Mallard Lake & Blue Trail is a 6.9-mile out-and-back in Island Lake State Recreation Area near Green Oak, MI. The route reaches Mallard Lake at the turnaround, 3.3 miles in. It is mostly level, with 168 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi866 – 929 ft8.0 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 42.51319, -83.71931
Nearest town Green Oak, MI
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Mallard Lake & Blue Trail
6.9 mi · ▲ 168 ft · 2 hr 23 min
Elevation 866–928 ft
Out & Back · Island Lake State Recreation Area
Trailhead: 42.51319, -83.71931
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:22 AM · sunset 7:36 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right onto Blue Trail, heading SW.
- 100 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.7 miBear left onto Yellow Trail, heading NE.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Yellow & Blue Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Blue Trail, heading E.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Yellow Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 450 ftSharp right onto Island Lake Pathway, heading N.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Meadow Picnic, heading E.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
- 150 ftBear right, heading S.
- 150 ftBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Purple Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 100 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 200 ftTurn right onto Reynold's Wrap, heading SW.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 300 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 350 ftReach Mallard Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 350 ftBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 300 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Purple Trail, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 100 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 150 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 150 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 450 ftTurn right onto Meadow Picnic, heading E.
- 450 ftTurn left onto Island Lake Pathway, heading NE.
- 0.6 miSharp left, heading N.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 250 ftBear right onto Yellow Trail, heading E.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Blue Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Yellow & Blue Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Yellow Trail, heading NW.
- 200 ftBear right onto Blue Trail, heading NW.
- 0.7 miBear left, heading S.
- 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
26% other20% paved3% dirt1% boardwalk50% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 7:22 AMSunset 7:36 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.7 mi in (~44 min). Leave by 6:32 PM for the 7:36 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:34 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Island Lake State Recreation Area Beach & Blue Trail via Island Lake Pathway 6.9 mi · ▲ 110 ft
- Spring Mill Pond–Island Lake State Recreation Area Beach, 3 beaches 7.2 mi · ▲ 200 ft
- Purple Viewpoint & Blue Trail 5.2 mi · ▲ 141 ft
- Island Lake & Orchard - View Colony Beach via Blue Trail 2.2 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Blue Trail 2.3 mi · ▲ 58 ft
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