AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Holland Ponds

Holland Ponds Viewpoint–Ferry Drain, 5 beaches

14.5 mi · ▲ 245 ft · 4 hr 57 min

Holland Ponds Viewpoint–Ferry Drain, 5 beaches is a 14.5-mile out-and-back in Holland Ponds near Big Beaver, MI. The route passes Ferry Drain, Crystal Lake, Turtle Woods Preserve Beach and Thelma G. Spencer Park Beach before reaching Holland Ponds Viewpoint at the turnaround, 7.2 miles in. It is mostly level, with 245 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi650 – 794 ft17.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.59467, -83.10946
Nearest town Big Beaver, MI
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Holland Ponds Viewpoint–Ferry Drain, 5 beaches

14.5 mi · ▲ 245 ft · 4 hr 57 min

Elevation 650–795 ft

Out & Back · Holland Ponds

Trailhead: 42.59467, -83.10946

Weather Sep 22: Overcast, high 65°F / low 48° · precip 0% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 7:20 AM · sunset 7:32 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 50 ftPass Ferry Drain.
  3. 1.5 miPass Crystal Lake.
  4. 50 ftPass Turtle Woods Preserve Beach.
  5. 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
  6. 100 ftBear right, heading N.
  7. 0.2 miPass Thelma G. Spencer Park Beach.
  8. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  9. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  10. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  11. 50 ftSharp left, heading N.
  12. 1.7 miTurn left, heading N.
  13. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  14. 1.6 miTurn right, heading N.
  15. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  16. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  17. 50 ftTurn right onto Finale Climb, heading N.
  18. 50 ftBear left onto Bloomer Beginning, heading N.
  19. 50 ftBear left onto Finale Climb, heading N.
  20. 100 ftContinue straight onto Bloomer Beginning, heading E.
  21. 350 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  22. 150 ftContinue straight onto Easier Option, heading N.
  23. 350 ftTurn right onto Flow Flats, heading SE.
  24. 300 ftBear left, heading E.
  25. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  26. 0.2 miBear right, heading E.
  27. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  28. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  29. 400 ftTurn right, heading E.
  30. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  31. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  32. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
  33. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  34. 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
  35. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  36. 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
  37. 450 ftPass Holland Ponds Viewpoint.
  38. 250 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  39. 150 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  40. 50 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  41. 100 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  42. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  43. 100 ftBear right, heading SE.
  44. 0.3 miReach Holland Ponds Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  45. 0.3 miBear left, heading S.
  46. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  47. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  48. 100 ftSharp left, heading SE.
  49. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  50. 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  51. 0.1 miBear right, heading SE.
  52. 0.1 miBear left, heading SE.
  53. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  54. 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
  55. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  56. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  57. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  58. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  59. 450 ftTurn right, heading W.
  60. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  61. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  62. 0.2 miBear left, heading NW.
  63. 350 ftTurn left onto Easier Option, heading NW.
  64. 450 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  65. 50 ftContinue straight onto Bloomer Beginning, heading NW.
  66. 350 ftContinue straight onto Finale Climb, heading N.
  67. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  68. 50 ftContinue straight onto Bloomer Beginning, heading N.
  69. 50 ftBear right onto Finale Climb, heading N.
  70. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  71. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  72. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  73. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
  74. 1.6 miTurn left, heading SW.
  75. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  76. 1.7 miSharp right, heading S.
  77. 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
  78. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  79. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  80. 0.3 miBear left, heading S.
  81. 100 ftBear right, heading S.
  82. 0.7 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/holland-ponds-viewpoint-ferry-drain-out-back-6-lakes

Trail surface

43% paved6% dirt5% gravel46% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 65°F48°
Precip0%Wind8 mphUV5Humidity58%
Rained 0.4″ 3 days ago · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
65°45°
Sunrise 7:20 AM12 AM3 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:32 PM
Wed 69°50°
Thu 70°48°
Fri 72°53°
Sat 73°52°
Sun 75°53°
Mon 77°53°

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Big Beaver, Michigan