USGS scientist Louis Sass assesses an on-glacier weather station on the Kahiltna Glacier in Denali National Park, Alaska. This weather station is located at Kahiltna Base Camp, where climbers attempting to summit Denali begin their ascent. Sultana (Mt. Foraker) is visible in the background.
Where are glaciers found in continental North America?
Glaciers exist in both the United States and Canada. Most U.S. glaciers are in Alaska; others can be found in Washington, Oregon, California, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Nevada (Wheeler Peak Glacier in Great Basin National Park).
Utah’s Timpanogos Glacier is now a rock glacier (in which the ice is hidden by rocks), and Idaho’s Otto Glacier has melted away.
Canada has glaciers in Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon Territory, and Nunavut.
Learn more:
- Overview of Glacier National Park's Glaciers (NPS)
- USGS Water Science School: Glaciers and Icecaps
Related
How would sea level change if all glaciers melted?
There is still some uncertainty about the full volume of glaciers and ice caps on Earth, but if all of them were to melt, global sea level would rise approximately 70 meters (approximately 230 feet), flooding every coastal city on the planet. Learn more: USGS Water Science School: Glaciers and Icecaps National Snow and Ice Data Center: Facts about Glaciers U.S. Global Change Research Program: Sea...
What are the impacts of glacier loss, other than losing an aesthetic landscape feature?
Glaciers act as reservoirs of water that persist through summer. Continual melt from glaciers contributes water to the ecosystem throughout dry months, creating perennial stream habitat and a water source for plants and animals. The cold runoff from glaciers also affects downstream water temperatures. Many aquatic species in mountainous environments require cold water temperatures to survive. Some...
What is a glacier?
A glacier is a large, perennial accumulation of crystalline ice, snow, rock, sediment, and often liquid water that originates on land and moves down slope under the influence of its own weight and gravity. Typically, glaciers exist and may even form in areas where: mean annual temperatures are close to the freezing point winter precipitation produces significant accumulations of snow temperatures...
What is a Benchmark Glacier?
“ Benchmark Glacier” refers to four North American glaciers that have been selected for long-term glacier monitoring that investigates climate, glacier geometry, glacier mass balance, glacier motion, and stream runoff. Benchmark glaciers monitored by the USGS are: Gulkana Glacier and Wolverine Glacier in Alaska South Cascade Glacier in Washington Sperry Glacier in Montana Learn more: USGS...
Is there a size criterion for a glacier?
While there is no global standard for what size a body of ice must be to be considered a glacier, USGS scientists in Glacier National Park use the commonly accepted guideline of 0.1 square kilometers (about 25 acres) as the minimum size of a glacier. Below this size, ice is generally stagnant and does not have enough mass to move. Learn more: Status of Glaciers in Glacier National Park
Which mountain in the conterminous U.S. has the most glaciers?
Mount Rainier, Washington, at 14,410 feet (4,393 meters), the highest peak in the Cascade Range, is a dormant volcano whose glacier ice cover exceeds that of any other mountain in the conterminous United States. Mount Rainier has approximately 26 glaciers. It contains more than five times the glacier area of all the other Cascade volcanoes combined. Mount Baker (Washington) at 10,778 feet (3,285...
How old is glacier ice?
The age of the oldest glacier ice in Antarctica may approach 1,000,000 years old The age of the oldest glacier ice in Greenland is more than 100,000 years old The age of the oldest Alaskan glacier ice ever recovered (from a basin between Mt. Bona and Mt. Churchill) is about 30,000 years old. Glacier flow moves newly formed ice through the entire length of a typical Alaskan valley glacier in 100...
How many glaciers currently exist in Alaska?
Based on the most recent comprehensive survey in 2011, there were about 27,000 glaciers in Alaska. However, the number of glaciers is a misleading statistic. Scientists are more interested in total glacial land coverage as a measure. The number of glaciers is less important since large ones can split up into several as they retreat. The amount of area glaciers occupy in Alaska is trending downward...
Is glacier ice a type of rock?
Glacier ice, like limestone (for example), is a type of rock. Glacier ice is actually a mono-mineralic rock (a rock made of only one mineral, like limestone which is composed of the mineral calcite). The mineral ice is the crystalline form of water (H 2O). Most glacier ice forms through the metamorphism of tens of thousands of individual snowflakes into crystals of glacier ice. Each snowflake is a...
