ALBERTA FALLS

Just down the road from Sprague Lake is a short hike and a beautiful waterfall. At just over eight-tenths of a mile hike in, Alberta Falls is one of the more popular hiking destinations in Rocky Mountain National Park. The scenic 30-foot waterfall thunders down a small gorge on Glacier Creek. This trail offers hikers an excellent spot to view the waterfall and enjoy the surrounding scenery.

The waterfall is named after Alberta Sprague. Alberta was the wife of Abner Sprague, one of the original settlers in the Estes Park area. The Sprague’s began building a homestead in Moraine Park in 1874. This home eventually become a lodge that was used for hunting, fishing and dude ranching. The property was sold to James Stead in 1900. It remained in business as the Stead’s Ranch and Hotel until 1962. In 1910 the Sprague’s built another lodge near the current parking area for Sprague Lake. The National Park Service purchased that property in 1932 and razed it in 1957.

Abner Sprague would go down in Rocky Mountain National Park history once more when he became the first visitor to pay an entrance fee in 1939.

It was a lovely hike to the waterfall in September 2016 in late afternoon. We were delighted to meet some wildlife along the path as well. This is such a beautiful place to hike around and explore.