AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Brighton State Recreation Area

Bishop Lake–Reed Lake, 5 sights

5.4 mi · ▲ 107 ft · 1 hr 51 min

Bishop Lake–Reed Lake, 5 sights is a 5.4-mile out-and-back in Brighton State Recreation Area near Parishfield, MI. The route passes Reed Lake, Brighton State Recreation Area Beach, Bishop Lake and Brighton State Recreation Area Beach. It is mostly level, with 107 ft of elevation gain. It scores 52/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi873 – 932 ft6.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.51402, -83.81188
Nearest town Parishfield, MI
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Bishop Lake–Reed Lake, 5 sights

5.4 mi · ▲ 107 ft · 1 hr 51 min

Elevation 872–933 ft

Out & Back · Brighton State Recreation Area

Trailhead: 42.51402, -83.81188

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 150 ftTurn left onto Ralph's Ride, heading S.
  3. 400 ftTurn left onto Lost Loop, heading SE.
  4. 50 ftTurn right onto Ralph's Ride, heading SE.
  5. 50 ftBear left onto Lost Loop, heading SE.
  6. 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
  7. 50 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  8. 300 ftTurn left onto Murray Lake Trail, heading S.
  9. 0.6 miSharp right onto Racoon Swamp, heading S.
  10. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Murray Lake Trail, heading SE.
  11. 250 ftContinue straight onto Easy, heading SE.
  12. 150 ftContinue straight onto Murray Lake Trail, heading W.
  13. 0.5 miPass Reed Lake.
  14. 350 ftBear right, heading SW.
  15. 0.2 miPass Brighton State Recreation Area Beach.
  16. 50 ftBear left onto Murray Lake, heading W.
  17. 50 ftBear right onto Murray Lake Trail, heading W.
  18. 100 ftTurn right onto Torn Shirt & Murray Lake Trails, heading W.
  19. 150 ftTurn left onto Murray Lake Trail, heading W.
  20. 150 ftBear left onto Torn Shirt & Murray Lake Trails, heading W.
  21. 50 ftContinue straight onto Murray Lake Trail, heading W.
  22. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  23. 50 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading W.
  24. 350 ftBear left, heading W.
  25. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  26. 100 ftPass Bishop Lake.
  27. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  28. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  29. 150 ftPass Brighton State Recreation Area Beach.
  30. 150 ftBear left, heading SW.
  31. 300 ftSharp left onto Bishop Lake Hiking Trail, heading W.
  32. 0.4 miReach Bishop Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  33. 0.4 miSharp right, heading SW.
  34. 250 ftBear right, heading SW.
  35. 300 ftBear left, heading W.
  36. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  37. 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
  38. 150 ftBear right, heading N.
  39. 300 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading NE.
  40. 100 ftTurn left onto Murray Lake Trail, heading NE.
  41. 150 ftContinue straight onto Torn Shirt & Murray Lake Trails, heading NE.
  42. 50 ftBear right onto Murray Lake Trail, heading NE.
  43. 150 ftTurn right onto Torn Shirt & Murray Lake Trails, heading NE.
  44. 150 ftTurn left onto Murray Lake Trail, heading NE.
  45. 100 ftBear left onto Murray Lake, heading NE.
  46. 50 ftBear right onto Murray Lake Trail, heading N.
  47. 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
  48. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Easy, heading E.
  49. 100 ftContinue straight onto Murray Lake Trail, heading E.
  50. 250 ftContinue straight onto Racoon Swamp, heading E.
  51. 0.1 miSharp left onto Murray Lake Trail, heading NE.
  52. 0.6 miTurn right onto Lost Loop, heading E.
  53. 150 ftBear right, heading E.
  54. 150 ftSharp left, heading E.
  55. 0.2 miBear right onto Ralph's Ride, heading W.
  56. 50 ftTurn left onto Lost Loop, heading NW.
  57. 100 ftTurn right onto Ralph's Ride, heading NW.
  58. 400 ftTurn right, heading N.
  59. 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-reed-lake-out-back-7-lakes-9-km

Trail surface

78% other1% dirt21% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:23 AMSunset 7:34 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.9 mi in (~24 min). Leave by 6:51 PM for the 7:34 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:13 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Parishfield, Michigan