Holly State Recreation Area

Heron Lake & Wildwood Lake via Rough Ride

3.6 mi · ▲ 278 ft · 1 hr 20 min

Heron Lake & Wildwood Lake via Rough Ride is a 3.6-mile out-and-back in Holly State Recreation Area near Groveland Corners, MI. The route passes Wildwood Lake before reaching Heron Lake at the turnaround, 1.8 miles in. It climbs 278 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 42/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi994 – 1,099 ft · steepest grade: 16%4.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.83046, -83.51514
Nearest town Groveland Corners, MI

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Heron Lake & Wildwood Lake via Rough Ride

3.6 mi · ▲ 278 ft · 1 hr 20 min

Elevation 995–1,100 ft

Out & Back · Holly State Recreation Area

Trailhead: 42.83046, -83.51514

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:20 AM · sunset 7:37 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 150 ftBear left, heading S.
  3. 0.6 miBear left, heading S.
  4. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  5. 0.4 miSharp left onto Rough Ride, heading SW.
  6. 200 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  7. 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
  8. 0.2 miSharp left, heading S.
  9. 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  10. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  11. 0.2 miPass Wildwood Lake.
  12. 250 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  13. 500 ftSharp right, heading S.
  14. 50 ftReach Heron Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 50 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  16. 500 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  17. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  18. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  19. 0.3 miSharp right, heading N.
  20. 0.2 miBear right, heading NW.
  21. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  22. 200 ftSharp right, heading N.
  23. 0.4 miBear left, heading NW.
  24. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  25. 0.6 miBear right, heading NW.
  26. 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

96% dirt4% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:20 AMSunset 7:37 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:17 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:37 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 8:05 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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