AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Brighton State Recreation Area

Bishop Lake–Brighton State Recreation Area Beach, 4 sights

5.6 mi · ▲ 313 ft · 2 hr 1 min

Bishop Lake–Brighton State Recreation Area Beach, 4 sights is a 5.6-mile out-and-back in Brighton State Recreation Area near Parishfield, MI. The route passes Bishop Lake and Brighton State Recreation Area Beach. It climbs 313 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade. It scores 56/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi886 – 1,043 ft · steepest grade: 19%6.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.50124, -83.83544
Nearest town Parishfield, MI
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Bishop Lake–Brighton State Recreation Area Beach, 4 sights

5.6 mi · ▲ 313 ft · 2 hr 1 min

Elevation 885–1,045 ft

Out & Back · Brighton State Recreation Area

Trailhead: 42.50124, -83.83544

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 7:23 AM · sunset 7:34 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 50 ftPass Bishop Lake.
  3. 50 ftPass Brighton State Recreation Area Beach.
  4. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  5. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  6. 150 ftBear right, heading SE.
  7. 250 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading E.
  8. 150 ftContinue straight onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading NE.
  9. 50 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading E.
  10. 250 ftTurn left onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading E.
  11. 50 ftTurn right onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading E.
  12. 0.4 miBear left onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading SE.
  13. 350 ftBear left onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading E.
  14. 50 ftContinue straight onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading E.
  15. 50 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading E.
  16. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading SE.
  17. 350 ftTurn left onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading SE.
  18. 50 ftTurn left onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading SE.
  19. 450 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading E.
  20. 1.6 miReach Bishop Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  21. 1.6 miContinue straight onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading N.
  22. 450 ftTurn right onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading N.
  23. 50 ftTurn right onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading N.
  24. 300 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading N.
  25. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading W.
  26. 50 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading W.
  27. 50 ftBear right onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading W.
  28. 350 ftBear right onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading SW.
  29. 0.4 miTurn left onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading NW.
  30. 50 ftTurn right onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading NW.
  31. 250 ftContinue straight onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading NW.
  32. 100 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading NW.
  33. 350 ftBear left, heading W.
  34. 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  35. 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  36. 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/bishop-lake-brighton-state-recreation-area-beach-out-back-5-beaches

Trail surface

99% other1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:23 AMSunset 7:34 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.7 mi in (~74 min). Leave by 6:01 PM for the 7:34 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:00 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Parishfield, Michigan