AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Big Dry Creek Open Space

Stratford Lake–College Pond, 6 lakes

7.7 mi · ▲ 137 ft · 2 hr 38 min

Stratford Lake–College Pond, 6 lakes is a 7.7-mile out-and-back in Big Dry Creek Open Space near Cozy Corner, CO. The route passes Metzger Ponds, Stratford Lake, College Pond and Westfield Pond. 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 mi5,194 – 5,289 ft8.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Home Farm Trail 39.92312, -104.99703
Nearest town Cozy Corner, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Stratford Lake–College Pond, 6 lakes

7.7 mi · ▲ 137 ft · 2 hr 38 min

Elevation 5,192–5,290 ft

Out & Back · Big Dry Creek Open Space

Trailhead: Home Farm Trail · 39.92312, -104.99703

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:28 PM

Transit-accessible: 120th Ave / Sheridan Blvd (EB) stop 757 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Home Farm Trail, heading W.
  2. 0.7 miSharp right, heading SW.
  3. 50 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  4. 0.1 miTurn left onto Big Dry Creek Trail, heading W.
  5. 0.4 miBear right, heading S.
  6. 0.8 miPass Metzger Ponds.
  7. 0.8 miBear left onto FRCC College Trails, heading SW.
  8. 0.2 miPass Stratford Lake.
  9. 0.2 miPass College Pond.
  10. 0.3 miBear right, heading W.
  11. 0.1 miPass Westfield Pond.
  12. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  13. 450 ftTurn right onto Sheridan Crossing Trail, heading W.
  14. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  15. 0.1 miReach Stratford Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  16. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
  17. 450 ftTurn left, heading E.
  18. 0.3 miBear left onto FRCC College Trails, heading E.
  19. 0.6 miBear right onto Big Dry Creek Trail, heading NE.
  20. 1.9 miTurn right, heading E.
  21. 0.1 miSharp right, heading N.
  22. 50 ftSharp left onto Home Farm Trail, heading N.
  23. 0.6 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/stratford-lake-college-pond-out-back-8-lakes-13-km

Trail surface

67% paved20% dirt4% gravel9% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:32 AMSunset 7:28 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~10 min). Leave by 6:58 PM for the 7:28 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:54 PM — 2 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: 120th Ave / Sheridan Blvd (EB) stop 757 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Home Farm Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Cozy Corner, Colorado