Why is glacier ice blue?
Glacier ice is blue because the red (long wavelengths) part of white light is absorbed by ice and the blue (short wavelengths) light is transmitted and scattered. The longer the path light travels in ice, the more blue it appears. Learn more: USGS Water Science School - Glaciers: Things to Know
Weather station on Kahiltna Glacier
USGS scientist Louis Sass assesses an on-glacier weather station on the Kahiltna Glacier in Denali National Park, Alaska. This weather station is located at Kahiltna Base Camp, where climbers attempting to summit Denali begin their ascent. Sultana (Mt. Foraker) is visible in the background.
South Cascade Glacier, Washington
The surface of South Cascade Glacier, Washington is mostly exposed ice at the end of summer melt season.
The surface of South Cascade Glacier, Washington is mostly exposed ice at the end of summer melt season.
Grinnell Glacier 2019
Grinnell Glacier 2019
Taku Range, Juneau Icefield, Alaska
Image of the Taku towers, among the Taku Range at Taku Glacier during the summer of 2019
Image of the Taku towers, among the Taku Range at Taku Glacier during the summer of 2019
USGS Public Lecture: Warm Ice—Dynamics of Rapidly Changing Glaciers
- Glacier Numerology – The how big, how long, how thick, how much, how often, of glacier science.
- Glacier Photography – While a picture may be worth a thousand words, a collection of images may tell a complete forensic story.
- Glacier Numerology – The how big, how long, how thick, how much, how often, of glacier science.
- Glacier Photography – While a picture may be worth a thousand words, a collection of images may tell a complete forensic story.
Crevassed terminus of Gulkana Glacier
Heavily crevassed terminus of Gulkana Glacier, AK, near the end of the 2016 ablation (melt) season.
Heavily crevassed terminus of Gulkana Glacier, AK, near the end of the 2016 ablation (melt) season.
Mapping the glacier's edge in Glacier National Park.
Mapping the glacier's edge in Glacier National Park.
Mapping the glacier's edge in Glacier National Park.
Glacier Peak volcano, WA, viewed from the east.
Glacier Peak volcano, Washington, viewed from the east.
Glacier Peak volcano, Washington, viewed from the east.
Mount Rainier as seen from Paradise Ridge, WA.
Mount Rainier as seen from Paradise Ridge, Washington.
Mount Rainier as seen from Paradise Ridge, Washington.
Related
How would sea level change if all glaciers melted?
There is still some uncertainty about the full volume of glaciers and ice caps on Earth, but if all of them were to melt, global sea level would rise approximately 70 meters (approximately 230 feet), flooding every coastal city on the planet. Learn more: USGS Water Science School: Glaciers and Icecaps National Snow and Ice Data Center: Facts about Glaciers U.S. Global Change Research Program: Sea...
What are the impacts of glacier loss, other than losing an aesthetic landscape feature?
Glaciers act as reservoirs of water that persist through summer. Continual melt from glaciers contributes water to the ecosystem throughout dry months, creating perennial stream habitat and a water source for plants and animals. The cold runoff from glaciers also affects downstream water temperatures. Many aquatic species in mountainous environments require cold water temperatures to survive. Some...
What is a glacier?
A glacier is a large, perennial accumulation of crystalline ice, snow, rock, sediment, and often liquid water that originates on land and moves down slope under the influence of its own weight and gravity. Typically, glaciers exist and may even form in areas where: mean annual temperatures are close to the freezing point winter precipitation produces significant accumulations of snow temperatures...
What is a Benchmark Glacier?
“ Benchmark Glacier” refers to four North American glaciers that have been selected for long-term glacier monitoring that investigates climate, glacier geometry, glacier mass balance, glacier motion, and stream runoff. Benchmark glaciers monitored by the USGS are: Gulkana Glacier and Wolverine Glacier in Alaska South Cascade Glacier in Washington Sperry Glacier in Montana Learn more: USGS...
Is there a size criterion for a glacier?
While there is no global standard for what size a body of ice must be to be considered a glacier, USGS scientists in Glacier National Park use the commonly accepted guideline of 0.1 square kilometers (about 25 acres) as the minimum size of a glacier. Below this size, ice is generally stagnant and does not have enough mass to move. Learn more: Status of Glaciers in Glacier National Park
Which mountain in the conterminous U.S. has the most glaciers?
