AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Brazos Bend State Park

Pilant Lake–Elm Lake, 11 sights

5.2 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 44 min

Pilant Lake–Elm Lake, 11 sights is a 5.2-mile out-and-back in Brazos Bend State Park near Whaley Corner, TX. The route passes 40 Acre Lake, Pilant Lake, 40 Acre Lake and 4 more. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain. It scores 49/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi43 – 66 ft5.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 29.37106, -95.63035
Nearest town Whaley Corner, TX
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Pilant Lake–Elm Lake, 11 sights

5.2 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 44 min

Elevation 43–66 ft

Out & Back · Brazos Bend State Park

Trailhead: 29.37106, -95.63035

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:11 AM · sunset 7:23 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 0.2 miTurn right onto Hoot's Hollow Trail, heading NE.
  3. 50 ftPass 40 Acre Lake.
  4. 50 ftPass Pilant Lake.
  5. 50 ftTurn left onto 40 Acre Lake Trail, heading NE.
  6. 0.3 miPass 40 Acre Lake.
  7. 50 ftContinue straight onto Spillway Trail, heading E.
  8. 0.6 miPass Elm Lake.
  9. 50 ftTurn left onto Elm Lake Loop Trail, heading N.
  10. 0.3 miPass New Horseshoe lake.
  11. 50 ftPass Old Horseshoe Lake.
  12. 0.2 miReach Pilant Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  13. 0.3 miPass Elm Lake.
  14. 0.6 miTurn right, heading E.
  15. 100 ftBear right, heading E.
  16. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  17. 100 ftTurn right onto Pilant Slough Trail, heading E.
  18. 0.5 miBear left onto Live Oak Trail, heading SW.
  19. 1.6 miContinue straight onto 40 Acre Lake Trail, heading W.
  20. 0.2 miBear right, heading W.
  21. 0.1 miTurn right onto Prairie Trail, heading NW.
  22. 50 ftBear left onto 40 Acre Lake Trail, heading N.
  23. 250 ftTurn left onto Hoot's Hollow Trail, heading N.
  24. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  25. 0.1 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/pilant-lake-elm-lake-out-back-14-lakes-8-km

Trail surface

27% other8% gravel65% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:11 AMSunset 7:23 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:03 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:23 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:47 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Whaley Corner, Texas