AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Big Dry Creek Open Space

Stratford lake & Metzger Ponds via Big Dry Creek Trail

4.9 mi · ▲ 87 ft · 1 hr 41 min

Stratford lake & Metzger Ponds via Big Dry Creek Trail is a 4.9-mile out-and-back in Big Dry Creek Open Space near Cozy Corner, CO. The route passes Metzger Ponds and Stratford Lake before reaching Stratford lake at the turnaround, 2.5 miles in. It is mostly level, with 87 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi5,194 – 5,279 ft5.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.92120, -105.00976
Nearest town Cozy Corner, CO
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Stratford lake & Metzger Ponds via Big Dry Creek Trail

4.9 mi · ▲ 87 ft · 1 hr 41 min

Elevation 5,192–5,278 ft

Out & Back · Big Dry Creek Open Space

Trailhead: 39.92120, -105.00976

Weather Sep 6: Overcast, high 91°F / low 61° · precip 13% · wind 12 mph · sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:27 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Home Farm Trail, heading NE.
  3. 0.1 miSharp right, heading SW.
  4. 50 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  5. 0.1 miTurn left onto Big Dry Creek Trail, heading W.
  6. 0.4 miBear right, heading S.
  7. 0.8 miPass Metzger Ponds.
  8. 0.8 miTurn left, heading SW.
  9. 0.1 miPass Stratford Lake.
  10. 200 ftReach Stratford lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 2.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  12. 0.1 miSharp right, heading NE.
  13. 50 ftSharp left onto Home Farm Trail, heading NE.
  14. 450 ftSharp right, heading NE.
  15. 0.1 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-stratford-lake-out-back-4-lakes-8-km-092e

Trail surface

72% paved19% dirt3% gravel6% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 91°F61°
Precip13%Wind12 mphUV7Humidity34%
Rained 0.1″ 7 days ago
Hourly temperature
95°60°
Sunrise 6:33 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:27 PM
Mon 86°62° 23%
Tue 88°71° 20%
Wed 86°65°
Thu 91°68°
Fri 93°70°
Sat 91°51° 31%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:07 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:27 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:54 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Cozy Corner, Colorado