St. Mary’s Glacier Hike Guide + Optional James Peak Trail
During my time in Colorado as a digital nomad, I had the privilege of staying in St Mary’s, a small village near Idaho Springs. And the icing on the cake was that my place was mere steps from the St. Mary’s Glacier trail.
I hiked up to St Mary’s Lake and Glacier more times than I can count and at all hours of the day and night. It was my dog and I’s after-work hike most days, and it holds a special place in my heart. Sometimes I went at midnight. Sometimes I went while it was snowing. I buried crystals there for good juju. It was great.
Check it out at night…
Plus if you’re looking for a little extra adventure, St. Mary’s Glacier is the gateway to James Peak, a fabulous thirteener with out-of-this-world views. So if you’re looking for some great hiking with a big payoff that’s not too far from Denver, you’ll want to check out St. Mary’s Glacier and James Peak. Let’s get to it!
What to know before hiking St. Mary’s Glacier and James Peak
Parking is $20. There are 2 lots. No reservations are required. Map
Arrive early to find a parking spot and avoid thunderstorms, especially if you’re continuing on to James Peak.
During the summer months, thunderstorms happen in the afternoon. I did this hike in early November, so I didn’t have to worry about the storms, but if you’re going in the summer, you won’t want to be on the trail when thunderstorms hit. Check the weather before you go.
If you’re just doing St. Mary’s, you can go pretty much any time since it’s short. It makes a great evening hike!
Dogs are allowed! Elgie made it all the way up James Peak!
St. Mary’s Glacier and James Peak Trail Stats
Trail type: Out and back
Elevation: 10,848 at the base of the glacier. 13,272 at the summit of James Peak
Trail Info:
| Feature | St. Mary’s Glacier | St. Mary’s Glacier + James Peak |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | ~2.4 miles round trip | ~8.3 miles round trip |
| Elevation Gain | ~400 feet | ~2,900 feet |
| Difficulty | Easy | Moderate to Hard |
| Time | 1–1.5 hours | 4–6 hours |
St. Mary’s AllTrails
James Peak AllTrails
St. Mary’s Lake with ice
St. Mary’s Glacier Hike
From the parking lot, head on up to the trail. It’s a super steep and rocky hike up to St. Mary’s Lake, but it’s not very long. It’s pretty easy to see where to go. Plus, it’s a popular hiking area, so you’ll see other people going up and coming down.
On the day we climbed James Peak, Elgie and I met an older woman at St. Mary’s Lake who said something like, “That dog’s older than me!” To which I replied, “He’s only 12!”
I always find it a bit rude when people comment on Elgie’s age. That “old dog” went on to climb a thirteener, lady. Maybe I’m just an oversensitive mom. Whatever.
Anyway, the hike…
Once you reach St. Mary’s Lake, be sure to head over to the right side of it and admire it from that angle. Once you’ve had your fill, you could turn back here if you’d like.
Or you could continue a little bit toward the snow field and come upon this view:
Now, if that’s the perfect hike for you, feel free to turn back. And to be honest, most days it is the perfect hike. Feel free to retrace your steps, go home, sip a glass of wine, and feel good about yourself.
. But if you want more adventure and amazing views, let’s head on up to James Peak!
James Peak Trail
I only did James Peak once during my stay, and it took me three tries. On my first attempt, I had gotten too late of a start and had to turn back, or I would have been hiking in the dark. The second time, it was too snowy. But the third try was perfect.
This will be your view for a while.
Continue climbing past the snow field. If you have spikes, you could climb right up the snow field. If you don’t, you can climb around it. It’s a steep climb.
You’ll continue uphill for a while. Then it flattens out and you’ll find yourself in a gorgeous alpine meadow. Enjoy the leisurely stroll. In the springtime, it has wildflowers!
I could sit here all day. I’m sure those are famous mountains in the background, but I’m not going to pretend I know which ones they are.
There will be piles of stones marking the trail. Follow them. You’ll get your first view of James Peak.
Elgie had a great time!
Keep going and eventually you’ll reach my favorite part of the whole hike, the view of the alpine lakes!
Keep on truckin’ for awhile longer, and eventually you’ll reach the summit!
Elgie at the summit
Gorg!
The wind is real…
Enjoy the summit for as long as you’d like. Meditate. Rest. Have a snack. Wave to your dead relatives. Then when you’re ready, retrace your steps! You’ll have amazing views on the way down too.
So close to the clouds…
TIPS FOR St. Mary’s Glacier and James Peak
Take it easy. If you’re not used to the altitude, you may feel the effects. You start at over 10,000 feet on this trail, so be sure to go slow and don’t overdo it. I saw a guy being pushy to his girlfriend for not going faster. What a jerk. If anyone’s pushy to you, simply flip ’em the bird and slow down even more. Or push’ em off the mountain. Whichever.
Arrive early. I know I said this earlier, but I want to drive the point home. Early arrival means you’ll beat the afternoon thunderstorms and have a better chance at finding parking.
Don’t trust anyone who says “It’s only a little further.” One thing I learned on my Colorado hikes is that hikers love to lie, albeit in a well-meaning way.
It’s windy, especially up at James Peak. Be prepared.
WHEN’S THE BEST TIME TO HIKE St. Mary’s Glacier or James Peak?
As with most Colorado hikes, I’d say summer to early fall. I did St. Mary’s multiple times in October and November and James Peak in November. The St. Mary’s trail started getting slippery toward the end of my time living nearby.
WHAT TO BRING ON THE St. Mary’s and James peak HIKEs?
For St. Mary’s, optional snacks and water, but really you don’t need anything. For James Peak, you’ll want to bring layers, a hat, a scarf, and gloves. It wouldn’t hurt to bring extra socks either.
FAQ: St. Mary’s Glacier and James Peak
Will I see wildlife? You might! The first time I went up to St. Mary’s Glacier, I saw an entire moose family.
How far is it from Denver? It’s roughly an hour west of Denver
What’s the closest town? Lovely Idaho Springs, one of my favorite Colorado towns! Bonus: it has hot springs, which would feel amazing after this hike!
Is that a glacier? No, not really. It’s a semi-permanent ice field. It’s kind of sad to see these days.
Are these difficult hikes? They are steep for sure. The trail to St. Mary’s Glacier is quite rocky, but short and doable. My 12-year-old dog did it multiple times just fine, and he did James Peak too! The main thing is take your time!
The Takeaway: St. Mary’s glacier Hike and James Peak Trail
These are fabulous hikes not terribly far from Denver with huge payoffs. St. Mary’s is a gorgeous lake and a short hike. Also, if you’re looking to do your first thirteener, you couldn’t pick a better one than James Peak, in my opinion. The views are out-of-this-world. Both are well worth doing.
