Silver Dollar Lake and Murray Lake: A great family-friendly hike in Colorado

There are so many hiking options in Colorado that it is understandably overwhelming to pick a trail. And I’ll be honest, this isn’t the most amazing hike ever, the Silver Dollar Lake trail is pretty dang pretty and won’t take up too much of your day.

So, if you’re looking for a good bang for your buck hike, without having to spend too long driving or hiking, I’d recommend this. Then, once you’re done hiking, you can come down and enjoy historic Georgetown before coming back to Denver.

Inside, you’ll get my guide, photos, and more things to know about the Silver Dollar Lake and Murray Lake hike!

Hiking Guide for Silver Dollar Lake Trail near Guanella Pass

Trail Report for Silver Dollar Lake Trail

I unfortunately had been battling a sore hip/groin ever since hiking the Fjallraven Annual Classic in late July. So we wanted an easier and shorter hike as a re-warm-up. After looking at the Silver Dollar Lake hike, this looked like a perfect trail to get fresh air and sun.

The drive up I-70, through Georgetown, and towards Guanella Pass was super easy. Once we took the switchbacks above Georgetown, the views were stunning. In all, it took us 90 minutes from East Denver. (The way back… not so much… but that’s not what we’re here for.)

A few moments after we started the hike, we both looked at each other, a bit out of breath. I quickly checked my Garmin Fenix watch and saw that the elevation was 11,200 feet. This is the highest trailhead I’ve started at… maybe ever. And it was the highest Jaimie had been since we backpacked Ice Lake Basin in 2020.

We took the first 15 minutes slowly, letting our bodies warm up.

After 10 minutes of hiking, we emerged from the trees and had views of the mountains around us. We could also see our final destination, 1.5 miles in the distance. While the first section felt hard due to a lack of oxygen, it wasn’t too bad. The trail rises up at a steady grade as you head towards Silver Dollar Lake. If this is your endpoint, it’s time to relax.

This is the more picturesque of the two lakes. The green/blue hue was really nice.

But if you’re looking to reach Murray Lake, you have a steep uphill climb for half a mile. I’d recommend hiking up as you’ll gain better views of the surrounding peaks, such as Mount Biersdat and Mount Spalding.

Once we crested the top of the ride and headed down to Murray Lake, the wind picked up. We attempted to walk counter-clockwise around the lake to ditch the wind, but that didn’t work. Eventually, we sat down and enjoyed lunch alongside the lake.

The way down was uneventful, giving us nice views of the faraway peaks to the east. Overall, it was a lovely day to explore the Silver Dollar Lake trail and see new sights!

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Things to keep in mind about the Silver Dollar and Murray Lake Hike

Almost entirely above the treeline

There’s hardly any tree or sun protection while hiking on the Silver Dollar Lake trail. This matters for two reasons.

First, the sun part. There’s hardly any shade on this hike. You’ll want to wear sunblock and a hat at a minimum, and a sunshirt and pants to keep the sun off of you. We wore sunblock (didn’t reapply) and found that we got a bit red even though we were only out for three hours. Being so high up really makes the sun strong.

Then, the second thing to be concerned about is that there is no tree protection in case a storm rolls through. We thankfully had no issues. But it is something to keep in mind for afternoon hikes. Luckily, power lines are running through the area, which would be a much more likely target for lightning strikes.

Starting elevation of 11,200

This is a pretty high-elevation trailhead. And with that, you’ll immediately feel the lower oxygen levels as you start hiking. We were pretty winded for the first 15 minutes of the hike. Make sure you’re drinking plenty of water as you hike, and also try to drink at least a liter on the drive up so you start hydrated.

Plenty of water to filter

With two lakes on the hike, there are plenty of places to filter water if you really need to. That said, it’s a two-mile hike each way, so even if you do run out of water, you’ll be back to the car in short order.

Take the dirt road to Silver Dollar Lake Trailhead slowly

It’s a narrow dirt road going up to the trailhead parking lot. Thankfully, it’s short, so there shouldn’t be TOO much congestion. We had a few passes where we didn’t have any issues, but if it happens in the wrong place, some maneuvering will have to happen.

Low clearance cars are fine.

The dirt road to the Silver Dollar Lake hike is manageable and in good shape. Any car should be able to make it there without issue. The only thing to be slightly aware of is that there are a few steep sections. Nothing terrible, though.

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What to wear and pack on your hike in the Colorado Rockies

• Wide-brimmed hat
• Sunglasses
• Sun shirt or sun hoodie
• Hiking Shoes or Trail Runners
• Hiking Shorts or Hiking Pants
• 25L+ Hiking Pack
• 2L hiking bladder or water bottles
• Garmin inReach 2
• Garmin Fenix hiking watch
• Light jacket for mornings
• Hiking Poles

More Photos from the Silver Dollar Lake and Murray Lake hike

Places to eat/drink after the Silver Dollar Lake and Murray Lake hike

After the hike, we headed down to Cabin Brewing for smashburgers and a flight of beers. It’s one of two breweries around Georgetown, but it was the only one open that Sunday afternoon.

I enjoyed the vibes of the place, and the food and beer were pretty good. A few of their kegs had been tapped, but that’s life on a Sunday. We got the smashburgers and tater tots – a perfect post-hike treat.

For those curious, our meals and drinks cost $90 after a tip. I honestly think that’s a bit steep for what we got. But that’s life these days.

Final Thoughts on the Silver Dollar Lake Trail

For a shorter hike, I highly recommend the Silver Dollar Lake trail. The multi-tiered lakes are fantastic, and the hike is mild enough to be good for all families. I think you’ll love your trip into the Arapaho National Forest, and if you’re feeling bold enough, you might even take a dip in the snowmelt lake!

Until next time, adventurers, stay safe.

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