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60 Mins from Denver All Trails Easy/ Moderate Hikes Near Denver Most Popular Hikes West of Denver

St. Mary’s Glacier Trail

St. Mary’s Glacier Trail is Amazing

St. Mary’s Glacier has an easy to moderate hike that will offer views that are up there with some of the best alpine spots in the world. It’s a fairly easy trail (1.5 hr round trip) but it will require some climbing through boulders. The elevation gain is approximately 350 ft.

St Marys Glacier Trail

 

As you can see by these photo’s, St. Mary’s Glacier Trail is a very popular hike that will lead you to some of the most breathtaking scenery around!
st marys glacier lake

From the parking lot you will hike about ½ mile up a gentle slope. This trail is heavily used and it is rugged because it follows a boulder field. You will wind your way in and around these rocks for about 20 minutes until you reach the glacial lake and the ice field itself (St. Mary’s glacier is actually not a glacier, but an ice field).

St Mary's Trail Snow

Spectacular views! The trail ends here, but there are many little trails that will take you around the water, and/or up to the snow itself. You could easily spend a weekend exploring, and really delve into the nooks and crannies.

St Marys Trail
Plan to take your camera, your picnic and maybe even a sled if you are daring enough to try out the snow. Also plan to spend a good 30 minutes wandering around the area just enjoying the valley, the water, and the beauty.

st marys glacier tree

Picnic Site Recommendations:

Take your lunch and eat at the lake. There are many places to spread your meal and enjoy the crisp cool air.

Note: There is now ample parking, with two parking lots close to the trail head. Porta potties are there as well as dog waste bag dispenser, trash & recycle cans, and the only year round maintained legal parking for the area.

DON’T PARK ON THE ROAD! You will get a $62.50 ticket so $5 parking is worth it! The charge is $5 per vehicle, per day. No change given and no ATm’s. Cash and checks only (they no longer accept credit cards).

Directions

From the Junction of C-470 and I-70, take I-70 west about 25 miles past Idaho Springs to Exit #238 (Fall River Rd. or Rd 275). Follow Fall River Rd. for approximately 9 miles until you see the trail to St Mary’s Glacier on your left. The parking area is past the trailhead on the left. You will see cars parked in a big open, dirt lot.

Attractions

Idaho Springs has a lot of little coffee shops (including drive-thru Starbucks) and cafe’s to eat at. One of our favorites is Beau Joe’s Pizza. (1517 Miner Street). There is also the famous Tommyknocker Brewery (famous beer, soda, and food are served in the Resturant, Pub & Brewery 1401 Miner St.) We also recommend the Georgetown Valley Candy Company ice cream shop.


19 Comments

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Comments

  1. Thehumps3 says

    July 31, 2010 at 8:38 pm

    7/31/10 I hike this trail with my family this morning. We arrived at around 9:30 and there were very few people hiking at that time. The trail is pretty rocky and sandy and I slipped a couple of times. I would suggest a hiking stick or poles (especially if you are hiking up the “glacier”). The trail itself to the lake is very short and once at the lake, the glacier trail is directly opposite. I sat on a boulder taking pictures & enjoying the views while my son and husband hiked up and down the glacier. The views are to die for!

    Thanks so much for you site. Lots of great info that I regularly use.

    Reply
    • Mary Norton says

      August 2, 2010 at 9:42 am

      So glad you left your comments! St Mary’s Glacier Hike IS very special and very beautiful especially early in the day when there is nobody around! Thanks again and Happy Hiking!

      Reply
  2. ian myers says

    March 16, 2011 at 9:09 am

    My girlfriend and I live in Aurora and would love to hike this. Is it open to hike in March?

    Reply
    • Mary Norton says

      March 16, 2011 at 10:33 pm

      It is open in March, but it will still be covered in snow making it a tough climb unless you are experienced winter hikers with the appropriate gear. We would usually wait until late May to hike this one with our family. It’s a beautiful hike, good luck!

      Reply
  3. Carl says

    March 5, 2012 at 7:22 am

    Just a little tip to all who aren’t familiar with the parking situation : the parking lots are $5 cash or check and there isn’t an ATM or a place to make change anywhere near them. Stop at Idaho Springs and grab some cash. I learned the hard way 🙁

    Reply
  4. Mom2818 says

    April 26, 2012 at 7:11 pm

    This is one of my favorite hikes, it is so beautiful. 

    Reply
  5. Sarah says

    August 9, 2012 at 1:41 am

    I have a one-year-old. Would you recommend hiking this trail with her in a backpack carrier?

    Reply
    • marynorton says

      August 9, 2012 at 6:51 am

      Yes. It’s not a difficult hike; not too steep and not very long either.
      -Mary

      Reply
  6. Josh says

    August 16, 2012 at 2:50 pm

    is there still snow????

    Reply
    • marynorton says

      August 16, 2012 at 5:59 pm

      Yes. I’ve seen recent pictures with the snow field intact.

      -Mary

      Reply
  7. Ann says

    August 20, 2012 at 5:00 pm

    I don’t understand how everyone says this is an “easy” hike. It’s uphill the entire way at 10,000 feet, very rocky and the rocks get slippery as you get closer to the glacier. I think of an easy hike as one you could take your grandma on, such as Fowler Trail in El Dorado Canyon. This may be short but it is more of a moderate hike.

    Reply
  8. Debra Krueger Kubiak says

    March 12, 2013 at 9:38 am

    Has anyone been up this week? Hoping to do this trail with our cub scouts and wondering if we should wait until May.

    Reply
  9. Debra Krueger Kubiak says

    March 12, 2013 at 9:40 am

    Hi Mary – Your hiking descriptions are great and I use them often as our Pack Hikemiester for Cub Scouts. Any thoughts on St. Mary’s Glacier Trail and if it is a good choice to bring our boys to this Saturday?

    Reply
    • marynorton says

      March 12, 2013 at 11:23 am

      Hi! We haven’t been up there this week but I’m assuming there’s a lot of snow on the trail. Go check out fourteeners.com. They have a very active forum and you may get an answer from those die-hard hikers who go in all types of weather. Someone there probably knows what the trail is like. Good luck!
      -Mary

      Reply
  10. dennis says

    July 3, 2013 at 7:22 pm

    I would like to bring m girls. They are 5 and 6. Tough and walked/hiked 3 miles round trup with me before. I wonder if i can bring them here.

    Reply
    • Marynorton says

      July 4, 2013 at 11:02 am

      If they can hike 3 mi round trip, they should do just fine at St Mary’s trail!

      Reply
  11. sfelt says

    August 27, 2013 at 2:58 am

    I hiked this one on Sunday Aug 25, 2013 and it was awesome. I just need to know what the total elevation gain is to the top. Not the lake, the top of the mountain past the snow fields looking out at the mountains of the West about an hour or so past the snow fields. Anyone know what the elevation is up there?

    Reply
  12. lula says

    November 17, 2013 at 3:22 pm

    how cold do you think it is in this season?

    Reply
  13. Candi says

    March 11, 2014 at 10:01 pm

    Can you camp there?

    Reply

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