EXPLORE IDAHO SPRINGS

St. Mary’s Glacier Trail

Climb a rocky high-country trail to a beautiful alpine lake, a year-round snowfield and sweeping views of the surrounding Rocky Mountains.

7599 Fall River Road, Idaho Springs, CO

Get Directions

4.9 Fred Footprints

At A Glance

Location

Arapaho National Forest

Difficulty

Easy to Moderate

Distance

1.5 Miles

Elevation Gain

Approx. 420 Feet

Est. Time

1½–2 Hours

Route Type

Out & Back

Dogs

Leashed

Parking Fee

$20 Per Vehicle

St. Mary’s Glacier Trail

St. Mary’s Glacier Trail offers a short but rocky climb to a beautiful alpine lake and one of Colorado’s most accessible year-round snowfields. Although commonly called a glacier, St. Mary’s Glacier is technically a semi-permanent snowfield.

The trail climbs steadily through pine and aspen forest before reaching St. Mary’s Lake. Continue beyond the lake toward the base of the snowfield for sweeping views of the surrounding Rocky Mountains. The lake is a great place to rest, enjoy a trail snack and take in the scenery before heading back down.

The high elevation, loose rocks and changing mountain weather can make this short hike more challenging than the distance suggests. Bring plenty of water, wear sturdy shoes with dependable traction and keep dogs leashed. Snow or ice may require traction devices, trekking poles or snowshoes.

Fred Says

“This trail may be short, but the rocky climb and high elevation will get your attention.

Take your time, enjoy the view across St. Mary’s Lake, and bring dependable footwear if you plan to explore near the snowfield. I hiked to snowfield so total distance for me was 4+ miles.”

Why You’ll Love This Hike

St. Mary’s Glacier Trail packs impressive alpine scenery into a relatively short hike. You’ll climb through pine and aspen forest, reach the peaceful waters of St. Mary’s Lake and enjoy sweeping views of the surrounding Rocky Mountains. The year-round snowfield makes this destination feel like a true high-country adventure without requiring an all-day hike.

Before You Go

Parking near the St. Mary’s Glacier Trailhead is on private property and currently costs $20 per vehicle, per calendar day. Bring cash or a check and park only in a designated paid lot. The trail begins above 10,000 feet, so carry plenty of water, prepare for rapidly changing weather and bring traction devices when snow or ice is present.

Trail and park information—including fees, hours, access, reservations, rules and conditions—is subject to change. Always confirm current details with the official managing agency before your visit.

Wildlife Near St. Mary’s Glacier

St. Mary’s Glacier passes through spruce-fir forest and high-elevation alpine habitat. Bighorn sheep and mountain goats may be seen in the surrounding mountains, although wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.

Birdwatchers should watch for Wilson’s warblers, fox sparrows and dusky flycatchers around the willow thickets. American three-toed woodpeckers, red crossbills and golden-crowned kinglets may be found in the forest, while white-tailed ptarmigan and brown-capped rosy-finches inhabit the higher alpine terrain.

Observe wildlife from a safe distance, keep dogs leashed and never feed wild animals. Stay on established trails and avoid disturbing sensitive vegetation around the lake and snowfield. Colorado Birding Trail: St. Mary’s Glacier

Larger wildlife found in the surrounding mountains may include Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, mountain goats, elk, mule deer, moose, black bears, mountain lions and coyotes. Sightings along this busy trail are never guaranteed, but hikers should remain alert, keep dogs leashed and give every wild animal plenty of space.

Wildlife in the Area

Mule Deer

Elk

Moose

Black Bears

Coyotes

Mountain Lions

Bighorn Sheep

Mountain Goats

General Information

Current Weather

St. Mary’s Glacier

St. Mary's Glacier

9:01 pm, Sep 23, 2026

44°F

overcast clouds

90 %

1024 mb

1 mph

Wind Gust: 3 mph

Clouds: 100%

Visibility: 4.53 km

Sunrise: 6:51 am

Sunset: 6:58 pm

Hourly Forecast

12:00 am

41°/43°°F 0 mm 0% 1 mph 89% 1024 mb 0 mm/h

3:00 am

42°/43°°F 0.2 mm 20% 1 mph 90% 1023 mb 0 mm/h

6:00 am

40°/40°°F 0 mm 0% 1 mph 90% 1024 mb 0 mm/h

9:00 am

43°/43°°F 0.37 mm 37% 3 mph 82% 1025 mb 0 mm/h

12:00 pm

49°/49°°F 0.36 mm 36% 6 mph 59% 1024 mb 0 mm/h

3:00 pm

47°/47°°F 0.47 mm 47% 7 mph 54% 1022 mb 0 mm/h

6:00 pm

44°/44°°F 0.13 mm 13% 7 mph 61% 1024 mb 0 mm/h

9:00 pm

42°/42°°F 0 mm 0% 3 mph 86% 1026 mb 0 mm/h

Best Times to Hike

Quieter Times: Weekday mornings generally offer cooler temperatures, fewer hikers and a better chance of finding parking. An early start also gives you time to enjoy St. Mary’s Lake and explore near the snowfield before afternoon weather moves into the mountains.

