AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Big Dry Creek Open Space

Bull Reservoir–Koleski Reservoir Number 1, 3 lakes

9.6 mi · ▲ 201 ft · 3 hr 18 min

Bull Reservoir–Koleski Reservoir Number 1, 3 lakes is a 9.6-mile out-and-back in Big Dry Creek Open Space near Brandywine, CO. The route passes Metzger Ponds, Bull Reservoir and Bull Reservoir before reaching Koleski Reservoir Number 1 at the turnaround, 4.7 miles in. It is mostly level, with 201 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi5,161 – 5,305 ft11.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.91319, -105.04907
Nearest town Brandywine, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Bull Reservoir–Koleski Reservoir Number 1, 3 lakes

9.6 mi · ▲ 201 ft · 3 hr 18 min

Elevation 5,162–5,304 ft

Out & Back · Big Dry Creek Open Space

Trailhead: 39.91319, -105.04907

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 95°F / low 60° · precip 8% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:29 PM

Transit-accessible: 120th Ave / Vrain St (W) stop 228 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 150 ftBear right, heading E.
  3. 250 ftTurn left, heading E.
  4. 100 ftTurn right, heading E.
  5. 0.6 miTurn right, heading E.
  6. 0.3 miPass Metzger Ponds.
  7. 200 ftTurn left onto Big Dry Creek Trail, heading E.
  8. 1.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
  9. 0.1 miSharp right, heading E.
  10. 50 ftSharp left onto Home Farm Trail, heading NE.
  11. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  12. 150 ftBear left, heading NE.
  13. 250 ftBear left, heading E.
  14. 300 ftTurn right, heading E.
  15. 50 ftPass Bull Reservoir.
  16. 400 ftTurn right onto Big Dry Creek Trail Access, heading NE.
  17. 100 ftContinue straight onto Big Dry Creek Trail, heading NE.
  18. 0.2 miPass Bull Reservoir.
  19. 1.1 miTurn right onto I-25 Trail, heading E.
  20. 0.8 miBear left, heading S.
  21. 50 ftPass Koleski Reservoir Number 1.
  22. 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
  23. 200 ftBear right, heading S.
  24. 150 ftBear right, heading S.
  25. 200 ftReach Bull Reservoir, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  26. 200 ftBear left, heading SW.
  27. 150 ftBear left, heading S.
  28. 250 ftBear right, heading S.
  29. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  30. 0.8 miTurn left onto Big Dry Creek Trail, heading N.
  31. 1.2 miContinue straight onto Big Dry Creek Trail Access, heading SW.
  32. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  33. 450 ftTurn left, heading W.
  34. 350 ftBear right, heading W.
  35. 250 ftBear right, heading SW.
  36. 150 ftBear left onto Home Farm Trail, heading SW.
  37. 50 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  38. 50 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  39. 0.1 miTurn left onto Big Dry Creek Trail, heading SW.
  40. 0.4 miBear right, heading S.
  41. 0.8 miTurn right, heading SW.
  42. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
  43. 0.6 miTurn left, heading W.
  44. 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
  45. 250 ftBear left, heading W.
  46. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/bull-reservoir-koleski-reservoir-number-1-out-back-5-lakes-16-km-06cc

Trail surface

83% paved3% dirt3% gravel11% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 95°F60°
Feels like84°Precip8%Wind8 mphUV7Humidity17%
Rained 0.1″ 5 days ago
Hourly temperature
95°60°
Sunrise 6:32 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:29 PM
Sat 93°65°
Sun 93°62° 20%
Mon 91°75° 36%
Tue 88°70° 22%
Wed 88°67° 23%
Thu 93°68° 23%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.4 mi in (~106 min). Leave by 5:22 PM for the 7:29 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:33 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: 120th Ave / Vrain St (W) stop 228 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Brandywine, Colorado