Earlier this summer we hiked back to our favorite lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. This is a relatively easy trail at 2.8 miles and a 1,000’ elevation gain from the junction of the Bear Lake Trail and Glacier Gorge trail near Tyndall Creek. An early start is recommended to get a parking space at Bear Lake.

The Loch brings us back every summer to catch and release the hybrid cutthroat there. These colorful fish are a mix of cutthroat and rainbow trout stocked long before RMNP came into existence by local lodge owners. Though not large by trophy standards, the majority of the trout we catch are from 12” – 14” with a few that reach 18”. It is not unusual to catch and release more than a dozen fish each from this lake while we’re there. Terrestrials, especially ant and flying ant patterns are consistent producers here. These trout are territorial and stake out a specific area of shoreline to patrol for food. Put an ant fly in their territory and they will find it. The challenge at the Loch is the dense forest that surrounds it. The shoreline rocks create better spots to cast from but always watch your back cast.

The trail continues on the north side of the Loch where it follows Icy Brook up the side of a waterfall to Lake of Glass and Sky Pond. Lake of Glass is home to a small population of hybrid cutthroats and Sky Pond holds some larger brook trout. We don’t usually go on past the Loch to the upper lakes due to our avoidance of the waterfall area and because we find the best fishing right at the Loch.