Square Top Lakes Trail

Colorado Local's Hiking Guide

The Complete Guide To The Square Top Lakes Hiking Trail

Everything You Should Know Before Hiking Square Top Lakes

The Square Top Lakes trail is located on the well-loved (and often busy) Colorado mountain road Guanella Pass. Yet somehow, you can do this hike and rarely run across a soul.

Hikes around Georgetown are known for being busy (hello, Silver Dollar). But with the Square Top Lakes trail, you get equally iconic Colorado views (including of Mt. Bierstadt), with so much more peace and quiet. It’s one of the many things that draws us to this trail.

In this hiking guide, we’ll give you the Colorado local’s perspective and lowdown on everything you should know before attempting the Square Top Lakes trail. And as we do in all our hiking guides, we’ll share plenty of photos of our adventures on this trail.

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All recommendations in our Square Top Lakes hiking guide are crafted with love and expertise, from platforms we use and trust for our own adventures, both in Colorado and beyond.

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Where In Colorado Is Square Top Lakes Trail?

Directions From Georgetown, CO

If you’re traveling to the Square Top Lakes trail from Georgetown, take Rose St. south until you get to Second St.

Once there, you’ll hang a left, and the road will pretty quickly turn into switchbacks. You’re officially on the pass at this point.

You’ll drive up a little more than 10.5 miles, past the Bierstadt Trailhead, and hang a right on to the road that leads up to the trailhead.

GPS Coordinates: 39.597221, -105.712862
Nearest Towns: Grant and Georgetown, CO
Square Top Lakes Trail Length: 4.8 miles
Elevation Gain: 935 ft
Terrain: alpine tundra
Family/Kid Friendly: yes, if everyone is acclimated to high altitude.
Dog Friendly: yes (must be on leash)
Restrooms: yes (vault toilets at trailhead)
Cell Service: No, we bring along a Garmin InReach when we do this hike.
Fee: none

Can You Hike Square Top Lakes Year-Round?

The Most Accessible Times Of Year

The trailhead to Square Top Lakes is closed for much of the year, making this hike more or less inaccessible. The road it’s on typically opens up around Memorial Day and closes around the end of November.

That said, just because the trailhead for Square Top Lakes is open during that time window doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to hike it then.

The Square Top Lakes hike is located above treeline in the alpine tundra. This area doesn’t fully lose all its snow until late June or July (depending on the snowfall over winter). If you hike this route too early, you’ll experience excess mud and slushy conditions, which can make navigating the trail a challenge.

Must-Know Details About Square Top Lakes

A Local Hiker's Guide

Square Top Lakes trail is one of our favorite hidden gem hikes. Some of the most aesthetically stunning views, with a fraction of the crowds. But there are some things you’ll need to be aware of if you want to get the most of this hike. Let’s break it down.

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What Skill Level Is The Square Top Lakes Trail Best For ?

If you’re acclimated to high elevation, we’d say Square Top Lakes trail is a good hike for those with a moderate hiking skill level.

It does have some pretty lengthy sections with a constant incline, which can be somewhat of a challenge, so we wouldn’t recommend this trek if you’re newer to hiking.

Also, depending on the amount of snowmelt, there can be a good bit of slush, mud, and water making the path a bit more difficult to traverse.

All of that said, if you’re not acclimated to high altitude and are traveling from a destination near sea level, we’d actually say this hike is probably best for advanced hikers.

Even though the trail itself isn’t very technical, all of it sits higher than 11,000 ft above sea level. There’s less oxygen up there, and what might normally be an easy hike for you could end up feeling much more challenging.

The Best Season To Hike Square Top Lakes

We talked about it earlier, but the trailhead to the Square Top Lakes hike is only accessible by car from around Memorial Day to late November (weather-dependent). That said, within that time window, some seasons are absolutely better than others.

While the road the hike is off of is known for fall colors, the Square Top Lakes trail is so high up in altitude, you don’t really get to experience the aspens.

To see this hike at its best, we recommend doing the Square Top Lakes hike in the short window from mid-July to mid-August. Go earlier than that, and you’ll likely be dealing with muddy conditions from intense snowmelt. Go after that window and the alpine tundra begins drying and browning out.

It just doesn’t get any prettier than this short summer timeframe.

Time Of Day To Do This Hike (For The Best Photos)

The best times of day to do the Square Top Lakes hike are around sunrise and around sunset. There is no tree cover on this trail, so you’re fully exposed to the sun, which can feel really intense at this altitude.

Going around sunrise or sunset helps significantly with this intensity, and also means you’ll be hiking during golden hour, which is hands-down the best time to capture beautiful photos.

