AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

deer Viewpoint–Vernal Ponds, 3 sights

9.8 mi · ▲ 163 ft · 3 hr 21 min

deer Viewpoint–Vernal Ponds, 3 sights is a 9.8-mile out-and-back near Wood Creek Farms, MI. The route passes Vernal Ponds and Branch Tipi before reaching deer Viewpoint at the turnaround, 4.9 miles in. It is mostly level, with 163 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi892 – 1,014 ft11.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.54369, -83.34262
Nearest town Wood Creek Farms, MI
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

deer Viewpoint–Vernal Ponds, 3 sights

9.8 mi · ▲ 163 ft · 3 hr 21 min

Elevation 892–1,012 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 42.54369, -83.34262

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 7:21 AM · sunset 7:33 PM

Transit-accessible: Maple / Middlebelt (WB) stop 91 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  3. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  4. 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  5. 100 ftTurn left, heading W.
  6. 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  7. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  8. 0.9 miTurn right, heading W.
  9. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  10. 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
  11. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  12. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  13. 0.5 miTurn right, heading W.
  14. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  15. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  16. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  17. 0.3 miTurn left onto Pebble Creek Ravine Trail, heading W.
  18. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  19. 0.6 miTurn left, heading N.
  20. 0.6 miTurn right, heading W.
  21. 0.3 miSharp left onto West Bloomfield Trail, heading NW.
  22. 0.4 miPass Vernal Ponds.
  23. 450 ftPass Branch Tipi.
  24. 50 ftPass deer Viewpoint.
  25. 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
  26. 100 ftTurn right onto Whitetail Ridge Trail Loop, heading W.
  27. 250 ftTurn right onto deer, heading W.
  28. 50 ftReach deer Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  29. 50 ftTurn left onto Whitetail Ridge Trail Loop, heading W.
  30. 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
  31. 100 ftTurn right onto West Bloomfield Trail, heading W.
  32. 0.8 miSharp right, heading E.
  33. 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
  34. 0.6 miTurn right, heading S.
  35. 0.6 miTurn left onto Pebble Creek Ravine Trail, heading SE.
  36. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  37. 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  38. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  39. 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
  40. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  41. 0.5 miTurn right, heading E.
  42. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  43. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  44. 100 ftTurn right, heading E.
  45. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  46. 0.9 miTurn left, heading SE.
  47. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  48. 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  49. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  50. 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
  51. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  52. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/deer-viewpoint-vernal-ponds-out-back-3-sights-16-km-dcaf

Trail surface

16% gravel6% paved1% other77% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:21 AMSunset 7:33 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.2 mi in (~78 min). Leave by 5:54 PM for the 7:33 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:04 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Maple / Middlebelt (WB) stop 91 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Wood Creek Farms, Michigan