AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Brighton State Recreation Area

Mountain Bike Skills Area–Brighton State Recreation Area Beach, 4 sights

3 mi · ▲ 170 ft · 1 hr 5 min

Mountain Bike Skills Area–Brighton State Recreation Area Beach, 4 sights is a 3-mile out-and-back in Brighton State Recreation Area near Parishfield, MI. The route passes Brighton State Recreation Area Beach and Mountain Bike Skills Area before reaching Brighton State Recreation Area Beach at the turnaround, 1.5 miles in. It is mostly level, with 170 ft of elevation gain. It scores 60/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi886 – 965 ft3.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.49912, -83.81321
Nearest town Parishfield, MI
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mountain Bike Skills Area–Brighton State Recreation Area Beach, 4 sights

3 mi · ▲ 170 ft · 1 hr 5 min

Elevation 887–965 ft

Out & Back · Brighton State Recreation Area

Trailhead: 42.49912, -83.81321

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:21 AM · sunset 7:38 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 50 ftBear right onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading SW.
  3. 100 ftContinue straight onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading W.
  4. 450 ftTurn right onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading SW.
  5. 50 ftTurn right onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading NW.
  6. 350 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading W.
  7. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading SW.
  8. 50 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading S.
  9. 50 ftBear right onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading S.
  10. 350 ftBear right onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading SW.
  11. 0.4 miTurn left onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading NW.
  12. 50 ftTurn right onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading NW.
  13. 50 ftPass Brighton State Recreation Area Beach.
  14. 250 ftContinue straight onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading NW.
  15. 150 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading W.
  16. 350 ftTurn right onto Appleton Lake Loop, heading W.
  17. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  18. 100 ftPass Brighton State Recreation Area Beach.
  19. 100 ftBear right, heading NW.
  20. 50 ftReach Mountain Bike Skills Area, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  21. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  22. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  23. 300 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading N.
  24. 100 ftContinue straight onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading N.
  25. 50 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading N.
  26. 250 ftTurn left onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading S.
  27. 50 ftTurn right onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading S.
  28. 0.4 miBear left onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading NE.
  29. 350 ftBear left onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading E.
  30. 50 ftContinue straight onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading E.
  31. 50 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading E.
  32. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading E.
  33. 300 ftTurn left onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading NE.
  34. 50 ftTurn left onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading NE.
  35. 450 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading NE.
  36. 150 ftBear left, heading E.
  37. 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/mountain-bike-skills-area-brighton-state-recreation-area-beach-out-back-5-beaches-5-km

Trail surface

81% other19% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:21 AMSunset 7:38 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.9 mi in (~24 min). Leave by 6:54 PM for the 7:38 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:16 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Parishfield, Michigan