AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Paint Creek Trail

Lake Orion–Paint Creek, 5 lakes

11.1 mi · ▲ 161 ft · 3 hr 47 min

Lake Orion–Paint Creek, 5 lakes is an 11.1-mile out-and-back in Paint Creek Trail near Lake Orion Heights, MI. The route passes Lake Orion, Buckhorn Lake, Paint Creek and Foley Pond. It is mostly level, with 161 ft of elevation gain. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi935 – 1,020 ft12.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.78811, -83.26744
Nearest town Lake Orion Heights, MI
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lake Orion–Paint Creek, 5 lakes

11.1 mi · ▲ 161 ft · 3 hr 47 min

Elevation 936–1,021 ft

Out & Back · Paint Creek Trail

Trailhead: 42.78811, -83.26744

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:20 AM · sunset 7:34 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 250 ftSharp right, heading NW.
  3. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  4. 150 ftBear left, heading SW.
  5. 50 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  6. 50 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  7. 0.2 miSharp left, heading W.
  8. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  9. 50 ftTurn left onto Polly Ann Trail Connector, heading S.
  10. 0.4 miPass Lake Orion.
  11. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  12. 1.1 miSharp left onto Paint Creek to Polly Ann Trail Connector, heading S.
  13. 1 miPass Buckhorn Lake.
  14. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  15. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  16. 100 ftTurn left, heading E.
  17. 0.8 miPass Paint Creek.
  18. 0.2 miTurn left onto Paint Creek Trail, heading SE.
  19. 450 ftPass Foley Pond.
  20. 1.2 miContinue straight onto Paint Creek Trail Connector, heading NW.
  21. 50 ftTurn right onto Saber Way, heading NW.
  22. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Paint Creek Trail Connector, heading NW.
  23. 350 ftTurn right, heading W.
  24. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  25. 200 ftReach Lake Orion, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  26. 250 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  27. 350 ftContinue straight onto Saber Way, heading N.
  28. 0.1 miTurn left onto Paint Creek Trail Connector, heading E.
  29. 250 ftContinue straight onto Paint Creek Trail, heading N.
  30. 1.3 miTurn right onto Paint Creek to Polly Ann Trail Connector, heading SE.
  31. 1 miTurn left, heading W.
  32. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  33. 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
  34. 1.2 miSharp right, heading W.
  35. 1.1 miTurn right onto Polly Ann Trail Connector, heading NW.
  36. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
  37. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  38. 0.1 miSharp right, heading W.
  39. 0.2 miSharp right, heading N.
  40. 50 ftSharp left, heading N.
  41. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  42. 150 ftBear right, heading N.
  43. 50 ftSharp left, heading N.
  44. 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/lake-orion-paint-creek-out-back-7-lakes-via-paint-creek-to-polly-ann-trail-connector

Trail surface

50% paved23% dirt6% boardwalk21% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:20 AMSunset 7:34 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.0 mi in (~2 min). Leave by 7:13 PM for the 7:34 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:50 PM — 12 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Lake Orion Heights, Michigan