Alberta Falls Trail

Heading into the park from Beaver Meadows Entrance Station turn left at the first road in .2 miles. Follow Bear Lake Road for 8 miles until reaching the Glacier Gorge parking area on the left. Take the trail from the parking area and follow it to the intersection with the Sprague Lake Trail. Stay straight on the trail and turn left at the next intersection with the Bear Lake connector trail (You can alternatively park at Bear Lake and use this trail to connect). Total distance round trip is about 1.7 miles.

 This is a great place to shoot after sunrise or before sunset at Bear Lake. Like most waterfalls, it looks best in overcast light. Use an ND filter for longer shutter speeds and a polarizer to cut through reflections while making the yellow leaves pop. The normal shot is from the bottom of the falls. Other interesting angles can be found but do so at your own risk as scrambling around a waterfall is always dangerous. As with any hike in RMNP keep your camera ready, you never know what else you might see. I came upon a Bull Elk near the end of the trail and captured a unique shot in the aspen forest because I had my camera ready. 

Rocky Mountain NP maps here. 

TIMED ENTRY

To manage crowding and protect natural resources, Rocky Mountain National Park requires timed entry reservations during peak season (typically from late May through mid-October). Reservations are required daily from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for most areas of the park, with two options: “Park Access + Bear Lake Road” and “Park Access (excluding Bear Lake Road).” You’ll also need a park entrance pass (such as a 1-day, 7-day, or Interagency Annual Pass) in addition to your timed entry reservation. For current dates, details, and to reserve your spot, visit the NPS timed entry page or go directly to Recreation.gov to book.