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
Getting there
Directions
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
- Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading NE.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Equestrian Trail, heading NE.
- 1.7 miTurn right onto Rich's Loop (Equestrian Trail), heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Equestrian Trail, heading E.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Equestrian Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading SE.
- 450 ftContinue straight onto Equestrian Trail, heading N.
- 300 ftPass Robinson Lake.
- 350 ftBear left onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading N.
- 350 ftTurn left onto The Chute, heading N.
- 50 ftBear right onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Old Orr Roadbed, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading N.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Equestrian Trail, heading SE.
- 0.9 miTurn left onto Hiking Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Equestrian Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miPass Equestrian Viewpoint.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading S.
- 350 ftSharp right, heading S.
- 50 ftReach Pontiac Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading N.
- 100 ftBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftPass Mountain Bike Viewpoint.
- 50 ftPass Rock Garden.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading W.
- 200 ftSharp left onto Equestrian Trail, heading NW.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Equestrian Trail, heading SW.
- 1.6 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
- 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 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
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Mountain Bike Trail 6.6 mi · ▲ 617 ft
- Equestrian Trail 4.1 mi · ▲ 222 ft
- Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach & Equestrian Trail via Mountain Bike Trail 8.9 mi · ▲ 628 ft
- Mountain Bike Trail 6.5 mi · ▲ 617 ft
- Equestrian Trail 3.3 mi · ▲ 169 ft
- Mountain Bike Trail 5.7 mi · ▲ 562 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Oxbow, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Oxbow, Michigan