It's difficult to jump more than a few feet away from the side of the cliff and you don't want to slam into it on the way down. Baring falls was OK. (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ Cliff jumping at the St. Mary's Glacier Lake in Alice, CO Or you can walk a little way up and sled down. Discover Which Colorado Mountain Town is right for you. Only $5 for parking is so worth it, the hike is 3/4. I was really impressed by their staff. Enter the password to open this PDF file: Open Access Publications from the University of California. The waterfall is sacred to the local Kootenai tribe. From the lake there are a variety of options for the more adventurous to continue alongtowardJames Peak and the alpine tundra situated above.The terrain above the lake offers panoramic views, alpine exposure and access to some technical ski terrain. 10. About a 45-minute drive from Denver, you can find a perennial snowfield called St. Marys Glacier. Copyright 20042023 Yelp Inc. Yelp, , and related marks are registered trademarks of Yelp. As a Colorado local for over 13 years, Ive gone on the Saint Marys hike countless times throughout the year. The hike, while short, was moderately steep, but we were rewarded with stunning views. There is no shade but the trail is easy and with great views. Amazing Alpine Lakes in Colorado Youve Got to Check Out, The Only Guide to Visiting Colorado Youll Ever Need, Where to find the St Marys Glacier trailhead, A step-by-step guide to reach Saint Marys Glacier, Info about the St Marys Glacier in winter, A light jacket (warm, puffy jacket for winter), Toilet kit: TP, shovel, and hand sanitizer, lightweight gloves (heavy winter gloves too for winter), hiking poles (optional, strongly recommended in winter), Driving the Mt Evans Scenic Byway, one of the most, Eating at Smokin Yards BBQ in Idaho Springs, Grabbing a drink at Tommyknockers or Westbound and Down in Idaho Springs. How high is St Mary's glacier cliff jump? Lifts: 3, 1 t-bar (Stats: Built by Stadeli 1270' length, 240 vertical, 650. people per hour, 400 fpm), 2 rope tows. Absolutely! If you bring along a dog, keep them leased and pick up after your pet. This offers a great variety of heights ranging from the kid-friendly five feet to the more daring 35 feet. As you approach the lake, beautiful wind-warped Jefferson pine trees surround the shore and offer an amazing glimpse of an environment shaping local vegetation. The suns rays do double damage at higher altitudes. Its my mission to give you the info you need to explore Colorado like a local, not a tourist. This trail begins at 10,428 feet in elevation with a short gain to 10,848 feet at the base of the glacier, however the top of the glacier is 11,236 feet in elevation. Since the snowfield does get steep, sledding in the summer might be a bit difficult simply because the snowy areas are a bit too steep for a sled. Stick to the lower part of the hill for the best sledding at St Marys Glacier. Shielding these areas has now ended up being easier with the exceptional adaptability of Curved Masking Tape. ga('create', 'UA-61848210-2', 'auto'); What are some highly rated beaches in Los Angeles, CA? First, the trail gets extremely icy. Women's Leadership Committee; Young Farmers Committee; Farm Resources. Overall, I can see why this hike is so popular: the stunning views, the short drive from Denver, the manageable trail length + the combination of outdoorsy things you can do there all add up to make it a winner. I just love this place, had so much good time here!". Have updates, photos, alerts, or just want to leave a comment? Soak in the views at the lake. There was a low spot and a high spot. To return to the car, simply head back the way you came. Although this is an easier trail, the steep section through the trees is the toughest part of the hike. Learn more. Back then, there were rarely any people on the beach, at least from what I remember. Everyday Adventure // Cliff Jumping at St Mary's Glacier About a 45-minute drive from Denver, you can find a perennial snowfield called St. Mary's Glacier. In the summer, the lake is thawed and much of the ground before the snowfield is green and vibrant. Mary falls / virginia falls is located just 0.3 miles west of sunrift gorge along the gtts road. #4 - Cliff JumpingFor those of you looking to get a slice of the action, St. Mary's Glacier is a great spot for beginners and is located an hour West of Denver. Always open to suggestions and participationFollow along!Instagram - @Iver.MarjerisonPodcast - Do NewBook - In the works#DoNew52 #DoNew psf_381_cajandig-taylor_final_web.pdf. With rapidly changing weather means it can be sunny and hot one minute, then freezing rain the next (yup, its happened to me more than once). Be prepared to take all of your trash with you. Distance: 2.4 Miles: Route Type: Out & Back: Nearest Town: Idaho Springs, CO: Elevation Climb: 1,030 ft. . Those of us who were cliff jumping just wore swimsuits under our hiking clothes + packed towels with us. Although I'm a huge fan of visiting St Mary's Glacier, the name of this site has nothing to do with the content. Photo by Traveler22/Frommers.com Community. Work up a sweat on the 1.8-mile loop trail before cooling off in the icy waters. Local Tip: If you absolutely have to have the place to yourself, consider heading up for a sunrise hike. Its actually not technically a glacier which is more like a river of ice. ga('send', 'pageview'). The story, genealogy, and process of the Papahnaumokukea Marine National Monument Native Hawaiian Cultural Working Group Nomenclature Subcommittee | Hkokahalelani Pihana and J. Hauoli Lorenzo-Elarco, Mamalilikulla Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area: From vision to validation | Chief Councillor John Powell, Community Sampling for Ocean Acidification in Southcentral Alaska | Chugach Regional Resources Commission, Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) in