Square Top Lakes Colorado Hike Trail Guide

September 17, 2021 The Virtual Sherpa Comments 1 comment

Square Top Lakes is a family friendly half day hike which brings hikers to two alpine lakes at the top of Guanella Pass in Northern Colorado. This hike is a fantastic option for those looking to experience the beauty of Colorado close to Denver without taking up a whole day. Although beautiful all year round, this hike is typically hiked Memorial Day – Thanksgiving when the pass is open to vehicles. This hike is suitable for hikers of all levels and can get very busy on weekends.

Square Top Lakes Quick Facts

Square Top Lakes Rating: ★★★★ (4/5 Stars)

Distance: 4.5 Miles RT

Elevation Start: 11,670ft

Highest Point: 12,300ft

Total Elevation Gain: 1,200ft

Estimated Time to Complete: 2-2.5 Hours RT

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate Difficulty System Explained

Class: Class 1 What does this mean?

Season: Late June- Early November (Guanella Pass closed outside of this period)

Weather: Check the Weather Forecast

Trailhead: Guanella Pass

Directions to Square Top Lakes

Getting Here: Square Top Lakes hike starts at the top of Guanella pass. Most people drive up to the pass from the town of Georgetown (north) but it can also be accessed from the small town of Grant in the south. If traveling from the north, take I70 until you reach Georgetown (exit 228) and follow signs to Guanella pass. If coming from Georgetown, drive past the lower Mt Bierstadt TH and find the larger Square Top Lakes parking area just past it on the right. You can enter Square Top Lakes into your favorite GPS device.

Fees: There is no fee to hike Square Top Lakes.

Parking: The Square Top Lakes lot is big and can fit between 20-30 cars. However, since this hike shares parking with nearby Mt Bierstadt, the parking lot will be INSANELY busy on weekends and even some weekdays. I would recommend hiking on a weekday or during the later afternoon on a weekend.

Summary

Camping: Camping is available on Guanella Pass Road in a few different forms. There are a couple of official campsites and even more car camping spots. Both areas fill up very quickly on the weekend (especially during the summer). If you do plan on camping outside a campground, be advised that you need to hike at least a ¼ mile off the road to set-up camp.

Dogs: Square Top Lakes is a dog friendly hike. Since this hike is in the Mt Evans Wilderness Area, please keep dogs on a leash when possible. As always, please pick-up after your dog as this hike is extremely popular.

Make it a Loop: This is an out and back hike with the ability to extend your hike to neighboring Mt Bierstadt or nearby Square Top Mountain. Hiking up to Square Top Mountain adds about 2 miles to this hike.

Hike Tip(s): As you get closer to these two lakes, there can be a ton of muddy and wet hiking. Although sometimes avoidable, I ended up stepping in an ankle high puddle which soaked my feet. Bringing an extra pair of socks is recommended. If you are hiking with your dog, be prepared for muddy paws at the end of the hike.

Trail X Factors: Parking

As previously mentioned, Guanella Pass is absurdly busy on most summer and fall weekends. It’s close to Denver, home to the hike up Mt Bierstadt and beautiful. Pick your poison. If you plan on hiking Square Top Lakes on the weekend, arrive later in the afternoon or early evening to avoid most crowds. If possible, head there during the week for much smaller crowds.

Best Views: The hike to Square Top Lakes is very beautiful almost the entire time. Once you leave the busy parking lot behind, you will have outstanding views of Mt Bierstadt, the Sawtooth Ridge and the valley around you. Both lakes are pretty in their own right, but I prefer the views from the upper lake. Be sure to hike around the upper lake and get fantastic views of the lower one as well.

Square Top Lakes Hike Route

Gear Needed

Men’s Trail Runners
Women’s Trail Runners
La Sportiva Trango Hiking Boots (Men’s)
La Sportiva Trango Hiking Booths (Women’s)
Backpack
Food & Water
Optional: Garmin inReach
Optional: Hiking Poles
Optional: Headlamp
Optional: Garmin Fenix Watch
Optional: Camera and Lens
Optional: GoPro, Joby Tripod
*Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you.

My Trip to Square Top Lakes: September 2020

The air quality was awful, the temperatures insanely hot so I decided to take Juno up to the much cooler Guanella Pass for a quick hike. Usually, I would avoid this area like the plague. Its home of my least favorite 14er that attracts hordes of people. When we arrived at the trailhead I was pleasantly surprised to find easy parking and encountered only a handful of others on the trail.

We arrived at the lakes and enjoyed the beautiful views, some beer and snacks. The afternoon thunderstorms cut our lovely picnic short and forced us to jog back to the car to avoid the lightning. Overall, I really enjoyed this hike and will keep it in mind for future visitors when they want to hike something beautiful closer to home.