AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Big Dry Creek Open Space

Bull Reservoir–Stratford Lake, 9 lakes

11 mi · ▲ 137 ft · 3 hr 44 min

Bull Reservoir–Stratford Lake, 9 lakes is an 11-mile out-and-back in Big Dry Creek Open Space near Eastlake, CO. The route passes Bull Reservoir, Bull Reservoir, Metzger Ponds and 3 more. It is mostly level, with 137 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi5,154 – 5,269 ft12.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Thorncreek Trail 39.93016, -104.98441
Nearest town Eastlake, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Bull Reservoir–Stratford Lake, 9 lakes

11 mi · ▲ 137 ft · 3 hr 44 min

Elevation 5,155–5,268 ft

Out & Back · Big Dry Creek Open Space

Trailhead: Thorncreek Trail · 39.93016, -104.98441

Weather Sep 6: Overcast, high 92°F / low 62° · precip 13% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:25 PM

Transit-accessible: stop 673 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Thorncreek Trail, heading N.
  2. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Big Dry Creek Trail, heading N.
  3. 1.2 miPass Bull Reservoir.
  4. 0.3 miPass Bull Reservoir.
  5. 200 ftContinue straight onto Big Dry Creek Trail Access, heading W.
  6. 100 ftTurn left, heading W.
  7. 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
  8. 300 ftBear right, heading SW.
  9. 250 ftBear right, heading SW.
  10. 150 ftBear left onto Home Farm Trail, heading S.
  11. 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
  12. 50 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  13. 0.1 miTurn left onto Big Dry Creek Trail, heading S.
  14. 0.4 miBear right, heading S.
  15. 0.7 miPass Metzger Ponds.
  16. 0.8 miBear left onto FRCC College Trails, heading SW.
  17. 0.1 miPass Stratford Lake.
  18. 0.2 miPass College Pond.
  19. 0.3 miBear right, heading W.
  20. 0.1 miPass Westfield Pond.
  21. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  22. 450 ftTurn right onto Sheridan Crossing Trail, heading W.
  23. 0.4 miReach Bull Reservoir, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  24. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NE.
  25. 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
  26. 0.3 miBear left onto FRCC College Trails, heading SW.
  27. 0.6 miBear right onto Big Dry Creek Trail, heading E.
  28. 1.9 miTurn right, heading NE.
  29. 0.1 miSharp right, heading NE.
  30. 50 ftSharp left onto Home Farm Trail, heading E.
  31. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  32. 150 ftBear left, heading E.
  33. 250 ftBear left, heading E.
  34. 300 ftTurn right, heading E.
  35. 450 ftTurn right onto Big Dry Creek Trail Access, heading NE.
  36. 100 ftContinue straight onto Big Dry Creek Trail, heading N.
  37. 1.4 miContinue straight onto Thorncreek Trail, heading E.
  38. 0.3 miArrive 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-stratford-lake-out-back-12-lakes-18-km

Trail surface

78% paved14% dirt1% gravel7% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 92°F62°
Precip13%Wind3 mphUV7Humidity53%
Hourly temperature
95°60°
Sunrise 6:33 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:25 PM
Mon 86°61° 25%
Tue 89°71° 20%
Wed 86°65°
Thu 91°68°
Fri 93°71°
Sat 91°51° 31%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.0 mi in (~1 min). Leave by 7:04 PM for the 7:25 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:41 PM — 12 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: stop 673 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Thorncreek Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Eastlake, Colorado