AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Big Dry Creek Open Space

College Pond & Metzger Ponds via Big Dry Creek Trail

5 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 1 hr 42 min

College Pond & Metzger Ponds via Big Dry Creek Trail is a 5-mile out-and-back in Big Dry Creek Open Space near Cozy Corner, CO. The route passes Metzger Ponds before reaching College Pond at the turnaround, 2.5 miles in. It is mostly level, with 53 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi5,191 – 5,246 ft5.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.92778, -105.00901
Nearest town Cozy Corner, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

College Pond & Metzger Ponds via Big Dry Creek Trail

5 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 1 hr 42 min

Elevation 5,190–5,247 ft

Out & Back · Big Dry Creek Open Space

Trailhead: 39.92778, -105.00901

Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:29 PM

Transit-accessible: stop 613 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 200 ftTurn left, heading S.
  3. 300 ftBear right, heading S.
  4. 250 ftBear right, heading S.
  5. 150 ftBear left onto Home Farm Trail, heading S.
  6. 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
  7. 50 ftSharp left, heading S.
  8. 0.1 miTurn left onto Big Dry Creek Trail, heading S.
  9. 0.4 miBear right, heading SW.
  10. 0.8 miPass Metzger Ponds.
  11. 0.9 miBear left, heading SW.
  12. 0.2 miReach College Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  13. 2.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  14. 0.1 miSharp right, heading E.
  15. 50 ftSharp left onto Home Farm Trail, heading E.
  16. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  17. 150 ftBear left, heading N.
  18. 250 ftBear left, heading N.
  19. 350 ftTurn right, heading E.
  20. 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/college-pond-college-pond-out-back-3-lakes-8-km-acf5

Trail surface

74% paved15% dirt2% gravel9% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:32 AMSunset 7:29 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.3 mi in (~8 min). Leave by 7:01 PM for the 7:29 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:51 PM — 5 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: stop 613 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Cozy Corner, Colorado