AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Brighton State Recreation Area

Little Appleton Lake–Brighton State Recreation Area Beach, 4 sights

4.7 mi · ▲ 286 ft · 1 hr 43 min

Little Appleton Lake–Brighton State Recreation Area Beach, 4 sights is a 4.7-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, 2.4 miles in. It climbs 286 ft. It scores 59/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi886 – 1,001 ft5.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.49412, -83.82056
Nearest town Parishfield, MI
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Little Appleton Lake–Brighton State Recreation Area Beach, 4 sights

4.7 mi · ▲ 286 ft · 1 hr 43 min

Elevation 885–999 ft

Out & Back · Brighton State Recreation Area

Trailhead: 42.49412, -83.82056

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 0.4 miTurn left onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading NE.
  3. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading W.
  4. 450 ftTurn right onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading NW.
  5. 50 ftTurn right onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading NW.
  6. 350 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading W.
  7. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading SW.
  8. 50 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading S.
  9. 50 ftBear right onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading S.
  10. 350 ftBear right onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading SW.
  11. 0.3 miPass Brighton State Recreation Area Beach.
  12. 150 ftTurn left onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading NW.
  13. 50 ftTurn right onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading NW.
  14. 250 ftContinue straight onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading NW.
  15. 150 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading W.
  16. 350 ftTurn right onto Appleton Lake Loop, heading W.
  17. 0.3 miReach Little Appleton Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  19. 300 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading NW.
  20. 100 ftContinue straight onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading S.
  21. 50 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading S.
  22. 250 ftTurn left onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading S.
  23. 50 ftTurn right onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading S.
  24. 0.4 miBear left onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading E.
  25. 350 ftBear left onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading E.
  26. 50 ftContinue straight onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading E.
  27. 50 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading E.
  28. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading NE.
  29. 300 ftTurn left onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading N.
  30. 50 ftTurn left onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading NE.
  31. 450 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading NE.
  32. 0.6 miTurn right, heading E.
  33. 0.3 miArrive 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/little-appleton-lake-little-appleton-lake-out-back-5-sights-8-km

Trail surface

74% other26% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:21 AMSunset 7:38 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:17 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:38 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 8:06 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Parishfield, Michigan