AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Brighton State Recreation Area

Mt. Brighton SubPeak (North)–Mt. Brighton Main Peak (South), 8 sights

8.8 mi · ▲ 382 ft · 3 hr 7 min

Mt. Brighton SubPeak (North)–Mt. Brighton Main Peak (South), 8 sights is an 8.8-mile out-and-back in Brighton State Recreation Area near Parishfield, MI. The route passes Reed Lake, Lime Lake, Mt. Brighton Main Peak (South) and Mt. Brighton SubPeak (North) before reaching (Key Col of Mt. Brighton) at the turnaround, 4.4 miles in. It climbs 382 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade. It scores 27/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi873 – 1,106 ft · steepest grade: 16%9.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.50277, -83.82648
Nearest town Parishfield, MI
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mt. Brighton SubPeak (North)–Mt. Brighton Main Peak (South), 8 sights

8.8 mi · ▲ 382 ft · 3 hr 7 min

Elevation 872–1,107 ft

Out & Back · Brighton State Recreation Area

Trailhead: 42.50277, -83.82648

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 50 ftPass Reed Lake.
  3. 50 ftTurn right onto Murray Lake Trail, heading E.
  4. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Easy, heading E.
  5. 150 ftContinue straight onto Murray Lake Trail, heading E.
  6. 250 ftContinue straight onto Racoon Swamp, heading E.
  7. 0.1 miSharp left onto Murray Lake Trail, heading SE.
  8. 0.6 miTurn right onto Lost Loop, heading N.
  9. 150 ftBear right, heading N.
  10. 100 ftSharp left, heading N.
  11. 0.2 miBear right onto Ralph's Ride, heading N.
  12. 50 ftTurn left onto Lost Loop, heading N.
  13. 100 ftTurn right onto Ralph's Ride, heading NW.
  14. 50 ftBear left onto Found Loop, heading NW.
  15. 0.1 miBear right onto Ralph's Ride, heading NE.
  16. 200 ftBear right onto Found Loop, heading NW.
  17. 300 ftContinue straight onto Ralph's Ride, heading NW.
  18. 50 ftBear right onto Found Loop, heading NW.
  19. 1 miPass Lime Lake.
  20. 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
  21. 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
  22. 0.5 miTurn right, heading N.
  23. 250 ftBear right, heading N.
  24. 350 ftTurn right, heading N.
  25. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  26. 0.1 miPass Mt. Brighton Main Peak (South).
  27. 0.4 miSharp left, heading SE.
  28. 0.1 miSharp left, heading NE.
  29. 250 ftPass (Key Col of Mt. Brighton).
  30. 300 ftReach Mt. Brighton SubPeak (North), then turn around and head back the way you came.
  31. 0.1 miSharp right, heading SW.
  32. 0.1 miSharp right, heading NW.
  33. 0.5 miTurn right, heading W.
  34. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  35. 350 ftBear left, heading W.
  36. 250 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  37. 0.5 miBear right, heading NE.
  38. 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
  39. 1.1 miBear left onto Ralph's Ride, heading S.
  40. 50 ftContinue straight onto Found Loop, heading S.
  41. 300 ftBear left onto Ralph's Ride, heading S.
  42. 200 ftBear left onto Found Loop, heading S.
  43. 0.1 miBear right onto Ralph's Ride, heading S.
  44. 50 ftTurn left onto Lost Loop, heading S.
  45. 100 ftTurn right onto Ralph's Ride, heading S.
  46. 50 ftBear left onto Lost Loop, heading S.
  47. 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
  48. 50 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  49. 250 ftTurn left onto Murray Lake Trail, heading W.
  50. 0.6 miSharp right onto Racoon Swamp, heading SE.
  51. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Murray Lake Trail, heading SW.
  52. 250 ftContinue straight onto Easy, heading W.
  53. 100 ftContinue straight onto Murray Lake Trail, heading SW.
  54. 0.6 miTurn left, heading SE.
  55. 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/mt-brighton-subpeak-north-mt-brighton-main-peak-south-out-back-8-sights

Trail surface

43% other1% dirt56% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:21 AMSunset 7:38 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.7 mi in (~96 min). Leave by 5:42 PM for the 7:38 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:27 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