AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Indian Springs Metropark

Oak Circle–Lower Pond, 4 lakes

5.9 mi · ▲ 30 ft · 1 hr 59 min

Oak Circle–Lower Pond, 4 lakes is a 5.9-mile out-and-back in Indian Springs Metropark near Andersonville, MI. The route passes Discovery Pond, Vernal Pond and Oak Circle before reaching Lower Pond at the turnaround, 3 miles in. It is mostly level, with 30 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 64/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi991 – 1,040 ft7.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.70442, -83.48028
Nearest town Andersonville, MI
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Oak Circle–Lower Pond, 4 lakes

5.9 mi · ▲ 30 ft · 1 hr 59 min

Elevation 991–1,041 ft

Out & Back · Indian Springs Metropark

Trailhead: 42.70442, -83.48028

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:20 AM · sunset 7:37 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  3. 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
  4. 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  5. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  6. 100 ftPass Discovery Pond.
  7. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  8. 100 ftPass Vernal Pond.
  9. 100 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  10. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  11. 400 ftBear left, heading NW.
  12. 50 ftTurn left onto Farmland Trail, heading NW.
  13. 0.2 miPass Oak Circle.
  14. 200 ftContinue straight onto Pondside Trail, heading NW.
  15. 150 ftContinue straight onto Woodland Trail, heading NW.
  16. 0.6 miSharp right onto Hunter's Ridge Shortcut, heading W.
  17. 50 ftTurn left onto Woodland Trail, heading W.
  18. 1.9 miPass Lower Pond.
  19. 0.4 miReach Oak Circle, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  20. 2.3 miTurn right onto Hunter's Ridge Shortcut, heading SE.
  21. 50 ftSharp left onto Woodland Trail, heading SE.
  22. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Pondside Trail, heading E.
  23. 100 ftContinue straight onto Farmland Trail, heading E.
  24. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  25. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  26. 400 ftTurn left, heading N.
  27. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  28. 200 ftBear right, heading N.
  29. 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  30. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  31. 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  32. 150 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  33. 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/oak-circle-lower-pond-out-back-5-lakes

Trail surface

78% dirt22% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:20 AMSunset 7:37 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.2 mi in (~5 min). Leave by 7:12 PM for the 7:37 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:56 PM — 9 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Andersonville, Michigan