Stratford lake & Metzger Ponds via Big Dry Creek Trail
4.9 mi · ▲ 110 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, 2.4 miles in. It is mostly level, with 110 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Stratford lake & Metzger Ponds via Big Dry Creek Trail
4.9 mi · ▲ 110 ft · 1 hr 41 min
Elevation 5,190–5,299 ft
Out & Back · Big Dry Creek Open Space
Trailhead: 39.92778, -105.00901
Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 93°F / low 63° · precip 5% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:27 PM
Transit-accessible: stop 613 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 300 ftBear right, heading S.
- 250 ftBear right, heading S.
- 150 ftBear left onto Home Farm Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Big Dry Creek Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading SW.
- 0.8 miPass Metzger Ponds.
- 0.8 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miPass Stratford Lake.
- 200 ftSharp right, heading W.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 350 ftReach Stratford lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 250 ftSharp left, heading S.
- 2.1 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.1 miSharp right, heading E.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Home Farm Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 150 ftBear left, heading N.
- 250 ftBear left, heading N.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.3 mi in (~8 min). Leave by 6:59 PM for the 7:27 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:49 PM — 5 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: stop 613 m from the trailhead
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- College Pond & Metzger Ponds via Big Dry Creek Trail 5 mi · ▲ 53 ft
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