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Glacier, alpine lakes and Rocky
Mountain summits |
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 Colorado
main page
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St Mary's Glacier highlights |
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If you are on a limited time and want to get a taste of
what the Colorado Rockies are all about, you should not miss the opportunity to
make the hike to the pristine St. Mary’s Glacier. Only one hour from Denver, the
glacier hike begins at an elevation of some 10,500 feet. Studded with a number
of alpine lakes, this is the terminus of the scenic Fall River Road that winds
up from the historic mining town of Idaho Springs. The St. Mary's Glacier area
has itself a long and rich history of the gold and silver rush era, and its
hillsides are pockmarked by numerous sites of long-forgotten mines, with the
names such as Glory Hole and Yankee Hill still echoing all around. To the base
of the glacier it’s only a mile, and from here it is up and past the stunning
glacier lake atop the show and ice between the cliffs to the apex at jus over
12,000 feet above timberline. For the adventurous and in reasonable shape, a
climb of the majestic James Peak towering above can be added starting from here.
| The trip allocates
for about 3 hours roundtrip drive from & back to Denver, and about 3
hours for the hike to, on and back from the glacier to the trailhead.
The hike is easy and suitable for most, including children of 10 years and older.
Summiting James Peak is an option, requiring another 3 hours minimum
(for more and added costs see our James Peak page). Hiking on the
glacier and around the alpine lakes in the area makes for a rewarding
Rocky Mountain experience and a fine day trip.
Tour Option: as 1 night / 2 day tour with overnight
in a luxury B&B with stunning views of St. Mary's Glacier, the historic Georgetown
or at Idaho Springs Hot Springs Resort.
Add-on Options: James Peak ascent, Mt Evans, Georgetown Loop Railroad
Ride & Silver Plume, Guanella Pass.
Any tour can be customized per
your wish, either combining it with additional Colorado destination or tailoring
in activities such as hiking, rafting or fishing - email us your request! |
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Max.
Altitude: 12, 136 ft
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Costs |
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On request |
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Difficulty Level |
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Overall rating on a scale of easy, moderate, strenuous, very
strenuous: easy |
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