Personally, we prefer sunrise the most for the Square Top Lakes hike. Not only do you see gorgeous alpenglow at the upper lake, but you also avoid the ultra-common high altitude afternoon thunderstorms that happen in the summer months (which can be life-threatening at that altitude).

Some Of Our Favorite Gear To Bring On The Square Top Lakes Trail

Gear To Pack With You

While this is by no means a fully comprehensive gear list of everything we bring with us when we do the Square Top Lakes hike, these are the essentials that we don’t leave home without.

AllTrails – There are sections of the Square Top Lakes trail that can be a little challenging to follow, especially if you’re navigating through snowmelt, which is why we always have an offline map downloaded from AllTrails. We’ve used AllTrails for over a decade now, and they’re offering our readers 30% off their first year of a Peak membership when using our link.
Sunscreen – There is no tree cover on the Square Top Lakes hike, and it’s so much easier to burn at high altitude. Going without a solid sunscreen is a total no-go. This is our personal favorite sunscreen, and we also love their version just for the face. No white cast or pore clogging.
Bug Spray – People are always surprised when we tell them that mosquitos hang out at high altitude, but the mix of high alpine lakes and hefty snowmelt are exactly what draws these pests close.
A Lightweight Puffer Jacket – The temps on high altitude trails like Square Top Lakes can fluctuate a ton, even in the summertime. When we do this hike at sunrise (even in the thick of summer) we bring jackets. Temps can legit get into the 30’s and 40’s (fahrenheit). Not to mention, the wind on this trail is absolutely bananas, given there are no trees to block it. We always pack our lightweight puffers for added warmth and wind protection. And they pack away into a tiny ball, so we don’t feel like we’re hauling heavy coats with us.

Bringing the little ones to Square Top Lakes? As parents, we can assure you that if you plan on bringing your toddler on this hike, there’s a good chance their little legs will get tired quickly, especially on the sections that are pure incline.

When we bring our little ones, we make sure we have our hiking carrier for when they inevitably ask to be picked up.

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Lodging Near Square Top Lakes Trail

Our Favorite Lodging Options Near Georgetown, CO

If you’re looking to get as close to the Square Top Lakes trailhead as possible, your best bet for lodging is going to be in Georgetown. Options are limited, though, as it’s a pretty tiny town.

These are the options we love:

Rose Street Bed and Breakfast – An adorable bed and breakfast with Victorian era charm. It’s worth noting that kids must be older than 10 to stay here.
The Clear Creek Inn – Cozy, yet updated with a modern mountain feel (the quilts on the bed are such a nice little touch). It’s hard to find solid hotels that look and feel cute in the area, but this one is a winner.

If You Need A Coffee Pit Stop Before Hiking Square Top Lakes

One of our favorite coffee shops in Colorado, Plume Coffee Bar, is a go-to if you’re doing the Square Top Lakes hike. It’s a less than 10 min drive outside of Georgetown and perfectly captures the classic laid-back Colorado mountain vibe.

Square Top Lakes FAQs

Is There Camping Near The Square Top Lakes Trail?

Yes, there is plenty of camping located along the pass and within a short drive of the Square Top Lakes hike.

If you want to get as close to the trailhead as possible, your best options are going to be the Guanella Pass campground (2.3 miles north of Square Top Lakes) and the Geneva Park campground (7 miles south of Square Top Lakes).

Is It Safe To Swim In The Lakes?

Generally speaking, we advise against swimming in high alpine lakes. Even in the thick of summer, they can be icy cold. After all, they’re frozen for most of the year.

Getting in cold water like this can cause cold water shock, which is the last thing you want when you’re in a remote area.

What Amenities Are Available At The Square Top Lakes Trailhead?

The only real amenity you can expect at the trailhead is a vault toilet, although when it comes to hiking trails, that’s a pretty solid perk.

Epic Drives Near The Square Top Lakes Trail

Colorado is home to some of the most epic mountain drives, and the Square Top Lakes hiking trail is near so many of them. This is our short list of faves:

Guanella Pass – You already end up driving this route just by going to Square Top Lakes, as the trailhead is off this road. But we highly recommend driving the whole path from start to finish.
Loveland Pass – Another absolutely stunning drive that’s less than 30 minutes from Georgetown. This one’s home to one of our favorite 13ers, Mt. Sniktau.
Berthoud Pass – Another one less than 30 minutes from Georgetown. The summit of this pass has one of our favorite winding mountain road views, and the hikes in the area are beyond dreamy.

P.S. Want to see more images of the Square Top Lakes trail? We’ve included a few more from our adventures on this hike below.

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