AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Northwest Open Space

Croke Reservoir–Mushroom Pond, 3 lakes

13.4 mi · ▲ 337 ft · 4 hr 38 min

Croke Reservoir–Mushroom Pond, 3 lakes is a 13.4-mile out-and-back in Northwest Open Space near Semper, CO. The route passes Mushroom Pond before reaching Croke Reservoir at the turnaround, 6.7 miles in. It climbs 337 ft and is mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi5,279 – 5,496 ft14.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.85850, -105.05804
Nearest town Semper, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Croke Reservoir–Mushroom Pond, 3 lakes

13.4 mi · ▲ 337 ft · 4 hr 38 min

Elevation 5,278–5,497 ft

Out & Back · Northwest Open Space

Trailhead: 39.85850, -105.05804

Weather Sep 6: sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:25 PM

Transit-accessible: W 88th Ave & Benton St stop 252 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 400 ftTurn left onto US 36 Bikeway, heading N.
  3. 1.8 miTurn right onto Big Dry Creek Trail, heading NW.
  4. 0.4 miBear right, heading E.
  5. 0.2 miTurn right onto Hyland Creek Trail, heading N.
  6. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  7. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  8. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  9. 1.5 miTurn right onto Cotton Creek Trail, heading NE.
  10. 400 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  11. 50 ftSharp left, heading E.
  12. 350 ftBear right, heading NE.
  13. 0.6 miPass Mushroom Pond.
  14. 450 ftBear left, heading E.
  15. 0.1 miTurn left onto Farmers High Line Canal Trail, heading E.
  16. 0.7 miBear left, heading E.
  17. 200 ftBear right, heading E.
  18. 0.7 miTurn right, heading NE.
  19. 0.2 miPass Croke Reservoir.
  20. 0.2 miReach Croke Reservoir, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  21. 0.9 miTurn right, heading NW.
  22. 0.2 miBear left, heading W.
  23. 0.7 miTurn right, heading W.
  24. 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
  25. 0.7 miBear left, heading NW.
  26. 350 ftSharp right, heading NW.
  27. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  28. 350 ftContinue straight onto Cotton Creek Trail, heading NW.
  29. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  30. 400 ftContinue straight onto Farmers High Line Canal Trail, heading W.
  31. 1.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  32. 50 ftTurn right onto Hyland Creek Trail, heading W.
  33. 0.2 miTurn left onto Big Dry Creek Trail, heading W.
  34. 0.6 miTurn left onto US 36 Bikeway, heading W.
  35. 1.8 miTurn right, heading SE.
  36. 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/croke-reservoir-mushroom-pond-out-back-5-lakes-22-km

Trail surface

97% paved2% dirt1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:34 AMSunset 7:25 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.8 mi in (~147 min). Leave by 4:38 PM for the 7:25 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:09 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: W 88th Ave & Benton St stop 252 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Semper, Colorado