Located about an hour outside of Denver, St Mary’s Glacier is one of the most popular day trips for locals and visitors. I was surprised by how busy the place was! The hike takes you up to a high snowfield, and the area is popular for hiking, snowshoeing, and skiing/boarding.
About the Hike
Distance: 1.6 miles | Type: Out & Back | Avg. Time: 45 mins | Difficulty: Moderate | Dog Friendly: Leashed
Saint Mary’s Glacier is the name given to this beautiful snowfield in Arapaho National Forest. While called a glacier, it’s actually a year-round snowfield. The presence of snow and its easy accessibility make it a popular hike for those in the region.
The hike is generally moderate, although on the easier end. The hike takes you through a short ascent through the forest to an opening where you can see the snowfield. Traversing the snowfield is popular; you’ll see folks on there year-round.
The “glacier” is in the national forest; however, much of the trail and trailhead sit on private land. This complicates some of the access to St. Mary’s Glacier and requires visitors to park at one of several paid lots.
The trail is most popular in the summer but accessible year-round. For winter hikes, we recommend proper planning and equipment. Rescue and services can be difficult in winter months.
The trail does allow dogs. But please respect the rules and leash and clean up after your pet.
St. Mary’s Glacier Trailhead & Parking
This is probably my least favorite part about Saint Mary’s Glacier. There is no free parking. At least none that I was able to see or learn about. If there is some secret here, I’m sure it’s kept close to the chest.
The trailhead for the hike is located here. It’s about 1 – 1 hr 15 mins from Denver and about 20-30 minutes from Idaho Springs.
Parking closest to the trailhead is $20 as of the last time I visited. If you continue past the $20 parking, another spot offers parking for $10. It’s a bit more of a walk, but honestly, it’s worth it for the savings, in my opinion.
Parking can and does fill up during busy times, especially on weekends. I recommend visiting early.
Best Time to Do the Hike
The hike is accessible year-round, and some folks swear by hiking during specific seasons.
The best times to attempt the hike are late spring to early fall. Outside of this time, the weather can be unpredictable and snowy. Summer weekends can be jam-packed. You should plan to arrive early as parking can be difficult.
Winter still sees plenty of visitors. The hike now does require more planning and equipment. It’s a popular spot for snowshoeing, and even without it, you should plan to bring micro-spikes or other traction equipment.
The St. Mary’s Glacier Hike
The trail begins at the trailhead on Fall River Road. It’s a small sign but easy enough to see.
The trail ascends pretty quickly over the trail. It’s quite a rocky trail to begin with. The trail itself isn’t long but the trail continues to go uphill through the whole trail.
The trail is quite broad and easy to find/navigate. However, there are a few small turnoffs. So stay to the left when possible as you continue up the trail.
After less than ½ mile, you’ll see St. Mary’s Lake on your left. This is when the trail opens up. You can see the glacier above the lake as well.
You’ll continue on the trail over a small bridge. From here, you can ascend as far as you want. Most folks will walk up along the right side of the snowfield.
You can, if you want, enter the snowfield. Many folks here will just go and walk or ski/board down the field. If you are planning on entering the snowfield. I recommend a traction device like microspikes. It can be easy to slip, especially if you plan to go high up on the glacier.
Tips & FAQs
- There is $10 parking further down the road from the $20. In my opinion, it’s not a long walk, and it’s worth it (at least to me) to save half the price.
- Be careful on the snow. I recommend bringing spikes for your shoes if you plan to hike along the snow.
- The glacier is actually not a glacier but a snowfield. It’s year-round and still lovely.
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