AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Brazos Bend State Park

Pilant Lake–Elm Lake, 10 lakes

5.8 mi · ▲ 61 ft · 1 hr 58 min

Pilant Lake–Elm Lake, 10 lakes is a 5.8-mile out-and-back in Brazos Bend State Park near English, TX. The route passes Hale Lake, Creekfield Lake, Elm Lake and 3 more before reaching Old Horseshoe Lake at the turnaround, 2.9 miles in. It is mostly level, with 61 ft of elevation gain. It scores 50/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi16 – 66 ft6.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 29.37614, -95.58309
Nearest town English, TX
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Pilant Lake–Elm Lake, 10 lakes

5.8 mi · ▲ 61 ft · 1 hr 58 min

Elevation 15–66 ft

Out & Back · Brazos Bend State Park

Trailhead: 29.37614, -95.58309

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:10 AM · sunset 7:23 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  3. 50 ftPass Hale Lake.
  4. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  5. 400 ftTurn right onto Hale Lake Loop Trail, heading N.
  6. 0.8 miTurn left onto Roadside Trail, heading NW.
  7. 0.3 miPass Creekfield Lake.
  8. 150 ftBear right onto Creekfield Lake Trail, heading W.
  9. 100 ftTurn left, heading W.
  10. 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  11. 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
  12. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  13. 100 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  14. 0.4 miPass Elm Lake.
  15. 250 ftContinue straight onto Elm Lake Loop Trail, heading W.
  16. 0.3 miPass New Horseshoe lake.
  17. 50 ftPass Pilant Lake.
  18. 150 ftPass Old Horseshoe Lake.
  19. 300 ftTurn right onto Horseshoe Lake Loop Trail, heading W.
  20. 0.5 miPass Old Horseshoe Lake.
  21. 300 ftReach Pilant Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  22. 0.5 miTurn left onto Elm Lake Loop Trail, heading E.
  23. 0.8 miTurn right, heading E.
  24. 100 ftBear right, heading SE.
  25. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  26. 100 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  27. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  28. 0.1 miTurn right onto Creekfield Lake Trail, heading S.
  29. 100 ftBear left onto Roadside Trail, heading S.
  30. 0.3 miTurn right onto Hale Lake Loop Trail, heading E.
  31. 0.2 miSharp left, heading NE.
  32. 0.6 miTurn left, heading NE.
  33. 350 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  34. 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
  35. 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/pilant-lake-elm-lake-out-back-14-lakes-9-km

Trail surface

47% other53% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:10 AMSunset 7:23 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.3 mi in (~32 min). Leave by 6:31 PM for the 7:23 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:10 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near English, Texas