Clinton River Trail

Crystal Lake & Clinton River Trail

4 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 1 hr 21 min

Crystal Lake & Clinton River Trail is a 4-mile out-and-back in Clinton River Trail near Pontiac, MI. The route reaches Crystal Lake. It is mostly level, with 27 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi915 – 948 ft4.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Clinton River Trail connector 42.61931, -83.28870
Nearest town Pontiac, MI

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Crystal Lake & Clinton River Trail

4 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 1 hr 21 min

Elevation 915–949 ft

Out & Back · Clinton River Trail

Trailhead: Clinton River Trail connector · 42.61931, -83.28870

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:20 AM · sunset 7:34 PM

Transit-accessible: Woodward / Prospect (SB) stop 687 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Clinton River Trail connector, heading W.
  2. 0.6 miPass Crystal Lake.
  3. 0.5 miTurn left onto Clinton River Trail, heading W.
  4. 0.8 miTurn left onto River Bluff Trail, heading SW.
  5. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  6. 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
  7. 0.1 miReach Crystal Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  8. 0.1 miSharp left, heading W.
  9. 0.2 miTurn right onto Clinton River Trail, heading N.
  10. 0.8 miTurn right onto Clinton River Trail connector, heading E.
  11. 0.8 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

48% paved28% dirt10% gravel14% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:20 AMSunset 7:34 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.6 mi in (~14 min). Leave by 7:00 PM for the 7:34 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:04 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Woodward / Prospect (SB) stop 687 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Clinton River Trail connector Trailhead