Mallard Lake via Purple Trail is a 2.6-mile out-and-back in Island Lake State Recreation Area near Green Oak, MI. The route reaches Mallard Lake at the turnaround, 1.3 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 mi876 – 929 ft3.2 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Meadow Picnic 42.50422, -83.70203
Nearest town Green Oak, MI
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Mallard Lake via Purple Trail
2.6 mi · ▲ 55 ft · 54 min
Elevation 876–928 ft
Out & Back · Island Lake State Recreation Area
Trailhead: Meadow Picnic · 42.50422, -83.70203
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:22 AM · sunset 7:36 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 500 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
- 150 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 150 ftBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Purple Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 100 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 200 ftTurn right onto Reynold's Wrap, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 100 ftReach Mallard Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Purple Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading N.
- 150 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 150 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
- 100 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
7% dirt93% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 7:22 AMSunset 7:36 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~29 min). Leave by 6:47 PM for the 7:36 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:20 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Meadow Picnic Trailhead
- Trout Lake & Island Lake State Recreation Area Beach via Island Lake Pathway 4.2 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Yellow Trail Loop 2.8 mi · ▲ 29 ft
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