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List of glaciers in the United States

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Exit Glacier, Alaska

Glaciers are located in ten states, with the vast majority in Alaska.[1] The southernmost named glacier is the Lilliput Glacier in Tulare County, east of the Central Valley of California.

Apart from Alaska, around 1330 glaciers, 1175 perennial snow fields, and 35 buried-ice features have been identified.[2][3]

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Glaciers of Alaska

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The Homer Spit is believed to be the remains of a glacial moraine.
Further information: List of glaciers in Denali National Park and Preserve

There are approximately 664 named glaciers in Alaska according to the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).[4]

Gulkana glacier in the Alaska Range
Johns Hopkins Glacier in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Matanuska Glacier and peaks of the Chugach Mountains
Mendenhall Glacier and the Coast Mountains, Juneau, Alaska
Ocean liner and Taku Glacier in art for Canadian Pacific

Glaciers of the Pacific Coast Ranges

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The Pacific Coast Ranges include glaciers in the three states on the Pacific Coast.

Washington

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Boulder Glacier, Mount Baker

There are around 880 glaciers in Washington state, with 186 named according to the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).[6] However, the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens eliminated nine of its eleven named glaciers and only the new glacier known as Crater Glacier has been reestablished since.

Olympic Mountains
Mount Olympus
Other peaks in the Olympic Mountains
North Cascades (non-volcanoes)
Company Glacier
Mount Baker
Glacier Peak
Mount Rainier
Sarvent Glacier, Cowlitz Chimneys.
Goat Rocks
Mount Adams
Mount St. Helens

Mount St. Helens once had eleven named glaciers,[7] but the 1980 eruption of the volcano eliminated nine glaciers and the two remaining aren't recognized. One newly formed glacier now resides in the caldera of the volcano.

Oregon

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There are up to 42 glaciers in Oregon, with 35 named according to the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).[8]

Wallowa Mountains
Mount Hood[9]
Main article: List of Mount Hood glaciers
Mount Jefferson
Three Sisters Region
Other Cascade Peaks

California

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There are around 75 glaciers in California, with 20 named according to the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).[10]

Mount Shasta

Mount Shasta is a volcano with seven named glaciers in the northern region of California.

Sierra Nevada

Glaciers of Nevada (in the Basin and Range Province)

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Wheeler Peak Glacier in Nevada

Basin and Range Province lies east of the Coast Ranges and west of the Rockies. There are no active glaciers in the Basin and Range Province and Wheeler Peak Glacier is considered by some to be a rock glacier.

Glaciers of the Rocky Mountains

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Colorado

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Andrews Glacier in Colorado

According to the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), there are sixteen named glaciers in Colorado.[11] According to early mountain explorers and scientists, Colorado once had more than eighteen glaciers before 1880.

See also Glaciers of Colorado See also [1]

Idaho

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Montana

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Grinnell Glacier with proglacial lake and The Salamander Glacier on high ledge
Further information: List of glaciers in Glacier National Park (U.S.)

There are around 210 glaciers in Montana, with 60 named glaciers according to the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).[13]

Utah

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There are no visible glaciers in Utah. Timpanogos Glacier article is documentation of a buried glacier.

Wyoming

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Gannett Glacier is the largest glacier in the American Rockies and is located in the remote Wind River Range, Wyoming.
Main article: List of glaciers in Wyoming

There are around 105 glaciers in Wyoming, with 37 named glaciers according to the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).[14]

Hikers head towards Schoolroom Glacier at right while the terminal moraine and proglacial lake can be seen at left

See also

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Notes

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^A Reported in 2020 to have disappeared.[15]

References

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  1. ^ Krimmel, R. (2002) Glaciers of North America USGS
  2. ^ Fountain, A. G., Glenn, B., and McNeil, C. (2023) Inventory of glaciers and perennial snowfields of the conterminous USA Earth System Science Data v15 #9: 4077–4104
  3. ^ States With Glaciers Portland State University
  4. ^ "Alaska State Glaciers Feature Query Results". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  5. ^ Murkowski, Lisa (October 18, 2010). "Ted Stevens Mountain, Ice Field Signed Into Law". U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski press release. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski press release. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  6. ^ "Washington State Glaciers Feature Query Results". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  7. ^ Phillips, William M. (October 1987). "Geologic Guide to the Monitor Ridge Climbing Route, Mount St. Helens, Washington" (PDF). Washington Geologic Newsletter. 15 (4): 3–13.
  8. ^ "Oregon State Glaciers Feature Query Results". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  9. ^ "Glaciers at Mount Hood, Oregon". Volcano Hazards Program. United States Geological Survey. September 28, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  10. ^ "California State Glaciers Feature Query Results". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  11. ^ "Colorado State Glaciers Feature Query Results". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  12. ^ Drew, Micah (2022) Lonely Life of Idaho's Only Glacier IdaHome vol 3 issue 10 p29
  13. ^ "Montana State Glaciers Feature Query Results". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  14. ^ "Wyoming State Glaciers Feature Query Results". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  15. ^ "Lathrop Glacier is Gone". Oregon Glacier Institute. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
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