Route: East ridge
Posted On: 2019-02-04, By: Giant hills
Info: From parking area to summer trailhead the road is packed and no need for snow shoes. From summer trailhead to gain the east ridge we used snow shoes. After gaining the ridge we ditched them and were no longer needed. The ridge was blown dry except for the occasional snow patch and the upper ridge on the summit plateau. Instead of taking the upper steepest part of the ridge we opted for the east slope snow field that is to the left of the ridge. My buddy stayed more center of the field and I stayed more right. We both found great winter snow in both areas of the slope. Used crampons and axes for that portion. We had friends that took the ridge and they didn't use traction. Took the full east ridge on descent and we did use traction either. There's one little "scrambly" section but nothing to really write home about. fun and straight forward. Also super windy. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 2018-11-21, By: crowdsurf
Info: Mostly consolidated snow that is great for glissading. Brought snowshoes but never used them. Minimal and acceptable amounts of postholing. Traction, gaiters and poles are probably necessary if you intend to summit. Be careful finding the trail on the way back from the lakes. There are multiple tracks and I chose poorly and ended up wallowing the the famous Guanella pass willows. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 2018-10-20, By: dwoodward13
Info: Really good trail in to the lower lake. Not quite as good to the second lake, but I passed quite a few people on the way down so it may be better after today. From the turnoff, varying mix of up to 6 inches of snow and bare ground. Easy to pick a line that leans more toward staying on bare ground. Some other avoidable and obvious spots with larger 1 ft+ drifts. I brought spikes but felt no need to take them out. There are a few very small places where you might punch thru a bit, but they are so small no need to lug up flotation...at least until the next storm hits! 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 2018-10-07, By: wondering_hough
Info: We hiked in an eerie cold mist/clouds for 90% of the hike today. Weather was as forecasted and the conditions we about an inch to three inches of snow above 12k. Winds were 15mph sustained and gusts of 30+ around the summit. The trail was easily found but disappeared up high as the snow fell today. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 2018-09-03, By: supranihilest
Info: We took the east ridge accidentally, guessing it would be better by looking at a topo map. It's not terrible, but going off trail will probably require a bushwhack through willows unless you find the correct turn off. The ridge itself is mellow for a long ways, and it's obvious where it starts to steepen. However, it looks worse from afar than it actually climbs. Ascend steep talus and tundra up the ridge; you can basically take it direct, including through the rock bands near the top. They go at Class 2+ at worst. That or you can skirt them to climber's left. From there it's easy to the summit. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 2018-09-02, By: Cimadude
Info: Great day for a climb. A little chilly up top - definitely needed my gloves and beanie but a welcome change from the heat. There is a good trail on the north side of the large east slope leading up to the first false summit then the trail is not constant after that to the real summit. Fun to walk around the summit plateau and check out the views in all directions. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 2018-08-20, By: cdgibbons
Info: I found this to be a wonderful hike- front range class 1 with nice views and relative solitude. I was able to follow a strong climber's trail almost the whole way after the route leaves the Lakes trail. This weekend's cold front brought colder, windy conditions and early-morning fresh snow above 13,000 feet. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 2018-07-11, By: sdicenso
Info: The trail is in good shape. Muddy through the willows. After the last sign, just aim towards the summit. There are some cairns and bits of social trails along the way. Pretty steep at this point. I turned around at the last false summit due to dark clouds building. Lots of wildflowers in bloom. More people on the trail than what I expected. Not a lot turned around at the threat of storms, which I warned many about, so luckily the clouds moved off and no lightning strikes. 

Route: From Naylor lake
Posted On: 2018-06-30, By: Ptglhs
Info: Still a fair bit of consolidated snow in the couloir that starts ~11.7. It was hard and slick at 7am so we stuck to the rocks on the east and then up the grassy slope. It was steep but dry and manageable. The route from the top of the ridge to the summit block was class 2 talus but stable. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 2018-06-10, By: LetsGoMets
Info: Summer conditions, enjoy. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 2018-06-04, By: dmtree
Info: Summer conditions except some easily avoidable snow and some mud on the Square Top Lakes trail. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 2018-05-28, By: E_A_Marcus_949
Info: Almost summer conditions - a few snowfields to cross but nothing substantial. Early in the morning, easy to cross; as the day warms up you may have a few surprise postholing incidents interspersed with just walking over the snow. A few false summits - was windy and chilly on the large summit but clear and warm on the way down. Fitbit clocked this route around 8mi, so I'd call it somewhere between 6.5-8mi RT. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 2018-04-25, By: swetnesss
Info: Skinned up SE ridge to false summit and walked the rest b/c of rocks. Skied the east slope all the way back to the winter TH closure. Only had to cross two bare spots in the flats. About 2 inches of fresh snow on guanella pass but a lot more in Georgetown. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 2017-07-16, By: koeffling
Info: Summer conditions. One small avoidable patch of snow. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 2017-06-25, By: Jon1702
Info: Beautiful, clear day on Square Top today. There's still some snow, but it's really just two snowfields on the first two miles leading up to the mountain. Had no issue crossing them (no flotation or traction needed). Creeks are filling up due to the snowmelt-- I recommend waterproof shoes. The big creek about 1.5 miles in was roaring-- had to find a place upstream to jump over it. Pretty steep terrain once you start going up the mountain, with no clearly defined trail. Trekking poles helped a lot coming down. Two false summits before you walk over the ridge to the real one. 

Route: from Silver Dollar Lake trail
Posted On: 2017-06-17, By: cougar
Info: mostly dry route with a few firm snowdrifts on trail in the morning. Ascended a snow free line to the northeast ridge. Snowfield below the summit, but it was low angle and full of runnels/steps. Didn't need traction or any other gear. Road to Silver Dollar Lake TH is passable with medium clearance. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 2017-06-06, By: 13erRetriever
Info: Road is open and clear to the TH. Only a handful of other hikers/skiers on a beautiful bluebird day. About 40% very patchy snow coverage all the way to the top. No flotation needed and we brought spikes but did not use them, however gaiters were very useful and we did posthole in several places. Pictures attached. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 2017-05-15, By: goldenite
Info: Hiked Square Top from Guanella's winter closer. Lots of snow on the road, but heard they are starting to clear it Monday to open for Memorial Day. Snow on probably half of the route--had a good crust in the morning, but I was already potholing some by 6:30a down lower. Used microspikes in the beginning, but dropped them after getting on the ridge since it turned to snow/rock/snow/rock. Post hole hell on the way out. Snow shoes would have helped in the morning, but nothing's gonna save you once the sun does its thing. A few flowers were starting to pop up though. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 2017-05-07, By: BKS
Info: gate is still up at winter closure. road is not plowed. snow is thin above trailhead. several unavoidable dry patches are present on most any route. summit ridge is mostly bare. still we managed to put together a mostly continuous ski line. snow corned up slightly around noon for a pretty good decent on a peak without the usual amount of beta. Bierstadt is very, thin. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 2016-10-22, By: RyGuy
Info: SquareTop is in great shape. Minimal snow from the Guanella TH to the summit. 100% avoidable, and if you don't want to avoid it, it's only a few inches of powder in most spots. Heading over to Argentine Peak had a bit more snow, but mostly avoidable.