AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area

Maceday Lake & Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach

2.7 mi · ▲ 137 ft · 58 min

Maceday Lake & Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach is a 2.7-mile out-and-back in Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area near Oxbow, MI. The route passes Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach before reaching Maceday Lake at the turnaround, 1.3 miles in. It is mostly level, with 137 ft of elevation gain. It scores 6/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi971 – 1,076 ft3.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.67359, -83.44611
Nearest town Oxbow, MI
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Maceday Lake & Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach

2.7 mi · ▲ 137 ft · 58 min

Elevation 971–1,075 ft

Out & Back · Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area

Trailhead: 42.67359, -83.44611

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:20 AM · sunset 7:37 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 50 ftPass Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach.
  3. 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  4. 350 ftTurn left, heading N.
  5. 1.3 miBear left, heading E.
  6. 100 ftReach Maceday Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  7. 150 ftBear right, heading E.
  8. 1.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  9. 350 ftTurn right, heading S.
  10. 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/maceday-lake-pontiac-lake-state-recreation-area-beach-out-back-4-km

Trail surface

40% dirt4% grass56% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:20 AMSunset 7:37 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.8 mi in (~21 min). Leave by 6:56 PM for the 7:37 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:11 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Oxbow, Michigan