Hinman Glacier was within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness of Snoqualmie National Forest.

[6] Evidence suggests that Hinman Glacier may have formed as early as the retreat of the Cordilleran ice sheet, which covered the region approximately 14,000 years ago, with it being at least as old as the Mount Mazama eruption 7,000 years ago that created Crater Lake in Oregon.

[6] Made up of two sections, the western lobe was the first to disappear, leaving only small patches of ice by 2009.

The glacier persisted on the north flank of Mount Hinman for another decade and repeat photography showed rapid retreat.

[8] Meltwater from Hinman Glacier fed the Skykomish River and in concert with the decline of other glacial ice in this portion of the Cascades, this has led to negative impacts on streamflow of the river and drainage basin into the Puget Sound near Everett.