Arapaho Glacier is located in the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area between South Arapaho Peak (13,397') and North Arapaho Peak (13,502') on the east side of the Continental Divide. Arapaho Glacier is the largest glacier in Colorado, measuring nearly .5 miles wide and .25 miles long. It covers approximately 60 acres and is an estimated 200' thick. A social trail continues .5 miles and 700' past the overlook to South Arapaho Peak.

Columbine was adopted as the state flower of Colorado April 4, 1899

View of Lake Dorothy from S. Arapaho Peak, located in a deep cirque below Mount Neva

A brief reprieve across high alpine meadows before reaching the glacier overlook

South Arapaho Peak is only .5 and a challenging 692' climb from the glacier overlook, much of which is on a faint track through rugged talus

Arapaho Glacier is thought to have lost over 50% of its area in the last century

Nearly two miles of trail run through exposed alpine slopes en route to Arapaho Glacier

The landscape opens through flat with good views of Mount Neva near the Arapaho Glacier Trail split

The Rocky Mountains have been repeatedly uplifted over the course of 2 billion years

Marmots are among the most active alpine mammals in the summer, but enter burrows by early October and don't emerge again until April or May

Arapaho Glacier, the largest glacier in Colorado

A hiker carefully crosses a major cascade to stay on the trail

A bee pollinates a mountain sunflower - one of multiple wildflower species along the trail

South Arapaho Peak seen from the final push to Arapaho Glacier Overlook

Marmots are familiar alpine denizens and can often be heard before seen - they emit a high pitched chirp which carries far in the thin mountain air

Above treeline, the trail is entirely exposed to the elements

A fairly arduous scramble up a steep talus slope is required to reach the summit of South Arapahoe Peak