AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Island Lake State Recreation Area

Island Lake & Orchard - View Colony Beach via Blue Trail

2.6 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 52 min

Island Lake & Orchard - View Colony Beach via Blue Trail is a 2.6-mile out-and-back in Island Lake State Recreation Area near Brighton, MI. The route passes Island Lake before reaching Orchard - View Colony Beach at the turnaround, 1.3 miles in. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi889 – 922 ft3.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.49904, -83.75445
Nearest town Brighton, MI
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Island Lake & Orchard - View Colony Beach via Blue Trail

2.6 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 52 min

Elevation 890–922 ft

Out & Back · Island Lake State Recreation Area

Trailhead: 42.49904, -83.75445

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:22 AM · sunset 7:36 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 250 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  3. 50 ftSharp left, heading N.
  4. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  5. 50 ftSharp left, heading N.
  6. 50 ftSharp right, heading N.
  7. 400 ftBear left, heading NE.
  8. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  9. 0.1 miBear right onto JCPenney Connector, heading NE.
  10. 450 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  11. 0.2 miBear left, heading E.
  12. 0.2 miPass Island Lake.
  13. 150 ftBear right, heading NE.
  14. 150 ftContinue straight onto Island Lake Trail Connector, heading NE.
  15. 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
  16. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  17. 50 ftTurn right onto Blue Trail, heading NW.
  18. 0.2 miPass Orchard - View Colony Beach.
  19. 200 ftReach Island Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  20. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  21. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  22. 0.2 miTurn left onto Island Lake Trail Connector, heading W.
  23. 400 ftBear left, heading W.
  24. 0.2 miBear right onto JCPenney Connector, heading W.
  25. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  26. 450 ftBear left, heading W.
  27. 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
  28. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  29. 400 ftSharp left, heading W.
  30. 50 ftSharp right, heading W.
  31. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  32. 50 ftSharp right, heading W.
  33. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  34. 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/island-lake-orchard-view-colony-beach-out-back-4-km-24a4

Trail surface

18% other2% gravel2% dirt78% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:22 AMSunset 7:36 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~26 min). Leave by 6:50 PM for the 7:36 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:17 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Brighton, Michigan