Large Boulder–Waterford Pond, 3 beaches
4.5 mi · ▲ 161 ft · 1 hr 35 min
Large Boulder–Waterford Pond, 3 beaches is a 4.5-mile out-and-back in 7 Mile Road Park near Grand View Acres, MI. The route passes 7 Mile Road Park Beach and Waterford Pond before reaching Large Boulder at the turnaround, 2.2 miles in. It is mostly level, with 161 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Large Boulder–Waterford Pond, 3 beaches
4.5 mi · ▲ 161 ft · 1 hr 35 min
Elevation 747–851 ft
Out & Back · 7 Mile Road Park
Trailhead: 42.41081, -83.43226
Weather Sep 20: Light rain, high 63°F / low 58° · precip 58% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 7:20 AM · sunset 7:36 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 1.6 miPass 7 Mile Road Park Beach.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.1 miPass Waterford Pond.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 500 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 100 ftBear left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 100 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Hiking Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 150 ftSharp left, heading NE.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 100 ftSharp right onto Phase 3: Blue, heading N.
- 400 ftContinue straight onto Phase 3: Black, heading SE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Phase 3: Blue, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear right onto Phase 3: Black, heading SE.
- 50 ftReach Large Boulder, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftBear left onto Phase 3: Blue, heading SE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Phase 3: Black, heading SE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Phase 3: Blue, heading SE.
- 400 ftSharp left, heading E.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Hiking Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading E.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading NE.
- 200 ftBear left, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading W.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 500 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 1.6 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.2 mi in (~31 min). Leave by 6:46 PM for the 7:36 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:20 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Waterford Pond–Hiking Viewpoint, 5 viewpoints 5.1 mi · ▲ 81 ft
- Legacy Park–Waterford Pond, 7 sights 6.1 mi · ▲ 243 ft
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