Brighton State Recreation Area

Little Appleton Lake–Brighton State Recreation Area Beach, 3 beaches

5.6 mi · ▲ 299 ft · 2 hr 1 min

Little Appleton Lake–Brighton State Recreation Area Beach, 3 beaches is a 5.6-mile out-and-back in Brighton State Recreation Area near Parishfield, MI. The route passes Brighton State Recreation Area Beach before reaching Little Appleton Lake at the turnaround, 2.8 miles in. It climbs 299 ft. It scores 41/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi886 – 997 ft6.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.48715, -83.84909
Nearest town Parishfield, MI

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Little Appleton Lake–Brighton State Recreation Area Beach, 3 beaches

5.6 mi · ▲ 299 ft · 2 hr 1 min

Elevation 887–999 ft

Out & Back · Brighton State Recreation Area

Trailhead: 42.48715, -83.84909

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:21 AM · sunset 7:38 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  3. 0.7 miTurn right, heading SE.
  4. 0.6 miSharp left, heading N.
  5. 0.1 miBear left onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading N.
  6. 0.8 miPass Brighton State Recreation Area Beach.
  7. 450 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  8. 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
  9. 150 ftTurn left onto Appleton Lake Loop, heading N.
  10. 0.3 miReach Little Appleton Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  12. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  13. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  14. 250 ftTurn right onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading S.
  15. 0.9 miBear right, heading S.
  16. 0.1 miSharp right, heading SE.
  17. 0.6 miTurn left, heading N.
  18. 0.7 miTurn left, heading SW.
  19. 500 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

34% other25% dirt41% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:21 AMSunset 7:38 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~11 min). Leave by 7:07 PM for the 7:38 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:04 PM — 2 min before dark.

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