Stratford lake & Metzger Ponds via Big Dry Creek Trail
5 mi · ▲ 87 ft · 1 hr 43 min
Stratford lake & Metzger Ponds via Big Dry Creek Trail is a 5-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
Getting there
Directions
Stratford lake & Metzger Ponds via Big Dry Creek Trail
5 mi · ▲ 87 ft · 1 hr 43 min
Elevation 5,192–5,281 ft
Out & Back · Big Dry Creek Open Space
Trailhead: 39.92120, -105.00976
Weather Sep 6: sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:25 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Home Farm Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miSharp right, heading SW.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Big Dry Creek Trail, heading W.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.8 miPass Metzger Ponds.
- 0.8 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miPass Stratford Lake.
- 200 ftSharp right, heading SW.
- 250 ftReach Stratford lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 250 ftSharp left, heading S.
- 2.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.1 miSharp right, heading N.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Home Farm Trail, heading N.
- 450 ftSharp right, heading E.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:05 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:25 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:53 PM.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Willow Run Pond via Big Dry Creek Trail 2.1 mi · ▲ 54 ft
- Stratford lake & Metzger Ponds via Big Dry Creek Trail 4.9 mi · ▲ 87 ft
- McKay Lake–Bull Reservoir, 3 lakes 7.6 mi · ▲ 165 ft
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Hikes near Cozy Corner, Colorado