to more lakes, continuing to views of glaciers, or returning back the way we came. This tour can be very flexible, and while we rate it Level 2 difficulty, it can easily be done as a great Level 3 hike. Your guide will be ready to do whatever is going to make your day an unforgettable one!

(Important: We run hikes in almost all weather conditions and very rarely cancel. See our terms and conditions for information on cancellations and refunds.)

Read more …
Sliding Scale (See Below)
$115-$525 Per Person
Season: June-Oct

Season: June-Oct

Trip Type: Day Hike Tour
Difficulty Level:
Solitude Level:
Group Size: 1-10 Guests
Trip Length: 5-8 Hours
Distance: 7-10MI / 11-16KM

DIFFICULTY LEVEL 2

Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult

SUMMARY OF DIFFICULTY
This tour is a customizable day hike depending on your ability and motivation. The region offers several well-maintained hiking trails leading to multiple alpine lakes. Hikes can range anywhere from 6 – 10 MI/ 10 – 16 KM with varying elevation change.

Hiking Distances:

6-10 mi

Backpack Weight:

10-15 pounds

Terrain:

Lightly Rugged

Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:

1000-1500 ft

Heights Exposure:

None

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP

  • Hiking uphill or downhill with a 10-15 pound backpack for 5-8 hours
  • Maintaining balance and footing on lightly rugged terrain
* For an official and complete list of physical requirements, please see our Essential Eligibility Criteria.

SOLITUDE LEVEL 2

  • Level 1: around other hikers the entire time
  • Level 2: around other hikers most of the time
  • Level 3: around other hikers some of the time
  • Level 4: see a couple other groups during the hike
  • Level 5: most likely to have the trail to ourselves
We’re here to help. If you have any questions, call 800-715-HIKE or contact us online.
PDF Trip Itinerary Packet Book online
Or fill out a Reservation Request
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Rates

Rates

  • 1 person: $525
  • 2 people: $275 per person
  • 3 people: $245 per person
  • 4-5 people: $205 per person
  • 6-7 people: $175 per person
  • 8-10 people: $115 per person
  • 10 and younger: $135 per person

Private day hike tours are only open to your party.

*Prices do not include guide gratuity

Trip Dates & Booking

TRIP DATES & BOOKING

Click on a date to register. You can also click here to request new dates or book through customer service.

Available to Book

AVAILABLE TO BOOK

This trip is available and bookable online! Click on the date to register now or contact us online to book through our award-winning customer service team!

Going Fast

GOING FAST

This trip has 1 or 2 spots remaining and is bookable online! Click on the date to book now or contact us online to book through customer service.

Request a Reservation

REQUEST A RESERVATION

This trip is exclusively booked through customer service due to logistics with lodging, permits, staffing, availability, or something else. Please contact us online or call us at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to request a reservation.

The listed dates reflect general availability for Rocky Mountain National Park day hike tours. You will select your exact hike during the registration process. The season for this hike is Jun-Oct.

Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.

800-715-HIKE (4453)

Trip Details

Trip Details

What's Included

  • Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
  • A commitment to make the tour as exciting, challenging, informative, and full as you’d like, and as is possible in a day
  • Transportation to the trailhead and back (originating/ending in Estes Park)
  • National park entrance fee
  • Trail snacks and a picnic lunch
  • Use of a top of the line, technical day pack
  • Use of trekking poles

What's Not Included

  • Clothing and personal items
  • Water (2 liters capacity)
  • Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)

Food: What To Expect

Day hike tours include energizing trail snacks and a delicious picnic lunch. Your guide will customize the food for your hike, but a typical lunch consists of gourmet sandwiches or wraps, fruit, veggies, chips, drinks and a dessert. On wintery or cold days you may be treated to soup or a hot, freshly cooked lunch (if you’d prefer a hot meal, please let us know!)

We regularly accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee.

Trip Logistics

Trip Logistics

Where Do We Meet?

Your guide will pick you up from your hotel in Estes Park by 7am or earlier the morning of your hike. If you are traveling into town the day of the tour, you will meet at the Estes Park Mountain Shop – 2050 Big Thompson Ave, Estes Park, CO.

Tours hiking above the tree line or attempting mountain summits will begin before sunrise. An early start is essential for safety to avoid afternoon thunderstorms.

Your guide will contact you approximately one week before your hike to coordinate the exact time and location of your rendezvous in Estes Park, as it may also be affected by weather forecasts.

Safety Precautions

Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.

If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.

Age Restrictions

Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:

  • 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval on a case by case basis

Weather in the Colorado Rockies

Being a high mountain environment, the Rocky Mountains are prone to sudden temperature and weather shifts. This is an exciting aspect of being in Colorado’s high country. On trips in June, snow is a slight possibility, and the rest of the summer rain is always a possibility on your trip. To be fully prepared, please follow the recommended clothing list closely (this list comes as part of your trip packet when you register). See below for average summer temperatures:

Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

MonthHighLow
June71°48°
July79°55°
August78°53°
September69°45°
October61°38°

Trip Reviews

Trip Reviews

  • Average Customer Ratings:

  • 4.9 (36 reviews)
Emily N
5.0

Challenging enough to be fun

1 month ago

We had an amazing time with Leah as our guide! Our family of four (two adults and two grown kids) couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Leah was super knowledgeable about the local wildlife and made the whole hike really engaging by pointing out animals and plants we might have missed on our own. The hike itself was perfect for non-expert hikers like us—challenging enough to be fun, but totally doable. The views were absolutely gorgeous, and the lunch Leah provided was really good, giving us the perfect break to take it all in. We'd definitely recommend her to anyone looking for a fantastic guide!

Laura H
5.0

Incredible

4 months ago

Incredible Guides will lead you to unforgettable views. My Son and I enjoyed a personal tour of Glacier Gorge. Highly recommend Wildland Trekking for a safe hike into the park.

Elizabeth J
5.0

Wildland Trekking is the only way to go!

5 months ago

Experiencing a hike with Wildland Trekking is the only way to go! The guide will not only tell you about the area fauna and history but will also encourage and motivate any stragglers in your group. Wildland Trekking guides have definitely worked wonders with our children, leaving us with the ability to enjoy the hike.

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