Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area

Pontiac Lake–Mountain Bike Viewpoint, 8 sights

7.5 mi · ▲ 482 ft · 2 hr 44 min

Pontiac Lake–Mountain Bike Viewpoint, 8 sights is a 7.5-mile out-and-back in Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area near Oxbow, MI. The route passes Robinson Lake, Equestrian Viewpoint, Pontiac Lake and 2 more. It climbs 482 ft. It scores 40/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi971 – 1,135 ft8.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.67562, -83.50360
Nearest town Oxbow, MI

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Pontiac Lake–Mountain Bike Viewpoint, 8 sights

7.5 mi · ▲ 482 ft · 2 hr 44 min

Elevation 970–1,135 ft

Out & Back · Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area

Trailhead: 42.67562, -83.50360

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  3. 0.1 miBear right, heading NE.
  4. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Equestrian Trail, heading NE.
  5. 1.7 miTurn right onto Rich's Loop (Equestrian Trail), heading E.
  6. 50 ftTurn left onto Equestrian Trail, heading E.
  7. 250 ftContinue straight onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading E.
  8. 0.2 miBear left onto Equestrian Trail, heading SE.
  9. 50 ftBear left onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading SE.
  10. 450 ftContinue straight onto Equestrian Trail, heading N.
  11. 300 ftPass Robinson Lake.
  12. 350 ftBear left onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading N.
  13. 350 ftTurn left onto The Chute, heading N.
  14. 50 ftBear right onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading N.
  15. 0.2 miTurn left onto Old Orr Roadbed, heading N.
  16. 50 ftTurn right onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading N.
  17. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Equestrian Trail, heading SE.
  18. 0.9 miTurn left onto Hiking Trail, heading S.
  19. 50 ftContinue straight onto Equestrian Trail, heading S.
  20. 0.2 miPass Equestrian Viewpoint.
  21. 0.1 miBear right onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading S.
  22. 350 ftSharp right, heading S.
  23. 50 ftReach Pontiac Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  24. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  25. 0.6 miTurn left, heading N.
  26. 100 ftBear right, heading W.
  27. 50 ftPass Mountain Bike Viewpoint.
  28. 50 ftPass Rock Garden.
  29. 0.2 miBear right, heading W.
  30. 200 ftSharp left onto Equestrian Trail, heading NW.
  31. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading W.
  32. 50 ftTurn right onto Equestrian Trail, heading SW.
  33. 1.6 miBear left, heading N.
  34. 0.1 miTurn 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 surface

48% dirt52% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:20 AMSunset 7:37 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~29 min). Leave by 6:48 PM for the 7:37 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:21 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