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Silver Dollar Lake Trail #79

Intermediate Intermediate
 4.6 (42)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Central Rockies
  4. Guanella Pass
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“A pleasant, quick hike through forest and alpine landscape featuring three lakes. ”

Chelsea Taylor
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Map Key

2.1

Miles

3.3

KM

Point to Point

12,189' 3,715 m

High

11,232' 3,423 m

Low

963' 294 m

Up

42' 13 m

Down

9%

Avg Grade (5°)

23%

Max Grade (13°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Lake · Spring · Views · Wildflowers

Family Friendly Fairly easy hike, short distance, and only mild-moderate incline in short distances.

Naylor Lake is private property. Bikes, mechanized vehicles, and hunting are not permitted. Contact the Clear Creek Ranger District for 4 day+ camping/backing regulations.

Description

There is a lower parking lot just off Guanella Pass Road. 4WD is recommended to make it the trailhead parking lot (I made it up fine in my Subaru Impreza). This is a very popular trail and an early start is recommended for parking convenience.

Half of the trail is above treeline; bring adequate clothing and plan for afternoon storms. The first 0.6 miles steadily climbs through a forest of fir trees and the occasional creek crossing that opens to an alpine valley for the next one mile before hitting Silver Dollar Lake.

The trail continues steeply uphill for about 0.5 miles to Murray Lake providing fantastic views of the surrounding peaks. You can continue another 0.25 miles around the south side of Murray to trek up the large rock for even better views. Snow is present year-round in sections.

Be prepared for a few alpine bog crossings, but most of the trail provides rocks to get through these sections. Both Silver Dollar and Murray provide excellent fishing and both lakes are primarily obstacle-free on the perimeter.

This trail is very dog friendly, so keep this in mind if you have a not so friendly dog.

Contacts

Land Manager: Clear Creek Land Conservancy

Shared By:

Chelsea Taylor
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.6 from 42 votes

#1

in Guanella Pass

#56

Overall
  4.6 from 42 votes
5 Star
67%
4 Star
29%
3 Star
5%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#1

in Guanella Pass

#15

in Colorado

#56

Overall
10 Views Last Month
12,898 Since Jul 13, 2017
Intermediate Intermediate
3%
18%
69%
3%
8%
0%
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Photos

Murray Lake
Jun 16, 2018 near Georgetown, CO
Wildflowers alongside the upper Square Top Lake
Apr 21, 2015 near Georgetown, CO
Silver Dollar Lake
Jun 16, 2018 near Georgetown, CO

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Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Aug 5, 2024
Sean H
Lovely, busy 4.3mi
Jul 14, 2024
Private User
Jul 7, 2024
Jacob Koenig
5.2mi
Jul 15, 2023
Michael Jon
Jul 15, 2023
Michael Lundquist
Aug 3, 2022
Gina G
Jul 23, 2022
David Kider
Lots of little parking nooks along dirt road to official trailhead. Road is in excellent condition, steep, but easily drivable by any car. 6mi — 4h 00m
Jul 14, 2022
Ari R.

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