Just west of Idaho Springs, Colorado on I-70 lies a exit to Saint Mary’s / Alice, if you take this exit you will find a trail to one of the Rocky Mountains hidden treasures, one that is unfortunately quickly disappearing. However, the close proximity to the metropolitan area, the short time it takes to get up the trail, and the beautiful glacier-fed lake make this treasure one that should be discovered by all.
We headed out early enough in the day that we got lucky and found parking on the side of the road as we headed to the trail head. If there are no spots here however, be prepared to pay $5.00 for parking. At least that’s what the posted fee was the day we were there. It may be more on weekends. Although the hike is not long (one mile each way) it is a bit steep, so take it slow if your not a gung-ho hiker. It is also extremely rocky so care must be taken and you have to watch your step as you negotiate the loose rock.
You’ll notice as you get near the top of the trail, if there is a breeze, it will be quite cool. This is not so much because of the altitude, as it is from the air coming down the side of a glacier and than across a lake with a water temperature of just above freezing. What you feel is the air coming right off the lake and still feeling a bit cooler then down the trail a where it has had time to warm back up.
When you reach the lake you can actually walk right up to the base of the glacier. You will probably see people walking on or skiing down the glacier, however, they try to discourage people from doing this. Not only because there is always an avalanche danger, but also because the glacier is disappearing a quite a rapid pace, and the less us humans mess with it, the better off it is.
The rapid melting of the glacier is caused by, a few years back, a dust storm all the way from China just happened to smack into the glacier, darkening the snow. Now, instead of reflecting the heat, it absorbs it. One of my hiking partners enlightened me to this or I would have just assumed it was because it gets dang hot! There’s another good reason to go hiking with others, they can be a wealth of information!
It’s a sweet sadness that Saint Mary’s glacier is dissappearing. Sad for the obvious reasons such as our future generations never getting to see how amazing it is. The sweetness of it all is the beautiful lake and lush greenery that exists here now. The green-ness of it was absolutely indescribable. I was amazed. Especially living in Colorado through many, many dry seasons, I almost felt I was somewhere else. The vegetation was incredibly thick and in every shade of green you can imagine. The lake…. fantastic! Cool and clear, the perfect place to sit on a rock with a picnic lunch and take it all in. Now, knowing how cold the water is, you couldn’t pay me to get in, but it sure didn’t stop many others from taking a quick dip. I even saw a couple people completely submerge themselves in the frigid liquid. If you’re brave enough, be my guest, but remember it only takes minutes in cold water for the effects of hypothermia to start, so be CAREFUL! Especially watch any children that may want to play in the water because they may not recognize the signs of hypothermia until it’s to late.
After enjoying the lake, the fauna, glacier and hopefully your lunch, you can go further up, but this my friends, is where our journey ended. We turned back for the one mile hike back down. Be even more cautious with your steps on the way down. If you loose your footing, gravity is not on your side at this point.
A little side note about our hike up to the glacier… as we paused to take some photos, we noticed a lady walking down the trail with a large handful of wildflowers. This is where I’d like to point out the comment at the end of my back country safety notes– Take only pictures, leave only footprints. She probably saw no harm in taking some flowers, but hundreds of people visit the glacier in a few days. If all who came took even just a few flowers, there would be none left for the rest of us to enjoy. In they’re natural habitat, and they’re natural state… ALIVE.
Anyway, just be aware of your impact when in the beautiful wilderness of the Rocky Mountains so everyone can enjoy all it has to offer. Again, just after the directions below, I will put some back country safety refresher notes. Please review them if you haven’t already. Be safe, be respectful, and HAVE FUN!
To get to Saint Mary’s glacier, head west on I-70 until you pass Idaho Springs and you’ll see a sign that says Saint Mary’s Alice. Exit here and head up the road until you see the trailhead. Park along the road if you can, otherwise there is parking available just beyond the trail head.
Back-country safety:
There are three important things to do before you ever leave for your hike. The first is to plan your route in advance and write the information down and let someone know where you’re going. Stick to this plan so if something does happen rescuers will know where to look for you. Also, it is a good idea to study or review basic first-aid and survival skills. Finally, once you know where you are going, just before you leave, check the weather forecast. Pay close attention to any chance of lightning which is extremely dangerous at high altitudes, as well as rainfall which can cause flash flooding along river trails, and any cold weather that may be coming through which for prolonged periods of exposure can lead to hypothermia. Even after checking forecasts, be sure to keep your eyes on the sky as the climate can change quickly in the high-country.
Avoid hiking alone whenever possible, and always let the slowest person or person with the lowest stamina set the pace. Don’t get somewhere and not be able to get out because someone has overexerted themselves.
Make sure to pack a first-aid AND survival kit. Your first aid kit should include AT LEAST the following items: Antibacterial ointment and bandages, medical tape and gauze, a needle, a snake-bite kit (with instructions), aspirin or ibuprofen, pop-cycle sticks / tongue depressors for temporary splints, and moleskin for blisters. Your survival kit should include AT LEAST the following items: Knife (pref. multipurpose), flashlight, cigarette lighter as well as matches in a waterproof container, a compass (learn to use one or it does you no good) and/or gps locator, flashlight, flint, and both a whistle and a mirror to use if needed to signal rescuers.
Most trails have places near the trail-head where you can gather information and get area maps. Get any pamphlets, brochures, and maps available as well as reading all sign-age. Make sure to find out about any wildlife in the area and what you should do if you encounter any wild animals along the trail. On Colorado’s front range trails, animals most often encountered are mountain lions, bears, and snakes. All ranger stations and park information centers can give you more information on how to handle encounters with all of these.
And remember, although this is not a safety tip, out of respect for the beauty of our Colorado wilderness, learn it and live by it….. Take only pictures, leave only footprints!! If you have any doubt to as what this means, ask a ranger before setting foot on any trail.
