Oak Circle–Woodland Viewpoint, 5 lakes
3.6 mi · ▲ 30 ft · 1 hr 13 min
Oak Circle–Woodland Viewpoint, 5 lakes is a 3.6-mile out-and-back in Indian Springs Metropark near Andersonville, MI. The route passes Discovery Pond, Vernal Pond, Oak Circle and Woodland Viewpoint before reaching Timberland Lake at the turnaround, 1.8 miles in. It is mostly level, with 30 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 61/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Oak Circle–Woodland Viewpoint, 5 lakes
3.6 mi · ▲ 30 ft · 1 hr 13 min
Elevation 993–1,041 ft
Out & Back · Indian Springs Metropark
Trailhead: 42.70442, -83.48028
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:21 AM · sunset 7:35 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 100 ftPass Discovery Pond.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 100 ftPass Vernal Pond.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 400 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Farmland Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miPass Oak Circle.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Pondside Trail, heading NW.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Woodland Trail, heading NW.
- 0.6 miSharp right onto Hunter's Ridge Shortcut, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Woodland Trail, heading W.
- 0.7 miPass Woodland Viewpoint.
- 50 ftPass Timberland Lake.
- 0.3 miReach Oak Circle, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1 miTurn right onto Hunter's Ridge Shortcut, heading SE.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Woodland Trail, heading SE.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto Pondside Trail, heading E.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Farmland Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right, heading E.
- 400 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 200 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.2 mi in (~4 min). Leave by 7:11 PM for the 7:35 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:54 PM — 9 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Oak Circle–Lower Pond, 4 lakes 5.9 mi · ▲ 30 ft
- Antique Tractors–Vernal Pond, 4 lakes 2.2 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Farmland Trail & Ski Trail 2.4 mi · ▲ 0 ft
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