Loch Lomond
Type … Hike, Drive-up
Highlights … Creek, Waterfall, Alpine Lake, Wildflowers
Seasons … Summer + Fall
Difficulty with Kids … Easy to Moderate
Trail Details … 4.6 Miles, Out + Back (AllTrails) mileage depends on where you park!
Closest Town … Idaho Springs
Shade … Some
Parking Situation … Limited
Potty Situation … No Potty!
I adore Loch Lomond as an alternative to the very crowded St. Mary’s hike nearby (and big added bonus it isn’t on private property like St. Mary’s so no parking fees). There is SO much to do at Loch Lomond including hiking, fishing, paddle boarding, camping, etc.
If hiking from the bottom, the first half of the trail is pretty unremarkable as you’re on an OHV road and you’ll likely have cars passing you by depending on the time of year. But once you hit the halfway mark and the trail opens up into alpine tundra, you can’t beat the views!
In peak summer months, this trail has creeks, waterfalls, wildflowers, and of course, the loch! We’ve seen moose more than a few times too. The loch at the top is beautiful with little wandering trails all around it for exploring. If fly fishing is your thing, bring your rod as this is a hidden gem for anglers.
TRAIL TIPS
Where you park determines mileage. The mileage for this hike will vary depending on where you park. During peak summer months (July - Sept) you can drive all the way to the lake with a high clearance vehicle. I recommend you check AllTrails reviews to see if comments say if this road is open or closed. There are also a handful of places to park along the trail about ¼ and ½ way up if you want to hike some of this but not all of it. We like to park a bit before the loch to stretch our legs and get some kid energy out!
Go early. It’s not as crowded as St. Mary’s but will get crowded on the weekends during the summer so I recommend going early, especially if you’re looking to score the very little bit of parking halfway up the trail.
Wind! Bugs! It gets windy and buggy up at the loch so bring layers and bug spray!
Be prepared to get wet! There is a lot of water along this trail so I suggest for littles to bring water shoes or a change of socks.
Moose sightings. Keep your eyes peeled for moose. While they are so cool to see, if you live in CO, you know they aren’t too friendly so just make sure to prep your family in advance on what to do if you spot one.
Bonus lake. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, there is a smaller alpine lake above the loch. There is a trail to the left of the waterfall if you’re facing it. It is short but STRAIGHT UP so be prepared to help your littles if they join you.
Fishing a small stream on our way up to the Loch
When the trail opens up to alpine tundra
Straight for the water
Stream that is fed by the loch (no shoes naturally!)
Drove right up! Check the water color <3
Trail along the loch
Checking out the waterfall
Fishing at the loch is supposed to excellent!