South Cascade Glacier, Alpine glacier in North Cascades, Washington, USA

South Cascade Glacier is an alpine glacier in the North Cascades Range that flows directly into South Cascade Lake and the Skagit River. The ice field sits in a high mountain basin surrounded by steep peaks and rocky terrain.

South Cascade Glacier is one of four USGS benchmark glaciers, and its mass balance has been measured since 1959. Between 1958 and 2009 the glacier lost nearly half its volume, and its area fell from 2.71 km2 in 1958 to 1.8 km2 in 2015, a loss of 34%.

South Cascade Glacier is one of four USGS benchmark glaciers, chosen to represent conditions in the North Cascades. Its mass balance has been measured since 1959, giving researchers a continuous record of how much snow and ice the glacier gains and loses each year.

Visitors can see the glacier best from hiking trails through the Glacier Peak Wilderness area, with the clearest views during summer months. Start early in the day and bring weather protection, as mountain conditions change quickly.

South Cascade Glacier is one of four USGS benchmark glaciers, and its mass balance has been measured since 1959. Its area fell from 2.71 km2 in 1958 to 1.8 km2 in 2015, a loss of 34%, and between 1958 and 2009 it lost nearly half its volume.