Mount Rainier, Washington, at 14,410 feet (4,393 meters), the highest peak in the Cascade Range, is a dormant volcano whose glacier ice cover exceeds that of any other mountain in the conterminous United States. Mount Rainier has approximately 26 glaciers. It contains more than five times the glacier area of all the other Cascade volcanoes combined. Mount Baker (Washington) at 10,778 feet (3,285...
How old is glacier ice?
The age of the oldest glacier ice in Antarctica may approach 1,000,000 years old The age of the oldest glacier ice in Greenland is more than 100,000 years old The age of the oldest Alaskan glacier ice ever recovered (from a basin between Mt. Bona and Mt. Churchill) is about 30,000 years old. Glacier flow moves newly formed ice through the entire length of a typical Alaskan valley glacier in 100...
How many glaciers currently exist in Alaska?
Based on the most recent comprehensive survey in 2011, there were about 27,000 glaciers in Alaska. However, the number of glaciers is a misleading statistic. Scientists are more interested in total glacial land coverage as a measure. The number of glaciers is less important since large ones can split up into several as they retreat. The amount of area glaciers occupy in Alaska is trending downward...
Is glacier ice a type of rock?
Glacier ice, like limestone (for example), is a type of rock. Glacier ice is actually a mono-mineralic rock (a rock made of only one mineral, like limestone which is composed of the mineral calcite). The mineral ice is the crystalline form of water (H 2O). Most glacier ice forms through the metamorphism of tens of thousands of individual snowflakes into crystals of glacier ice. Each snowflake is a...
Why is glacier ice blue?
Glacier ice is blue because the red (long wavelengths) part of white light is absorbed by ice and the blue (short wavelengths) light is transmitted and scattered. The longer the path light travels in ice, the more blue it appears. Learn more: USGS Water Science School - Glaciers: Things to Know
Weather station on Kahiltna Glacier
USGS scientist Louis Sass assesses an on-glacier weather station on the Kahiltna Glacier in Denali National Park, Alaska. This weather station is located at Kahiltna Base Camp, where climbers attempting to summit Denali begin their ascent. Sultana (Mt. Foraker) is visible in the background.
USGS scientist Louis Sass assesses an on-glacier weather station on the Kahiltna Glacier in Denali National Park, Alaska. This weather station is located at Kahiltna Base Camp, where climbers attempting to summit Denali begin their ascent. Sultana (Mt. Foraker) is visible in the background.
South Cascade Glacier, Washington
The surface of South Cascade Glacier, Washington is mostly exposed ice at the end of summer melt season.
The surface of South Cascade Glacier, Washington is mostly exposed ice at the end of summer melt season.
Grinnell Glacier 2019
Grinnell Glacier 2019
Taku Range, Juneau Icefield, Alaska
Image of the Taku towers, among the Taku Range at Taku Glacier during the summer of 2019
Image of the Taku towers, among the Taku Range at Taku Glacier during the summer of 2019
USGS Public Lecture: Warm Ice—Dynamics of Rapidly Changing Glaciers
- Glacier Numerology – The how big, how long, how thick, how much, how often, of glacier science.
- Glacier Photography – While a picture may be worth a thousand words, a collection of images may tell a complete forensic story.
- Glacier Numerology – The how big, how long, how thick, how much, how often, of glacier science.
- Glacier Photography – While a picture may be worth a thousand words, a collection of images may tell a complete forensic story.
Crevassed terminus of Gulkana Glacier
Heavily crevassed terminus of Gulkana Glacier, AK, near the end of the 2016 ablation (melt) season.
Heavily crevassed terminus of Gulkana Glacier, AK, near the end of the 2016 ablation (melt) season.
Mapping the glacier's edge in Glacier National Park.
Mapping the glacier's edge in Glacier National Park.
Mapping the glacier's edge in Glacier National Park.
Glacier Peak volcano, WA, viewed from the east.
Glacier Peak volcano, Washington, viewed from the east.
Glacier Peak volcano, Washington, viewed from the east.
Mount Rainier as seen from Paradise Ridge, WA.
Mount Rainier as seen from Paradise Ridge, Washington.
Mount Rainier as seen from Paradise Ridge, Washington.
Updated Date: March 25, 2025