Cass Lake–Upper Straits Lake, 4 lakes
5.7 mi · ▲ 82 ft · 1 hr 56 min
Cass Lake–Upper Straits Lake, 4 lakes is a 5.7-mile out-and-back in Marshbank Park near Four Towns, MI. The route passes Cass Lake, Green Lake, Upper Straits Lake and Middle Straits Lake. It is mostly level, with 82 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Cass Lake–Upper Straits Lake, 4 lakes
5.7 mi · ▲ 82 ft · 1 hr 56 min
Elevation 930–989 ft
Out & Back · Marshbank Park
Trailhead: 42.59841, -83.39579
Weather Sep 20: Light drizzle, high 63°F / low 57° · precip 42% · wind 10 mph · sunrise 7:19 AM · sunset 7:36 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 50 ftPass Cass Lake.
- 300 ftBear left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right, heading S.
- 400 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 150 ftSharp right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.6 miPass Green Lake.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 300 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.6 miPass Upper Straits Lake.
- 0.3 miPass Middle Straits Lake.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.4 miSharp right, heading W.
- 250 ftBear right, heading W.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftReach Cass Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 300 ftBear left, heading W.
- 250 ftSharp left, heading NW.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.9 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 300 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 350 ftBear left, heading N.
- 50 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right, heading E.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.7 mi in (~42 min). Leave by 6:34 PM for the 7:36 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:33 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Upper Straits Lake–Middle Straits Lake, 5 lakes 16.1 mi · ▲ 332 ft
- Cass Lake–Upper Straits Lake, 3 lakes 3.8 mi · ▲ 56 ft
- Cass Lake & Green Lake 2.3 mi · ▲ 0 ft
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