Madagascar: Best Practices | MIHARI and Solofo Nandrianina Ralaimihoatra, Kula: Nurturing a generation of Indigenous leadership for marine conservation in Hawaii | Misaki Takabayashi, Pelika Andrade, and Moani Pai, The Gargantuan Arm | A poem by John Freeman, Institute for Parks, People, and Biodiversity, University of California, Berkeley. We went jumping in 2015 so the water levels must have been different. Its wide but rocky, so take care. Cliff Jumping at St. Mary's Glacier Hannah Cajandig-Taylor . Windy. A few exits past Idaho Springs, up a winding mountain road and a 1/2 mile hike though a bouldery trail. in 10 reviews, Our friend who lives in Denver recommended we check this place out due to the short hike and beautiful views. in 20 reviews, Only $5 for parking is so worth it, the hike is 3/4 mile uphill, but the way down is easy so it's not too bad. in 2 reviews. Over the summer, my friends + I decided to make the easy .75 mile hike up to the glacier + its accompanying lake for a little cliff jumping. The lake and glacier can get quite windy, so always check the weather before heading out. Although, Ill admit that when I was standing there on the edge it may as well have been 100 feet! For improved accessibility of PDF content, Open to change but stuck in the mud: Stakeholder perceptions of adaptation options at the frontlines of climate change and protected areas management, Climate Change Challenges and Science-Based Optimism, Hug a tree, hug a building: Reflections on the management of natural and built heritage, A Solution to Existential Climate Crisis: RTFM. Never leave poop bags on the trail even if you plan on picking it up later, other people have to walk by your trash. , but the way down is easy so it's not too bad. The area. Dont get caught in dangerous weather. Depending" more. I jumped from the lowest ledge, but it was still about 15 to 20 feet. If you want to go to the top of the snowfield, plan for at least another hour. With the Pacific Ocean at the cliffs edge the view is never the same. Jump heights range from roughly 6 feet (2m) to . Once you arrive at the lake take a look behind the lake and just to the right of the lake. A poem in the "Verse in Place" section of Parks Stewardship Forum. A group of people were jumping off of the larger of the two cliff jumps at St. Mary's Glacier, and the last man got up to jump and somehow hit the water face down - like bellyflop style. Pack a puffy layer, sun hat, beanie, and rain jacket even if its sunny. Follow Fall River Road for several miles until you reach the obvious parking lot. July is famous for wildflower blooms. With high consistent winds and gusts that are occasionally strong enough to blow someone over, it can become an extreme environment. Published Web Location https://doi.org/10.5070/P538156130 Main Content Metrics Author & Article Info Abstract A poem in the "Verse in Place" section of Parks Stewardship Forum. Paid parking. Cliff jumping at St.. Just down the road is Idaho Springs, a great adventure base thats super-close to Denver. The camping site itself it's very nice, pretty standard national park camping site- large sites, clean restroom, very nice staff, hot shower. Winter is the season to go if youd like to sled or ski. I randomly found out about El Matador one day about 7 years ago. 7599 Fall River Rd Idaho Springs, CO 80452. Sign up to receive our newsletter packed with the best adventure guides, travel ideas, news, and articles. Keep in mind that both areas require you to pay a $5 fee and you will be ticketed if you do not pay. Hiked up to St Mary's Glacier in June 2022! She'd rather be dirty than done up. 36, #2 (May 2020) Parks as Classrooms, Vol. Its about more than standing on the mountain top. First, the trail gets extremely icy. Over 300 feet of water drop from the waterfall, making it one of the tallest waterfalls in the state. What makes this hike so great is that its easily accessible year-round. It was a bright sunny day and I wanted to go surfing. Fair. Plan on spending about 45 minutes hiking to and from St Marys Lake, which is at the base of the snowfield. Outdoor Project may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers. If youre not prepared to pick up (and carry) your dog poop or toilet paper, thats okay, but stay home until youre cozy carrying your waste. , up a winding mountain road and a 1/2 mile hike though a bouldery trail. Cliff diving and jumping is said to have originated in 1770 when Hawaii's King Kajekili commanded his men to leap the island of Lanai's high cliffs and enter the water feet first without splashing in order to prove their courage and loyalty to him. just an easy 1 mile hike to some of the most beautiful falls and really fun jump. Coupled with the winter temperatures, St. Marys can be a serious endeavor despite its close proximity,and appropriate attire for the winter environment is a must. 36, #3 (September 2020) Ocean Literacy, Vol. . Bring along a trash bag to put your waste in. Unmarked trail. 1.5 mile Round TripDurationApprox 2 hr Round TripTrail TypeOut and BackElevation GainApprox. Her mission is to get you out on your greatest adventure. If the scenery doesn't take your breath away, the jump just might, Crater Lake National Park will cool you off quickly , Havasupai Falls offers a softer landing , Caney Fork Gorge is a popular place for fun on the water , Hippie Hole is also known as Martha's Falls , Explore Tampa's Lively Bar Scene to Find the Perfect Hangouts, Love the one you're with: Chicago's romantic hotels, Dance, music and comedy clubs among the best in Chicago nightlife, 10 romantic Las Vegas hotels for an unforgettable getaway for two, Indulge your inner gourmet at Las Vegas' 10 best fine dining restaurants. Youve arrived! Inside this guide to the St Marys Glacier hike youll get local advice about: The Saint Marys Glacier trailhead is open year-round. 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