AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Brighton State Recreation Area

Bishop Lake–Reed Lake, 6 sights

3.2 mi · ▲ 28 ft · 1 hr 5 min

Bishop Lake–Reed Lake, 6 sights is a 3.2-mile out-and-back in Brighton State Recreation Area near Parishfield, MI. The route passes Reed Lake, Brighton State Recreation Area Beach, Mountain Bike Skills Area and Bishop Lake before reaching Brighton State Recreation Area Beach at the turnaround, 1.6 miles in. It is mostly level, with 28 ft of elevation gain. It scores 55/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi883 – 932 ft4.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.50206, -83.80954
Nearest town Parishfield, MI
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Bishop Lake–Reed Lake, 6 sights

3.2 mi · ▲ 28 ft · 1 hr 5 min

Elevation 882–932 ft

Out & Back · Brighton State Recreation Area

Trailhead: 42.50206, -83.80954

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:21 AM · sunset 7:38 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 150 ftContinue straight onto Murray Lake Trail, heading NW.
  3. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Easy, heading W.
  4. 100 ftContinue straight onto Murray Lake Trail, heading W.
  5. 0.5 miPass Reed Lake.
  6. 300 ftBear right, heading W.
  7. 0.2 miBear left onto Murray Lake, heading W.
  8. 50 ftPass Brighton State Recreation Area Beach.
  9. 50 ftBear right onto Murray Lake Trail, heading W.
  10. 100 ftTurn right onto Torn Shirt & Murray Lake Trails, heading NW.
  11. 150 ftTurn left onto Murray Lake Trail, heading W.
  12. 150 ftBear left onto Torn Shirt & Murray Lake Trails, heading W.
  13. 50 ftContinue straight onto Murray Lake Trail, heading W.
  14. 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
  15. 100 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading SW.
  16. 350 ftTurn right onto Appleton Lake Loop, heading SW.
  17. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  18. 100 ftPass Mountain Bike Skills Area.
  19. 50 ftPass Brighton State Recreation Area Beach.
  20. 100 ftBear right, heading N.
  21. 50 ftSharp left onto Skinny, heading N.
  22. 150 ftReach Bishop Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  23. 150 ftSharp right, heading NE.
  24. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  25. 200 ftTurn right onto Appleton Lake Loop, heading NW.
  26. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
  27. 250 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading SE.
  28. 150 ftTurn left onto Murray Lake Trail, heading SE.
  29. 100 ftContinue straight onto Torn Shirt & Murray Lake Trails, heading W.
  30. 50 ftBear right onto Murray Lake Trail, heading NW.
  31. 150 ftTurn right onto Torn Shirt & Murray Lake Trails, heading NW.
  32. 150 ftTurn left onto Murray Lake Trail, heading NW.
  33. 100 ftBear left onto Murray Lake, heading NW.
  34. 50 ftBear right onto Murray Lake Trail, heading NW.
  35. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  36. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Easy, heading E.
  37. 100 ftContinue straight onto Murray Lake Trail, heading E.
  38. 0.2 miArrive 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-8-lakes-5-km

Trail surface

80% other20% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:21 AMSunset 7:38 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.2 mi in (~5 min). Leave by 7:13 PM for the 7:38 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:57 PM — 9 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Parishfield, Michigan