AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Watkins Lake & Clam Lake

7.1 mi · ▲ 55 ft · 2 hr 24 min

Watkins Lake & Clam Lake is a 7.1-mile out-and-back near Clintonville, MI. The route passes Watkins Lake before reaching Clam Lake at the turnaround, 3.5 miles in. It is mostly level, with 55 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi945 – 1,007 ft8.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.65765, -83.34661
Nearest town Clintonville, MI
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Watkins Lake & Clam Lake

7.1 mi · ▲ 55 ft · 2 hr 24 min

Elevation 946–1,009 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 42.65765, -83.34661

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 7:21 AM · sunset 7:33 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  3. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  4. 0.5 miBear right, heading W.
  5. 0.8 miBear left, heading W.
  6. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  7. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  8. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  9. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  10. 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
  11. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  12. 0.1 miPass Watkins Lake.
  13. 200 ftTurn left, heading W.
  14. 50 ftSharp right, heading W.
  15. 100 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  16. 250 ftBear left, heading NW.
  17. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  18. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  19. 250 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  20. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  21. 0.1 miBear right, heading NW.
  22. 200 ftBear right, heading NW.
  23. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  24. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  25. 0.9 miTurn left, heading N.
  26. 0.5 miPass Clam Lake.
  27. 500 ftReach Watkins Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  28. 0.5 miTurn right, heading W.
  29. 0.9 miTurn right, heading S.
  30. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  31. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  32. 200 ftBear left, heading S.
  33. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  34. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  35. 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
  36. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  37. 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
  38. 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
  39. 100 ftSharp left, heading S.
  40. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  41. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  42. 150 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  43. 250 ftBear right, heading SE.
  44. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  45. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  46. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  47. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  48. 0.8 miBear left, heading SE.
  49. 0.5 miTurn left, heading E.
  50. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  51. 200 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-5-lakes

Trail surface

39% paved61% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:21 AMSunset 7:33 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:13 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:33 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 8:01 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Clintonville, Michigan