AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Lollipop Lake–Waterford watering hole, 3 lakes

4.7 mi · ▲ 81 ft · 1 hr 36 min

Lollipop Lake–Waterford watering hole, 3 lakes is a 4.7-mile out-and-back near Alamo Placita, CO. The route passes Waterford watering hole before reaching Lollipop Lake at the turnaround, 2.4 miles in. It is mostly level, with 81 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi5,282 – 5,368 ft6.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.71793, -104.96800
Nearest town Alamo Placita, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lollipop Lake–Waterford watering hole, 3 lakes

4.7 mi · ▲ 81 ft · 1 hr 36 min

Elevation 5,284–5,369 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 39.71793, -104.96800

Weather Sep 6: sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:25 PM

Transit-accessible: E 1st Ave & Gilpin St stop 87 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 300 ftTurn left, heading E.
  3. 50 ftSharp left onto Cherry Creek Trail, heading E.
  4. 50 ftSharp left, heading E.
  5. 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
  6. 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
  7. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  8. 250 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  9. 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
  10. 150 ftBear right, heading SE.
  11. 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
  12. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  13. 150 ftTurn right onto East Cherry Creek North Drive, heading NE.
  14. 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
  15. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  16. 300 ftBear right, heading E.
  17. 50 ftBear left onto Cherry Creek Trail, heading SE.
  18. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Colorado Front Range Trail, heading SE.
  19. 400 ftContinue straight onto Cherry Creek Trail, heading SE.
  20. 100 ftContinue straight onto Colorado Front Range Trail, heading SE.
  21. 250 ftContinue straight onto Cherry Creek Trail, heading SE.
  22. 250 ftContinue straight onto Colorado Front Range Trail, heading SE.
  23. 300 ftContinue straight onto Cherry Creek Trail, heading SE.
  24. 100 ftPass Waterford watering hole.
  25. 450 ftTurn left, heading E.
  26. 0.3 miBear left, heading SE.
  27. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  28. 0.2 miReach Lollipop Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  29. 0.2 miBear left, heading SE.
  30. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  31. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SE.
  32. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  33. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Colorado Front Range Trail, heading SE.
  34. 250 ftContinue straight onto Cherry Creek Trail, heading SE.
  35. 300 ftContinue straight onto Colorado Front Range Trail, heading SE.
  36. 250 ftContinue straight onto Cherry Creek Trail, heading SE.
  37. 100 ftContinue straight onto Colorado Front Range Trail, heading SE.
  38. 400 ftContinue straight onto Cherry Creek Trail, heading NW.
  39. 0.7 miBear right, heading NW.
  40. 50 ftBear left onto East Cherry Creek North Drive, heading W.
  41. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  42. 300 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  43. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  44. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  45. 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  46. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  47. 250 ftBear left, heading NW.
  48. 100 ftBear right onto Cherry Creek Trail, heading NW.
  49. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  50. 250 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  51. 50 ftSharp left, heading NW.
  52. 0.4 miSharp right, heading NW.
  53. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  54. 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/lollipop-lake-waterford-watering-hole-out-back-5-lakes

Trail surface

86% paved14% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:33 AMSunset 7:25 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.5 mi in (~38 min). Leave by 6:27 PM for the 7:25 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:17 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: E 1st Ave & Gilpin St stop 87 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Alamo Placita, Colorado