Busier Times: Weekends, holidays and pleasant summer days can bring large numbers of visitors. The paid parking lots are limited and may fill quickly, so arrive early and park only in designated areas.

Fred’s Tip: Start early, carry plenty of water and prepare for rapidly changing weather above 10,000 feet. The trail is steep and rocky, while snow and ice may remain near the snowfield throughout the year. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and bring traction devices when conditions require them.

Fred’s Footprint Rating

4.9 Out of 5

Majestic views!

Good For

Scenic Hiking Alpine Lake Mountain Views Snowfield Views Photography Leashed Dogs Older Kids Birdwatching Wildlife Watching Snowshoeing A Short Workout

SHARE THIS ADVENTURE

Send this page to family, friends, or your favorite exploring buddy.

Fred’s Photo Gallery

Double-tap a photo for a slideshow with a description. Mouse over the photo for a description

ST MARY’S GLACIER GALLERY

Explorers at the St. Mary’s Glacier trail entrance.

Elevation of 10,358 feet at St. Mary’s Glacier entrance area.

Rocky terrain along the St. Mary’s Glacier Trail.

Rocky Mountain bristlecone pines & weathered wood near St. Mary’s Lake.

Rocky terrain along the St. Mary’s Glacier Trail.

Rocky Mountain pines along the rugged trail.

St. Mary's lake with mountain background

Rocky Mountain bristlecone pines near St. Mary’s Lake.

St. Mary’s Lake beneath the year-round snowfield.

Weathered trees & bristlecone pines beside St. Mary’s Lake.

Explorer enjoying the view at St. Mary’s Lake.

Saint Mary's Glacier lake view framed by striking weathered trees.

Lake views framed by striking weathered trees.

lake & mountain view framed by a striking weathered tree.

Weathered driftwood overlooking St. Mary’s Lake.

Rocky Mountain bristlecone pines & weathered wood near St. Mary’s Lake.

St. Mary’s Lake beneath the alpine snowfield.

St. Mary’s Lake with sweeping views of the Rocky Mountains.

St. Mary’s Lake surrounded by rugged mountain scenery.

St. Mary’s Lake with sweeping views of the Rocky Mountains.

St. Mary’s Lake surrounded by rugged mountain scenery.

snowfield view

Exploring the St. Mary’s Glacier snowfield.

iPhone altimeter reading at snowfield

trail backdown from lake

Fred’s Gear Picks

Magnifying Glass

Gear · Park Gear · Trail Gear

Picnic Blanket

Gear · Park Gear · Trail Gear

Yeti Water Bottle

Gear · Park Gear · Scenic Drives Gear · Trail Gear

Toddler Backpack

Gear · Park Gear · Trail Gear

Kids Sun Hat

Gear · Park Gear · Trail Gear

Water Shoes

Gear · Park Gear · Trail Gear

Kid’s Bug Catcher Kit

Gear · Park Gear · Trail Gear

Kid’s Binoculars

Gear · Park Gear · Scenic Drives · Scenic Drives Gear · Trail Gear

Your Explorin’ Journal

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Don’t let today’s adventure become tomorrow’s forgotten memory.

Print your free Saint Mary’s Glacier journal page Adventure Page and record what you explored, your favorite part of the adventure, what you discovered and the memories you want to keep.

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE JOURNAL PAGE TO PRINT OFF

NEED TO START YOUR OWN FREE JOURNAL? CLICK HERE

Official Trail Map

Plan your hike using Colorado Trail Explorer (COTREX), the official statewide trail map from Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Colorado DNR. View the St. Mary’s Glacier Trail route, elevation profile, trail details, weather and downloadable GPX information.

View St. Mary’s Glacier Trail on COTREX →

Map & Directions

9414 Fall River Rd, Idaho Springs, CO 80452.

get directions

JOIN FRED’S CLUB AND GET YOUR FREE CERTIFICATE!

Fred & Zero mailbox - Front Range Explorin’™

DON’T MISS THE NEXT ADVENTURE

Join Fred’s Fan Club, and I’ll let you know whenever Zero and I discover somewhere worth exploring and give you all of the scoop!

Get your free Fred’s Fan Club certificate when you join!