AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Island Lake State Recreation Area

Island Lake–Trout Lake, 6 beaches

8.7 mi · ▲ 81 ft · 2 hr 56 min

Island Lake–Trout Lake, 6 beaches is an 8.7-mile out-and-back in Island Lake State Recreation Area near Green Oak, MI. The route passes Island Lake, Orchard - View Colony Beach, Island Lake State Recreation Area Beach and 3 more before reaching Island Lake State Recreation Area Beach at the turnaround, 4.2 miles in. It is mostly level, with 81 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi866 – 922 ft9.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.50715, -83.73716
Nearest town Green Oak, MI
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Island Lake–Trout Lake, 6 beaches

8.7 mi · ▲ 81 ft · 2 hr 56 min

Elevation 866–923 ft

Out & Back · Island Lake State Recreation Area

Trailhead: 42.50715, -83.73716

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 7:23 AM · sunset 7:34 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 50 ftPass Island Lake.
  3. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  4. 200 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  5. 0.1 miPass Orchard - View Colony Beach.
  6. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Blue Trail, heading E.
  7. 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
  8. 0.6 miBear left onto Yellow Trail, heading E.
  9. 200 ftContinue straight onto Yellow & Blue Trail, heading E.
  10. 0.2 miTurn left onto Blue Trail, heading E.
  11. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Yellow Trail, heading N.
  12. 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
  13. 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
  14. 450 ftSharp right onto Island Lake Pathway, heading NE.
  15. 1.4 miPass Island Lake State Recreation Area Beach.
  16. 450 ftBear right, heading SE.
  17. 0.2 miPass Island Lake State Recreation Area Beach.
  18. 250 ftSharp right onto Hickory Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  19. 0.1 miPass Trout Lake.
  20. 0.5 miPass Hickory Ridge Viewpoint.
  21. 50 ftPass Island Lake State Recreation Area Beach.
  22. 300 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  23. 0.1 miReach Island Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  24. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  25. 0.7 miSharp left onto Island Lake Pathway, heading W.
  26. 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
  27. 1.6 miSharp left, heading W.
  28. 450 ftTurn left, heading W.
  29. 250 ftBear right onto Yellow Trail, heading W.
  30. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Blue Trail, heading NW.
  31. 0.1 miTurn right onto Yellow & Blue Trail, heading NE.
  32. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Yellow Trail, heading W.
  33. 200 ftBear right onto Blue Trail, heading S.
  34. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
  35. 0.9 miTurn right, heading NW.
  36. 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  37. 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-trout-lake-out-back-20-beaches-14-km-41a4

Trail surface

40% paved23% other20% dirt17% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:23 AMSunset 7:34 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.2 mi in (~104 min). Leave by 5:30 PM for the 7:34 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:34 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Green Oak, Michigan