AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area

Pontiac Lake & