Anderson Glacier

Anderson Glacier was an alpine glacier in the Olympic Mountains, positioned between 6200 and 5240 feet in elevation within Olympic National Park. Meltwater from the ice drained into a lake at 4949 feet below, shaping the high country landscape.

The glacier developed over millennia in the high mountains and long shaped the alpine ecosystem. Between 1927 and 2011, it shrank rapidly and eventually disappeared completely.

Native American tribal members discovered a mastodon jaw in the exposed riverbed following the glacier's disappearance, revealing archaeological significance.

The hike to the former glacier site is challenging and starts from the old Dosewallips Road. The route demands good endurance and mountain hiking experience for the steep climbs in the high country.

After the glacier vanished, river flooding exposed bones and teeth showing that mammoths once inhabited the area. These findings shift our understanding of how the region was populated in prehistoric times.

Location: Jefferson County

Location: Washington

GPS coordinates: 47.71326,-123.33493

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:23