Andrews Glacier, Glacier in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, US
Andrews Glacier is a glacier in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, sitting in a rocky cirque at around 11,200 feet (3,400 m) above sea level. Its meltwater drains directly into Andrews Tarn, a small alpine lake just below the ice.
The glacier was first mapped in 1897 by Edwin B. Andrews and Abner Sprague during an early survey of what would become Rocky Mountain National Park. Their records set the starting point for tracking how much the ice has changed in the years since.
Andrews Glacier sits in a cirque that draws hikers who want to experience high alpine terrain in Rocky Mountain National Park. The small lake just below it, Andrews Tarn, is a natural resting point where people often stop to take in the open sky and rocky slopes around them.
The glacier is reached by hiking from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead, following a trail that climbs through open alpine terrain for several miles. Solid footwear is important, and layers are a good idea since the weather at this elevation can change without much warning.
Andrews Glacier is one of the few remaining permanent ice patches in Colorado, yet its size is small enough that some scientists debate whether it qualifies as a true glacier or simply a perennial snowfield. The distinction matters for how its changes are tracked over time.
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