Saint Mary's Glacier
| Saint Mary's Glacier | |
|---|---|
Saint Mary's Glacier | |
Saint Mary's Glacier Location in Colorado | |
| Type | Semi-permanent snowfield |
| Location | Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States |
| Coordinates | 39°50′09″N 105°38′49″W / 39.83583°N 105.64694°W[1] |
| Status | Retreating |
Saint Mary's Glacier (or St. Marys) is a semi-permanent snowfield located in Arapaho National Forest in the U.S. state of Colorado.[2] Saint Mary's Glacier is 2.5 mi (4.0 km) southeast of James Peak, and about an hour drive northwest from Denver[3] The nearest community is the unincorporated Alice, Colorado and is accessible via a 1.6 mile out and back hike from a parking lot in Alice. The area is very popular for fishing, and hiking.
Description of the Trail
The trail to St. Mary’s Glacier is short with spectacular views. From the trailhead, the trail slowly climbs through a forest of pine and aspen trees. This first section is around .75 miles long and gains around 400 feet in elevation. Then you’ll transition from the forest to a clearing at St. Mary’s Lake. This lake is located at the base of the glacier. From here there are views of the surrounding mountains along with spots to rest and relax.
From the lake the trail becomes steeper and rockier, as it travels to the base of the glacier itself. Then from this base, the views are breathtaking; you can see a panoramic picture of the mountain peaks of the surrounding Front Range. [4]
See also
References
- ^ "Saint Marys Glacier". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
- ^ Empire, CO (Map). TopoQwest (United States Geological Survey Maps). Retrieved August 18, 2012.
- ^ "Glaciers of Colorado". Glaciers of the American West. Portland State University. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
- ^ "St. Mary's Glacier Hike: Ultimate Colorado Trail Guide | The Next Summit: A Mountain Blog". August 25, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2026.