Sunrise hike into St. Mary's Glacier

The trailhead begins in Idaho Springs, from I-70 take exit 238 for Fall River Rd and follow that for 9 miles. You will begin to see signs for St. Mary's Glacier at 8.5 miles. The parking lot is located on the left side of the road, with a lower and upper parking lot. The trail is a very popular and the parking lots fill up quickly, especially on the weekends. There is a $5 parking fee, so make sure to bring cash.

The trailhead is located just above the parking lot and the trail ascends in elevation a total of 450 feet, not too strenuous. It is a relatively easy to moderate hike with a roundtrip distance of 1.4 miles.

I decided to start my hike into St. Mary's Glacier at 5am, and hike up to the lake and enjoy watching the sunrise over the mountains. I was lucky enough to have the lake to myself for an hour or so! I spent time walking around the lake and decided to hang my hammock in a place where I could watch the fish start jumping to catch their breakfast, and to watch the birds begin to stir with the warmth of the sun.

Dogs are allowed on this hike, law does requires that they stay on leash. My dog, Riley had a great time exploring and playing in the water.

I highly recommend this hike, to locals who have never had the chance to experience it and to visitors who would like to experience a taste of beautiful Colorado. I plan on revisiting this lake myself in the winter, and enjoying it in a different season.