AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Varsity Lake–The Honey Hole, 4 sights

5.3 mi · ▲ 173 ft · 1 hr 51 min

Varsity Lake–The Honey Hole, 4 sights is a 5.3-mile out-and-back near Ara, CO. The route passes The Honey Hole before reaching Varsity Lake at the turnaround, 2.4 miles in. It is mostly level, with 173 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi5,236 – 5,417 ft7.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.02333, -105.25343
Nearest town Ara, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Varsity Lake–The Honey Hole, 4 sights

5.3 mi · ▲ 173 ft · 1 hr 51 min

Elevation 5,237–5,418 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 40.02333, -105.25343

Weather Sep 6: sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:26 PM

Transit-accessible: Boulder Junction at Depot Square Station Gate S2 stop 46 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 250 ftTurn left, heading E.
  3. 0.1 miSharp right onto Pearl Parkway Multi-Use Path, heading E.
  4. 0.3 miSharp right onto Foothills Parkway Multi-Use Path, heading E.
  5. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Boulder Creek Trail and Foothills Multi-Use Path, heading SE.
  6. 150 ftTurn right onto Boulder Creek Path, heading SE.
  7. 300 ftPass The Honey Hole.
  8. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  9. 50 ftTurn right onto Boulder Creek Arapahoe Connection, heading SW.
  10. 150 ftSharp left onto Skunk Creek Greenway, heading SW.
  11. 50 ftTurn right onto Boulder Creek Path, heading SW.
  12. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  13. 100 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  14. 0.3 miBear right onto Scott Carpenter Path, heading W.
  15. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  16. 50 ftTurn right onto Boulder Creek Path, heading W.
  17. 0.5 miSharp left onto 22nd Street Pedestrian Bridge, heading W.
  18. 200 ftSharp right, heading W.
  19. 200 ftContinue straight onto Stadium Drive, heading W.
  20. 250 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  21. 250 ftPass Varsity Lake.
  22. 200 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  23. 150 ftBear right, heading SW.
  24. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  25. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  26. 100 ftSharp left, heading W.
  27. 300 ftTurn left, heading W.
  28. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  29. 100 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  30. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  31. 200 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  32. 50 ftBear left onto Varsity Bridge, heading SW.
  33. 0.1 miSharp left, heading SE.
  34. 150 ftBear left onto Broadway Path, heading SE.
  35. 50 ftReach Varsity Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  36. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  37. 150 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  38. 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
  39. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  40. 200 ftTurn left, heading W.
  41. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  42. 100 ftTurn left, heading W.
  43. 150 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  44. 300 ftSharp right, heading NW.
  45. 100 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  46. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  47. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  48. 150 ftTurn right onto Stadium Drive, heading NW.
  49. 0.2 miSharp left onto 22nd Street Pedestrian Bridge, heading S.
  50. 200 ftSharp right onto Boulder Creek Path, heading SW.
  51. 0.5 miTurn left, heading E.
  52. 50 ftTurn right onto Scott Carpenter Path, heading E.
  53. 150 ftBear left onto Boulder Creek Path, heading N.
  54. 0.3 miBear right, heading E.
  55. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  56. 0.2 miTurn left onto Skunk Creek Greenway, heading NW.
  57. 50 ftSharp right onto Boulder Creek Arapahoe Connection, heading NW.
  58. 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  59. 50 ftTurn right onto Boulder Creek Path, heading NW.
  60. 450 ftBear left, heading E.
  61. 0.1 miTurn left onto Boulder Creek Trail and Foothills Multi-Use Path, heading E.
  62. 150 ftContinue straight onto Foothills Parkway Multi-Use Path, heading E.
  63. 0.4 miSharp left onto Pearl Parkway Multi-Use Path, heading E.
  64. 0.3 miSharp left, heading E.
  65. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
  66. 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/varsity-lake-varsity-lake-out-back-7-lakes

Trail surface

82% paved3% dirt15% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:34 AMSunset 7:26 PM

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Boulder Junction at Depot Square Station Gate S2 stop 46 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Ara, Colorado