Brighton State Recreation Area
Lost Loop & Racoon Swamp via Murray Lake Trail
2 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 41 min
Lost Loop & Racoon Swamp via Murray Lake Trail is a 2-mile out-and-back in Brighton State Recreation Area near Parishfield, MI. It is mostly level, with 27 ft of elevation gain. It scores 49/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Lost Loop & Racoon Swamp via Murray Lake Trail
2 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 41 min
Elevation 872–922 ft
Out & Back · Brighton State Recreation Area
Trailhead: 42.51402, -83.81188
Weather Sep 22: sunrise 7:23 AM · sunset 7:34 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Ralph's Ride, heading SE.
- 500 ftBear left onto Lost Loop, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading SW.
- 300 ftTurn left onto Murray Lake Trail, heading S.
- 0.6 miBear left onto Racoon Swamp, heading S.
- 350 ftTurn left onto Murray Lake Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftReach Lost Loop, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Racoon Swamp, heading SW.
- 300 ftBear right onto Murray Lake Trail, heading SE.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Lost Loop, heading S.
- 150 ftBear right, heading S.
- 100 ftSharp left, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Ralph's Ride, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.0 mi in (~24 min). Leave by 6:50 PM for the 7:34 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:13 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Rock Bath Overlook–Reed Lake, 6 sights 5.5 mi · ▲ 83 ft
- Bishop Lake–Reed Lake, 5 sights 5.4 mi · ▲ 107 ft
- Mt. Brighton Main Peak (South) & Lime Lake via Found Loop 4.3 mi · ▲ 310 ft
- Reed Lake–Brighton State Recreation Area Beach, 5 sights 4.2 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Mt. Brighton SubPeak (North)–Mt. Brighton Main Peak (South), 5 summits 5.6 mi · ▲ 352 ft
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Hikes near Parishfield, Michigan