Bald Mountain State Recreation Area
New Bald Mountain–West Graham Lake, 7 lakes
3.5 mi · ▲ 139 ft · 1 hr 14 min
New Bald Mountain–West Graham Lake, 7 lakes is a 3.5-mile out-and-back in Bald Mountain State Recreation Area near Rudds Mill, MI. The route passes West Graham Lake, Shoe Lake, Heart Lake and 3 more before reaching Carpenter Lake at the turnaround, 1.7 miles in. It is mostly level, with 139 ft of elevation gain. It scores 19/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
New Bald Mountain–West Graham Lake, 7 lakes
3.5 mi · ▲ 139 ft · 1 hr 14 min
Elevation 951–1,009 ft
Out & Back · Bald Mountain State Recreation Area
Trailhead: Orange · 42.79091, -83.19868
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:20 AM · sunset 7:34 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Orange, heading S.
- 50 ftPass West Graham Lake.
- 50 ftBear right, heading S.
- 0.1 miPass Shoe Lake.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
- 0.1 miPass Heart Lake.
- 250 ftTurn left onto White, heading S.
- 0.2 miPass Tamarack Lake.
- 100 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.6 miTurn left onto Blue, heading W.
- 0.2 miPass Carpenter Lake.
- 0.3 miPass Carpenter Lake.
- 100 ftSharp right, heading SW.
- 50 ftReach New Bald Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto White, heading N.
- 0.6 miBear left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Orange, heading E.
- 450 ftBear left, heading E.
- 100 ftBear right, heading N.
- 0.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.5 mi in (~40 min). Leave by 6:34 PM for the 7:34 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:30 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Orange Trailhead
- West Graham Lake–Heart Lake, 7 lakes 3.5 mi · ▲ 31 ft
- Buhl Lake–Prince Lake, 9 lakes 5.2 mi · ▲ 202 ft
- Prince Lake–West Graham Lake Loop, 6 lakes 3.1 mi · ▲ 81 ft
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