Square Top, Argentine, Wilcox via Square Top and Silver Dollar Lake Loop

Arapaho National Forest, CO Front Range

Trip stats

Distance
12.9 mi
Net Gain
4,600 ft
Time
6-8 hrs
YDS Rating
Class 2
Route
Loop
Peaks
3

Ratings out of 10

Effort
6.6/10
Personality
6/10
Beauty
7/10
Solitude
6.1/10
What do these mean? →

Peaks on this hike

Summits listed in route order

Ridgeline of the 3 summits in route order 01 02 03
  1. Square Top Mountain
    13,794′ elevation · 794′ prominence
  2. Argentine Peak
    13,738′ elevation · 618′ prominence
  3. Mount Wilcox
    13,408′ elevation · 528′ prominence

Route map + Trailhead

Trailhead Coordinates

39.597199, -105.712929

The directions link below drops a pin on the trailhead coordinates and lets Google Maps pick the route. If the drive has rough roads or access issues that GPS nav might get wrong, I cover that in my trip report.

Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)

Trip report

Aug 28, 2018 — This Square Top Mountain, Argentine Peak, Mt. Wilcox traverse includes two popular trails to form a really nice loop. Starting from the Square Top Trailhead, head up to Square Top Lakes. I went to the lakes themselves, but the better views of them are definitely from above, so when you hit a junction, take the trail to the left to head off the official trail and up toward Square Top Mountain. The whole way up, you get great views of Mt. Bierstadt to the east. From Square Top Mountain, locate the ridgeline leading over to Argentine Peak, and then farther over to Mt. Wilcox. Nothing exceeds easy Class 2 boulder hopping for the whole way, and it’s pretty clear where to go to gain Mt. Wilcox’s summit. From Argentine Peak’s summit, you can see Grays Peak and Torreys Peak in the distance.

From the summit of Mt. Wilcox, you might be tempted to continue along the ridgeline, but you’d enter private property along the way, and also miss the gorgeous Silver Dollar Lake Trail. So, head back to the saddle of Argentine and Wilcox and head into the draw below. Find a light social trail leading to Murray Lake and then pick up the popular Silver Dollar Lake Trail, also passing Naylor Lake on the way back down. You’ll get to the Silver Dollar Lake Trailhead, and have to head along a dirt road to the Guanella Pass Road, continuing back up to where you started.

You can knock an hour (800 gain, 3 miles) off this route if you have a shuttle to take you from the Silver Dollar Lake Trailhead back up to the Square Top Trailhead.

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Photos

49 photos

  1. Starting along the Square Top Lakes Trail.
  3. Looking back along the Square Top Lakes Trail, Mt. Bierstadt on the right.
  4. Square Top Lakes ahead, Square Top Mountain's false summit on the right.
  5. Quick detour to Square Top Lakes.
  6. Square Top Lakes, Square Top Mountain's false summit above.
  7. Headed up to Square Top Mountain, looking back toward Mt. Bierstadt.
  9. Square Top Lakes below.
  12. Close-up of Square Top Lakes.
  13. Square Top Mountain ahead.
  14. Ridge to the true peak.
  15. Square Top Mountain summit, looking back.
  16. Looking north, Argentine Peak on the left along the ridge, Mt. Wilcox on the right. You can see Murray Lake below Mt. Wilcox right center.
  17. Close-up of the ridgeline to Argentine Peak. Ruby Mountain and Grays Peak on the left behind it.
  18. Argentine Peak left, Mt. Wilcox right.
  19. Close-up of some mountain goats, Shelf Lake in the background, Decatur Peak above Shelf Lake.
  20. Almost to Argentine Peak's summit, looking back toward Square Top Mountain. Murray Lake and Silver Dollar Lake on the left below.
  21. Argentine Peak on the left, Mt. Wilcox on the right.
  22. Argentine Peak summit ahead.
  23. Argentine Peak summit, Grays and Torreys visible on the left.
  24. Looking back toward Square Top Mountain from Argentine Peak.
  25. Argentine Peak looking toward Mt. Wilcox.
  26. Headed along the ridge to Mt. Wilcox.
  28. Yum. Power lines.
  29. Almost at the summit of Mt. Wilcox, Argentine Peak on the right, Square Top Mountain on the left.
  30. Mt. Wilcox summit, looking northeast toward Mt. Bierstadt, Naylor Lake on the right.
  31. Headed down from Mt. Wilcox toward Murray Lake, Silver Dollar Lake on the left. That's Square Top Mountain ahead.
  33. Square Top Mountain above Murray Lake.
  34. Murray Lake, looking back toward Mt. Wilcox.
  35. Silver Dollar Lake on the right ahead, Naylor Lake behind on the left.
  36. Silver Dollar Lake.
  37. Silver Dollar Lake (right), Naylor Lake (left).
  38. Headed down toward Naylor Lake.
  39. Looking back toward Silver Dollar Lake, Square Top Mountain left, Argentine Peak right.
  40. Naylor Lake below the Silver Dollar Lake Trail.
  43. Looking across Naylor Lake toward Mt. Wilcox (right) and Argentine Peak (middle).
  45. Silver Dollar Lake Trail ends, so follow the dirt road to Guanella Pass Road.
  46. Take Guanella Pass Road back to the trailhead.
  49. Close-up of Mt. Bierstadt from Guanella Pass Road, near the trailhead.

Photo 1 of 1

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Hire or refer me as a web developer, or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I'm not sponsored, so it's funded by yours truly. It also takes a ton of work to edit photos and write these reports. I really appreciate it!

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