Union Glacier is a large, heavily-crevassed glacier

Glacier

A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...

 which receives the flow of several tributaries and drains through the middle of the Heritage Range

Heritage Range

The Heritage Range is a major mountain range, long and wide, situated southward of Minnesota Glacier and forming the southern half of the Ellsworth Mountains in Antarctica...

, Ellsworth Mountains

Ellsworth Mountains

The Ellsworth Mountains are the highest mountain ranges in Antarctica, forming a long and wide chain of mountains in a north to south configuration on the western margin of the Ronne Ice Shelf. They are bisected by Minnesota Glacier to form the northern Sentinel Range and the southern Heritage...

, Antarctica. The glacier drains from the plateau at Edson Hills

Edson Hills

Edson Hills is a group of mainly ice-free hills lying south of Drake Icefall and west of Union Glacier in the Heritage Range, Ellsworth Mountains. Named by the University of Minnesota Ellsworth Mountains Party, 1962–63, for Dean T. Edson, United States Geological Survey topographic engineer with...

 on the west side of the range and flows east between Pioneer Heights

Pioneer Heights

Pioneer Heights is a group name in the Heritage Range, Ellsworth Mountains, encompassing the large area of hills, ridges and peaks located eastward of Schneider and Schanz Glaciers and between Splettstoesser and Union Glaciers. Among these features are the Inferno Ridge, the Nimbus, Gross,...

 and Enterprise Hills

Enterprise Hills

Enterprise Hills is a prominent group of largely ice-free hills and peaks in the form of an arc. The feature extends for about 30 nautical miles to form the north and northeast boundary of Horseshoe Valley in the Heritage Range, Ellsworth Mountains. Enterprise Hills were mapped by United States...

. Union Glacier was mapped by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) from surveys and U.S. Navy (USN) air photos, 1961-66. The name was applied by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) in association with the name Heritage Range.
The glacier is the site of Union Glacier Blue-Ice Runway SCGC

Union Glacier Blue-Ice Runway SCGC

Union Glacier Blue-Ice Runway SCGC is the blue ice runway for Union Glacier Camp in Antarctica. It is located in the Heritage Range, Ellsworth Mountains, on the glacier that gives it its name. It is operated by Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions LLC , a company that provides expedition support and...

 and Union Glacier Camp

Union Glacier Camp

Union Glacier Camp is the only private seasonally occupied camp in Antarctica. It is located in the Heritage Range, Ellsworth Mountains, on Union Glacier that gives it its name...

.