Gloria Falls

July 4 Weekend - For sure every hike in the state will be crowded.  We wanted to see some water, some vegetation, some mountains and relax.  

With the snow runoff being at it's peak right now, we though we'd return to Gloria Falls. We first visited the falls almost  a year ago.  

Instead of going in the morning though, with 1000's of other people, (reports from others later in the day report that parking lot was full + 1/2 mile of road parking full at 7:00 AM on July 3 and July 4!), we decided to try a late afternoon hike.  

We hoped the crowds would be down, that the heat would be down, but that the experience would be up.  We were not wrong.  We actually liked the afternoon hike - the light was different with the sun going down and it gave a different experience on the hike.

We got to the trailhead around 7 pm.  We actually found a place in the parking lot, although it was still full - we got the one remaining space. But road parking had plenty of spots.

Gloria Falls isn't on any trail maps, but there are two other popular hikes that leave from the same location.

The falls are only 1 mile into the hike, but that mile is a steady incline, with no letting up.  The view is breathtaking and does not disappoint. 

4 miles White Pine Lake, and 3 miles to Red Pine Lake.  We weren't going to either, but many do.

We take the trail to Red Pine, for 1 mile

Hannah wanted to be like Jacob and walk on the railing.  Mom walked ahead and didn't look

The steady incline begins

With mountain and meadow views all along the trail. Still some small bits of snow in some of the areas where the sun doesn't hit

Just in case you didn't know where to go

These still are not the falls we were headed to......although these are nice ones too

The very bottom of the falls.....but we were headed up still...

Just after the first bridge, turn hard left....into the bushes

Then you just make your own trail or use one of the several around, and head up some more...about 1/10 of a mile or so

You can see the falls still go up more....but this is about as far as you can go without bushwhacking and going up some steep terrain

Matt and Marissa were able to come with us this time!

The setting sun made the light completely different than in the morning or even during the day

We loved it!  We got back to the car about 8:15 just as the sun was going behind the mountain.

We liked the late afternoon hike and might try more this way!  Much less crowded!  Maybe next time you can come with us!