AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Clinton River Trail

Crystal Lake–Galloway Creek, 3 lakes

10.7 mi · ▲ 168 ft · 3 hr 39 min

Crystal Lake–Galloway Creek, 3 lakes is a 10.7-mile out-and-back in Clinton River Trail near Pontiac, MI. The route passes Crystal Lake before reaching Galloway Creek at the turnaround, 5.2 miles in. It is mostly level, with 168 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi863 – 961 ft12.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Clinton River Trail 42.62992, -83.29609
Nearest town Pontiac, MI
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Crystal Lake–Galloway Creek, 3 lakes

10.7 mi · ▲ 168 ft · 3 hr 39 min

Elevation 862–963 ft

Out & Back · Clinton River Trail

Trailhead: Clinton River Trail · 42.62992, -83.29609

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

Transit-accessible: Pontiac stop 436 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Clinton River Trail connector, heading S.
  2. 0.4 miPass Crystal Lake.
  3. 2.9 miTurn right onto Clinton River Trail, heading N.
  4. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  5. 1.4 miTurn right, heading N.
  6. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  7. 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
  8. 50 ftSharp left, heading N.
  9. 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
  10. 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
  11. 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
  12. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  13. 50 ftPass Galloway Creek.
  14. 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
  15. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  16. 50 ftReach Crystal Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  17. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  18. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  19. 0.4 miBear right, heading N.
  20. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  21. 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
  22. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  23. 150 ftSharp right, heading S.
  24. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  25. 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
  26. 300 ftTurn left, heading S.
  27. 1.4 miTurn left onto Clinton River Trail connector, heading S.
  28. 2.8 miArrive back at the trailhead.

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

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/crystal-lake-galloway-creek-out-back-8-lakes-17-km

Trail surface

77% paved23% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:20 AMSunset 7:34 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.2 mi in (~31 min). Leave by 6:43 PM for the 7:34 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:19 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Pontiac stop 436 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Clinton River Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Pontiac, Michigan