Coleman Glacier

Coleman Glacier is a glacier on Mount Baker's western slopes in the North Cascades. It stretches across multiple kilometers and ends in an area composed of rocky debris and stone deposits at roughly 5,800 feet in elevation.

The glacier was named after Edmund Thomas Coleman, who completed the first successful climb of Mount Baker in 1868. The name honors his role in exploring the area.

The glacier serves as a research site for scientists studying climate patterns, glacial movements, and environmental changes in the Pacific Northwest region.

Access comes through the Heliotrope Ridge Trail, which demands technical skill and mountaineering experience. Visitors should prepare for glacier conditions and winter weather, especially at higher elevations.

Between 1950 and 1979, the glacier expanded unusually during a cooler period with greater snowfall. This was a rare interval of glacier growth that went against the broader trend of glacier retreat.

Location: Washington

GPS coordinates: 48.78080,-121.84800

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:43