Crooked Lake–Pickerel Lake, 4 sights

2.9 mi · ▲ 178 ft · 1 hr 3 min

Crooked Lake–Pickerel Lake, 4 sights is a 2.9-mile out-and-back near Hell, MI. The route passes Crooked Lake before reaching Pickerel Lake at the turnaround, 1.5 miles in. It is mostly level, with 178 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 60/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi883 – 994 ft3.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.41610, -83.96530
Nearest town Hell, MI

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Crooked Lake–Pickerel Lake, 4 sights

2.9 mi · ▲ 178 ft · 1 hr 3 min

Elevation 882–994 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 42.41610, -83.96530

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:22 AM · sunset 7:39 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 150 ftBear right, heading S.
  3. 200 ftBear right onto Potawatomi & Silver Lake Trail, heading SW.
  4. 250 ftSharp right onto Silver Hill Road, heading SW.
  5. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Crooked & Silver Lake Trail, heading W.
  6. 0.2 miSharp right, heading W.
  7. 0.3 miReach Crooked Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  8. 350 ftTurn right, heading N.
  9. 0.5 miTurn right onto Crooked Lake Trail, heading SE.
  10. 50 ftPass Pickerel Lake.
  11. 250 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  12. 0.2 miTurn right onto Silver Lake Trail, heading E.
  13. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Potawatomi & Silver Lake Trail, heading NE.
  14. 0.5 miBear left, heading N.
  15. 200 ftBear left, heading NE.
  16. 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

95% dirt2% paved2% boardwalk1% gravel

Weather

Sunrise 7:22 AMSunset 7:39 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.5 mi in (~17 min). Leave by 7:01 PM for the 7:39 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:08 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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