Emmons Glacier lies on the northeast flank of Mount Rainier in Mount Rainier National Park, Pierce County, Washington, and at 4.3 square miles is the largest glacier by surface area in the contiguous United States. It originates above 13,800 feet and descends to a terminus near 5,100 feet, and is named for the geologist Samuel Franklin Emmons, who took part in a survey of Mount Rainier in 1870. The glacier is generally retreating, though rock debris shed from Little Tahoma Peak insulated its lower reaches and allowed a notable advance in the early 1980s. It is a popular route for climbers heading to Mount Rainier's summit, with the Camp Schurman ranger station positioned on its edge.
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