AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Bald Mountain State Recreation Area

Buhl Lake–East Graham Lake, 6 lakes

4.3 mi · ▲ 195 ft · 1 hr 32 min

Buhl Lake–East Graham Lake, 6 lakes is a 4.3-mile out-and-back in Bald Mountain State Recreation Area near Rudds Mill, MI. The route passes East Graham Lake, Mill Pond and Adams Lake before reaching Buhl Lake at the turnaround, 2.1 miles in. It is mostly level, with 195 ft of elevation gain. It scores 47/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi948 – 1,070 ft5.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.78621, -83.19087
Nearest town Rudds Mill, MI
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Buhl Lake–East Graham Lake, 6 lakes

4.3 mi · ▲ 195 ft · 1 hr 32 min

Elevation 949–1,070 ft

Out & Back · Bald Mountain State Recreation Area

Trailhead: 42.78621, -83.19087

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 7:20 AM · sunset 7:34 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 50 ftPass East Graham Lake.
  3. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  4. 250 ftTurn left onto Orange, heading E.
  5. 0.2 miBear left, heading NE.
  6. 0.9 miTurn right onto Bald Mountain Connector, heading N.
  7. 0.3 miBear left onto Singletrack Mountain Bike, heading N.
  8. 100 ftTurn right onto Trail Loop D, heading NE.
  9. 50 ftContinue straight onto Singletrack Mountain Bike, heading NE.
  10. 50 ftBear right onto Trail Loop D, heading NE.
  11. 150 ftTurn left onto Singletrack Mountain Bike, heading N.
  12. 50 ftContinue straight onto Trail Loop D, heading N.
  13. 0.1 miBear left, heading SE.
  14. 250 ftBear right onto Singletrack Mountain Bike, heading SE.
  15. 250 ftTurn right onto Double Trouble, heading E.
  16. 50 ftPass Mill Pond.
  17. 50 ftBear left onto Singletrack Mountain Bike, heading E.
  18. 50 ftTurn right onto Trail Loop D, heading E.
  19. 50 ftContinue straight onto Singletrack Mountain Bike, heading E.
  20. 50 ftTurn left onto Trail Loop D, heading E.
  21. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  22. 50 ftPass Adams Lake.
  23. 150 ftContinue straight onto Singletrack Mountain Bike, heading NE.
  24. 50 ftBear left onto Old Mountain Bike Start, heading N.
  25. 150 ftSharp right onto Trail Loop D & Connector Trail, heading NE.
  26. 50 ftBear left onto Old Mountain Bike Start, heading NE.
  27. 50 ftBear right onto Trail Loop D & Connector Trail, heading NE.
  28. 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
  29. 400 ftReach Buhl Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  30. 450 ftBear right, heading N.
  31. 0.2 miBear left onto Old Mountain Bike Start, heading SE.
  32. 50 ftBear right onto Trail Loop D & Connector Trail, heading SE.
  33. 50 ftSharp left onto Old Mountain Bike Start, heading SE.
  34. 200 ftBear right onto Singletrack Mountain Bike, heading SE.
  35. 50 ftContinue straight onto Trail Loop D, heading SE.
  36. 250 ftTurn right onto Singletrack Mountain Bike, heading E.
  37. 50 ftContinue straight onto Trail Loop D, heading E.
  38. 50 ftTurn left onto Singletrack Mountain Bike, heading E.
  39. 100 ftBear right onto Double Trouble, heading E.
  40. 50 ftTurn left onto Singletrack Mountain Bike, heading E.
  41. 250 ftBear left, heading E.
  42. 250 ftBear right onto Trail Loop D, heading E.
  43. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Singletrack Mountain Bike, heading S.
  44. 50 ftTurn right onto Trail Loop D, heading S.
  45. 150 ftBear left onto Singletrack Mountain Bike, heading SW.
  46. 50 ftContinue straight onto Trail Loop D, heading SW.
  47. 50 ftTurn left onto Singletrack Mountain Bike, heading SW.
  48. 100 ftBear right onto Bald Mountain Connector, heading W.
  49. 0.3 miTurn left onto Orange, heading SW.
  50. 1.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  51. 250 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  52. 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/buhl-lake-east-graham-lake-out-back-9-lakes-7-km-442e

Trail surface

5% paved3% gravel3% dirt89% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:20 AMSunset 7:34 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.3 mi in (~33 min). Leave by 6:41 PM for the 7:34 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:20 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Rudds Mill, Michigan