The hike from the Glacier Gorge trailhead to Mills Lake is relatively short. (Actually, I’m convinced that it is shorter than the “official” distance, which is somewhere around 3 miles.) The lake provides some great sunset opportunities, similar to what is found at Bear Lake, but closer to Longs Peak, the Keyboard of the Winds, and Pagoda Mountain… all of which are commonly lit by the setting sun. I arrived at the lake yesterday about an hour and a half before sunset, during a summer storm. I almost headed back to the parking lot early because the storm seemed to be intent on not giving me a nice view, but am glad I stuck things out. About ten minutes before sunset, the clouds finally broke.
The view one normally sees from Mills Lake is the view looking south. This view looks north, with Flattop Mountain and Hallett Peak in the distance.