Mills Glacier, Alpine glacier in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Mills Glacier sits on the eastern slope of Longs Peak as a body of ice and rock debris merged together at its lower end. Steep cliffs surround the glacier and feed meltwater into the valley below.
Continuous observation of the glacier began when Rocky Mountain National Park was established in 1915. Records from that time onward show how the ice has shrunk and shifted with changing climates.
The glacier is named after Enos Mills, a conservationist whose work led to the creation of Rocky Mountain National Park. His legacy remains visible in how the landscape is protected and valued by visitors today.
You can reach this glacier by hiking the Glacier Gorge Trail starting from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead on Bear Lake Road. The trail gains elevation gradually and passes several alpine lakes along the way.
The meltwater from the glacier flows directly into Mills Lake, which is the primary lake in Glacier Gorge and supports the entire alpine ecosystem there. Few visitors realize how directly this frozen water source shapes the valley below.
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