AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Brighton State Recreation Area

Mt. Brighton SubPeak (North)–Mt. Brighton Main Peak (South), 7 sights

13.3 mi · ▲ 667 ft · 4 hr 46 min

Mt. Brighton SubPeak (North)–Mt. Brighton Main Peak (South), 7 sights is a 13.3-mile out-and-back in Brighton State Recreation Area near Parishfield, MI. The route passes Lime Lake, Mt. Brighton Main Peak (South) and Mt. Brighton SubPeak (North) before reaching (Key Col of Mt. Brighton) at the turnaround, 6.6 miles in. It climbs 667 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade. It scores 36/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi873 – 1,106 ft · steepest grade: 16%14.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Penosha Hiking Trail 42.48564, -83.82483
Nearest town Parishfield, MI
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mt. Brighton SubPeak (North)–Mt. Brighton Main Peak (South), 7 sights

13.3 mi · ▲ 667 ft · 4 hr 46 min

Elevation 872–1,107 ft

Out & Back · Brighton State Recreation Area

Trailhead: Penosha Hiking Trail · 42.48564, -83.82483

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Penosha Hiking Trail, heading SE.
  2. 1.6 miTurn right, heading NE.
  3. 50 ftSharp left onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading NE.
  4. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  5. 0.6 miTurn right, heading S.
  6. 250 ftContinue straight onto Murray Lake Trail, heading NE.
  7. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Easy, heading E.
  8. 100 ftContinue straight onto Murray Lake Trail, heading E.
  9. 250 ftContinue straight onto Racoon Swamp, heading E.
  10. 0.1 miSharp left onto Murray Lake Trail, heading NE.
  11. 0.6 miTurn right onto Lost Loop, heading N.
  12. 150 ftBear right, heading NW.
  13. 100 ftSharp left, heading N.
  14. 0.2 miBear right onto Ralph's Ride, heading NE.
  15. 50 ftTurn left onto Lost Loop, heading NE.
  16. 100 ftTurn right onto Ralph's Ride, heading NE.
  17. 50 ftBear left onto Found Loop, heading NE.
  18. 0.1 miBear right onto Ralph's Ride, heading N.
  19. 200 ftBear right onto Found Loop, heading N.
  20. 300 ftContinue straight onto Ralph's Ride, heading NW.
  21. 50 ftBear right onto Found Loop, heading NW.
  22. 0.9 miPass Lime Lake.
  23. 0.7 miTurn right, heading N.
  24. 300 ftBear right, heading N.
  25. 350 ftTurn right, heading N.
  26. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  27. 450 ftPass Mt. Brighton Main Peak (South).
  28. 0.4 miSharp left, heading SE.
  29. 0.1 miSharp left, heading SE.
  30. 250 ftPass (Key Col of Mt. Brighton).
  31. 350 ftReach Mt. Brighton SubPeak (North), then turn around and head back the way you came.
  32. 0.1 miSharp right, heading SW.
  33. 0.1 miSharp right, heading E.
  34. 0.5 miTurn right, heading SE.
  35. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  36. 350 ftBear left, heading W.
  37. 300 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  38. 1.7 miBear left onto Ralph's Ride, heading S.
  39. 50 ftContinue straight onto Found Loop, heading S.
  40. 300 ftBear left onto Ralph's Ride, heading S.
  41. 200 ftBear left onto Found Loop, heading S.
  42. 0.1 miBear right onto Ralph's Ride, heading S.
  43. 50 ftTurn left onto Lost Loop, heading S.
  44. 100 ftTurn right onto Ralph's Ride, heading S.
  45. 50 ftBear left onto Lost Loop, heading S.
  46. 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
  47. 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
  48. 250 ftTurn left onto Murray Lake Trail, heading SW.
  49. 0.6 miSharp right onto Racoon Swamp, heading SW.
  50. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Murray Lake Trail, heading SW.
  51. 250 ftContinue straight onto Easy, heading SW.
  52. 100 ftContinue straight onto Murray Lake Trail, heading SW.
  53. 0.5 miTurn left onto Torn Shirt Trail, heading SE.
  54. 0.6 miTurn right, heading W.
  55. 0.2 miSharp right, heading SW.
  56. 50 ftTurn left onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading SW.
  57. 1.4 miArrive 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/mt-brighton-subpeak-north-mt-brighton-main-peak-south-out-back-7-sights

Trail surface

61% other1% dirt38% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:21 AMSunset 7:38 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:18 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:38 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 8:06 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Penosha Hiking Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Parishfield, Michigan