St. Mary’s Glacier – Colorado
The best part about Denver is its proximity to a wide array of outdoor activities, and a favorite day hike among locals is the short hike to St. Mary’s Glacier. Less than an hour from the city, the hike to St. Mary’s Glacier is most popular in the spring/summer/fall, but is perhaps most impressive in the winter.
Trail Summary
Distance: 1.5 miles out-and-back to the top of the glacier; 1 mile out-and-back to the lake
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Elevation Gain: ~620 ft.
Recommended Gear: Microspikes
Dog Friendly: Yes (must be kept on leash)
Trail Map: AllTrails
Getting There
Reaching the trailhead takes less than an hour from downtown Denver via I-70. Driving west on I-70, take exit 238 and follow Fall River Road for about 8 miles to the parking lot (keep your eyes open for a boulder on the right side of the road painted to look like a pig). There are two parking lots near the trailhead, both of which require a $5 parking fee. While the lots fill up quickly in the summer, you should have no problem finding a spot in the winter. The trailhead is well-marked directly off the left side of the road.
The Trail
The trail is very short with moderate elevation gain, and since it is fairly well-trafficked even in the winter, the snow will likely be packed enough to reach the lake with only bare-boots if that’s all you have. That being said, it’s best hiked with microspikes, and possibly even snowshoes if there was recent heavy snowfall. You’ll definitely want microspikes or snowshoes if you plan on going beyond the lake and hiking up the glacier. Since you’re up over 11,000 feet, you might find yourself needing to catch your breath despite the trail being so short and easy. Since the trail and the glacier itself are located on private property, it is important to be respectful and to stay on the trail since the landowners are not obligated to allow the public to use their property. The trail ascends through the woods, and after only 0.5 miles of hiking, St. Mary’s Lake and the glacier come into full view.
During the winter, the lake will likely be sufficiently frozen to walk on, and the mountains will be mostly blanketed in snow. On this particular day in February, it was extremely windy around the lake.
Read More: Winter in Rocky Mountain National Park
The trail follows the shore of the lake to the right and ascends the north side of the glacier.
St. Mary’s Glacier is a perennial snowfield, but it should come as no surprise that there is much more snow in the winter. The wind was powerful as we ascended the glacier and the powder was very deep. Even though it was a bluebird day with incredible views behind us for much of the hike, by the time we were approaching the top of the glacier, we couldn’t see a thing as the powerful wind whipped up a cloud of snow.
This is the perfect winter day hike near Denver and if you only plan on hiking to the lake, it doesn’t require serious winter hiking equipment or much winter hiking experience. One thing I wish I had brought was a sled. Climbing a glacier is always fun, but sledding down a glacier is tough to beat.
Where to eat after the hike: Smokin Yards BBQ in Idaho Springs, CO