AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Thelma G. Spencer Park

Carter Lake–Ferry Drain, 5 lakes

8.6 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 2 hr 54 min

Carter Lake–Ferry Drain, 5 lakes is an 8.6-mile out-and-back in Thelma G. Spencer Park near Big Beaver, MI. The route passes Ferry Drain, Crystal Lake, Turtle Woods Preserve Beach and 3 more. It is mostly level, with 53 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi640 – 705 ft10.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.57861, -83.08957
Nearest town Big Beaver, MI
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Carter Lake–Ferry Drain, 5 lakes

8.6 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 2 hr 54 min

Elevation 640–706 ft

Out & Back · Thelma G. Spencer Park

Trailhead: 42.57861, -83.08957

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:19 AM · sunset 7:33 PM

Transit-accessible: Dequindre / Wattles NS (SB) stop 77 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 0.9 miTurn left, heading NW.
  3. 0.8 miPass Ferry Drain.
  4. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  5. 1.5 miPass Crystal Lake.
  6. 50 ftPass Turtle Woods Preserve Beach.
  7. 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
  8. 100 ftBear right, heading N.
  9. 450 ftPass Thelma G. Spencer Park Beach.
  10. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  11. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  12. 150 ftPass Carter Lake.
  13. 50 ftPass Thelma G. Spencer Park Beach.
  14. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  15. 450 ftBear left, heading N.
  16. 150 ftBear left, heading N.
  17. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  18. 400 ftBear right, heading N.
  19. 100 ftTurn right, heading N.
  20. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  21. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  22. 200 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  23. 250 ftBear right, heading E.
  24. 450 ftReach Carter Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  25. 450 ftBear left, heading E.
  26. 250 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  27. 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
  28. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  29. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  30. 100 ftBear left, heading NW.
  31. 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
  32. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  33. 150 ftBear right, heading NE.
  34. 400 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  35. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  36. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  37. 0.4 miBear left, heading W.
  38. 100 ftBear right, heading W.
  39. 1.7 miTurn left, heading S.
  40. 0.9 miTurn right, heading E.
  41. 0.3 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/carter-lake-ferry-drain-out-back-8-lakes-14-km-b3d6

Trail surface

92% paved4% dirt4% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:19 AMSunset 7:33 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.0 mi in (~97 min). Leave by 5:36 PM for the 7:33 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:24 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Dequindre / Wattles NS (SB) stop 77 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Big Beaver, Michigan