AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Loon Lake–Watkins Lake, 4 lakes

13 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 4 hr 22 min

Loon Lake–Watkins Lake, 4 lakes is a 13-mile out-and-back near Waterford, MI. The route passes Huntoon Lake, Watkins Lake and Scott Lake before reaching Loon Lake at the turnaround, 6.5 miles in. It is mostly level, with 54 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi948 – 984 ft15.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.68912, -83.41316
Nearest town Waterford, MI
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Loon Lake–Watkins Lake, 4 lakes

13 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 4 hr 22 min

Elevation 947–985 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 42.68912, -83.41316

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 7:22 AM · sunset 7:33 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  3. 0.2 miPass Huntoon Lake.
  4. 1 miTurn right, heading S.
  5. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  6. 0.8 miTurn left, heading S.
  7. 450 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  8. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  9. 0.4 miTurn left, heading E.
  10. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  11. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  12. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  13. 0.1 miSharp right, heading N.
  14. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  15. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  16. 500 ftBear left, heading E.
  17. 200 ftBear left, heading E.
  18. 450 ftPass Watkins Lake.
  19. 100 ftTurn right, heading E.
  20. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  21. 300 ftTurn right, heading E.
  22. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  23. 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
  24. 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
  25. 100 ftSharp left, heading E.
  26. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  27. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  28. 100 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  29. 250 ftBear right, heading SE.
  30. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  31. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  32. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  33. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  34. 0.8 miBear left, heading E.
  35. 0.5 miTurn left, heading SE.
  36. 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  37. 1 miPass Scott Lake.
  38. 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
  39. 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
  40. 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
  41. 0.4 miReach Loon Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  42. 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
  43. 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
  44. 200 ftTurn right, heading N.
  45. 1.4 miTurn right, heading S.
  46. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  47. 0.5 miBear right, heading S.
  48. 0.8 miBear left, heading W.
  49. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  50. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  51. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  52. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  53. 200 ftTurn left, heading W.
  54. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  55. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  56. 50 ftSharp right, heading W.
  57. 100 ftTurn left, heading W.
  58. 250 ftBear left, heading W.
  59. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  60. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  61. 250 ftTurn right, heading W.
  62. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  63. 0.1 miBear right, heading NW.
  64. 200 ftBear right, heading NW.
  65. 450 ftTurn left, heading W.
  66. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  67. 50 ftSharp left, heading W.
  68. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  69. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  70. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  71. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  72. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NW.
  73. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  74. 450 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  75. 0.8 miTurn right, heading W.
  76. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  77. 1.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  78. 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/loon-lake-watkins-lake-out-back-4-lakes

Trail surface

32% paved68% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:22 AMSunset 7:33 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.2 mi in (~125 min). Leave by 5:07 PM for the 7:33 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:54 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Waterford, Michigan