Each summer, crowds flock to see what’s often referred to as the most famous ‘glacier’ in Colorado – that said, it’s not actually a glacier at all.

Found just outside of the City of Idaho Springs, the St. Mary’s Glacier hike is one of the most popular in the area, drawing many people to the small town found along I-70. With the 1.5-mile trail starting at about 10,428 feet of elevation, it offers views of a lake, alpine terrain, and, of course, St. Mary’s Glacier.

St. Mary’s Glacier is located at about 11,236 feet of elevation – a large field of snow and ice that’s present year-round. Some people will even use the spot in an attempt to ski or snowboard throughout every month of the year.

St. Mary’s Glacier, however, isn’t actually a glacier at all. According to Visit Clear Creek County, the attraction has been re-categorized due to a few of its characteristics, now designated as a ‘semi-permanent snowfield’ instead.

The key difference is that a glacier is a “slowly moving mass or river of ice formed by the accumulation and compaction of snow on mountains or near the poles,” with “moving” being the key word. St. Mary’s Glacier doesn’t move.

This means that St. Mary’s Glacier is actually a semi-permanent snowfield. While the snow that makes up St. Mary’s Glacier is there year-round, its stationary nature is what causes it to fall in this category of nature opposed to with true glaciers.

According to a report from Glaciers of the American West, Colorado is actually home to 14 named glaciers, though these are generally considered to be no longer active with only small remnants of these former glaciers present in some cases. There are also more than 135 permanent snow or ice bodies around the state, though only seven of these are larger than 0.1 square kilometers.

Call it what you want – either way, St Mary’s Glacier is still worth the visit. It’s a stunning mountain scene that’s among the most beautiful in the state.

If you’re planning to embark on this hike, be ready to pay $20 in cash per vehicle to park. It’s also worth noting that the lot can fill up quickly. 

Read more about St. Mary’s Glacier and the hike to get there here.

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