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Enjoy 3 beautiful lakes in one easy hike along the Silver Dollar Lake Trail. On the hike you'll also get great views of 14ers Mt. Evans and Mt. Bierstadt.
Guanella Pass, which connects the charming and historic town of Georgetown in the north to the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Grant to the south, is a recreational outdoorsman’s dream. Volumes could be written on what this 22-mile scenic byway has to offer.
Silver Dollar Lake Trail is just one tiny portion of the area, but this little 2-mile stretch of trail is packed with such beauty that you feel like you hit the (silver dollar) jackpot. Once you start to breach the timberline, you will catch tantalizing views of Naylor Lake down below. (Naylor Lake is private property so you won’t be able to enjoy it other than by looking at it.) You will be able to see this lake for nearly the whole hike. In addition, the creek rushing down the mountainside in the distance makes for a great soundtrack to your hike.
After about 1.5 mile, you’ll approach Silver Dollar Lake, a stunning aqua-colored alpine lake sheltered by Square Top Mountain (13,795 feet). The spillway makes an attractive little waterfall lined with wildflowers. Just beyond the lake is a high concentration of wildflowers, and those combined with views of both Naylor and Silver Dollar Lakes—and Mts. Evans and Bierstadt in the distance!—make for quite the breathtaking view.
Journey on up the hill another half mile, and you come to Murray Lake. The trail ends here, but the area is open and ripe for exploration. Argentine Peak (13,378’) is to the west of the lake, and Mt. Wilcox (13,408’) is to the north. I did not see any large wildlife on my hike, but I did see “evidence” of them, so you could be lucky. Look for mountain goats and bighorn sheep on the valley’s high walls and ridges, and elk and moose in the alpine meadows. If you are adventurous, in good physical shape with no balance issues, and have the time, you could scale one (or more) of these mountains while you’re up there.
Silver Dollar and Murray Lakes both offer excellent fishing. The beauty of this hike is that it is even more amazing going down than going up. In short, Silver Dollar is a short hike long on beauty.
Parking—The trailhead is located about 1 mile up Naylor Road, a rough dirt road lined with campsites. There is a small parking area near the trailhead. If this is full, parking is available where Naylor Road intersects with Guanella Pass. This will add about 0.7 mile and 335’ each way to your hike.
No bathrooms are available at the trailhead. The nearest bathroom is at Guanella Pass Campground. Another is at Clear Lake Campground to the north.
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Silver Dollar Lake Trail
We hiked this trail in July. It is great trail for beginners. Bring the bug spray as there were lots of misquote on the lower part of the trail. The first lake on the trail is Naylor Lake. It is private, so enjoy the view but you can't explore. We didn't actually make it too Silver Dollar, as part of the trail (we were maybe 1/2 mile away) was still snow packed. We chose not to cross the ice/snow because we had my 60 year old mother with us who was not wanting to slip and fall off the cliff;-) Even so, this hike was stunning and worth it!
Silver Dollar Lake Trail
Great Views For Such A Short Hike! Family Friendly My Almost Four year Old Completed The Entire Trail On His Own!
Silver Dollar Lake Trail
Gorgeous hike. Reached the trailhead around 8:30 and finished by 10:45. The lakes are well worth it, but prepare for lots of wind. Fairly easy hike and very rewarding.
Silver Dollar Lake Trail
This is a great hike that will give you fantastic views of the nearby 14ers from Murray Lake. Towards the top, the trail can get boggy if it is early in the season, so make sure your boots are waterproof. If you make the trek to Murray Lake, please be aware that there is no defined trail to the shore. Use caution when walking on the fragile alpine tundra and try to use stepping stones as much as possible to preserve the area!
Silver Dollar Lake Trail
Great hike with slight elevation gain and wonderful views of the lakes and valley. The lakes themselves are spectacularly set right up against the surrounding peaks. There aren't any aspen trees along the way, but it is still very beautiful in the fall with the changing colors. It's a very popular trail on the weekends. So to avoid crowds, I'd recommend starting out early.
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
Camp at Guanella Pass
This is a beautiful campground that serves as a great basecamp for many different outdoor activities in the Front Range. Whether you are looking for a casual day fishing or trying to knock one of the nearby 14ers off of your bucket list, this is an excellent place to begin. There are also abandoned “ghost towns” and the historic Georgetown nearby for those interested in local history.There are ...
Hike to Square Top Lakes
Starting from Guanella Pass, right across from the Bierstadt trailhead, Square Top Lakes is definitely a hidden gem. Most people here are attempting to do the 14er, but if you've already bagged that one (or are just looking for some high altitude hiking to get you ready for it), Square Top Lakes is perfect. The hike begins by immediately descending a few hundred feet into a small valley. From t...
If you’re ready for your first 14er, Mount Bierstadt holds a reputation for a great “starter” 14er. Of course, experienced climbers will enjoy this (relatively speaking) easy mountain as well. Besides the joy of the hike itself, Bierstadt is a stunning wildflower hike in July and August. Thanks to an expansive valley floor, views of the surrounding peaks (including other Front Range 14ers Torre...
Bierstadt, Evans, and The Sawtooth Loop
Starting from the oddly poorly marked Guanella Pass Trailhead (Google maps directions to Guanella Campground and then drive about two miles past it to the south), the trail heads southeast toward Bierstadt, and much of your route to the first summit is visible from the parking lot. The trail to Bierstadt starts out at just over 11,000 feet and stays nearly flat for the first mile, allowing you...
Watch the Sunrise at Guanella Pass
From Denver, take i70 to Georgetown and simply follow the signs through town to the top. This pass can also be accessed from the south via US Highway 285 at the town of Grant. Guanella Pass is closed in the winter, typically from about the last week in November through the last week of May. Watching the sunrise in winter is still possible from Guanella pass, but will require a ¾ mile hike from ...
Grays Peak via the South Ridge
Grays is easily one of the most popular 14ers in Colorado due to its moderate difficulty and proximity to Denver. Grays Peak is an awesome 14er but the crowds take away from the hike. And while the views on top of Grays are amazing, the barren landscape of the hike to get there isn't the most amazing. Instead, by hiking it from the South Ridge you will hike through a lush valley with maybe one ...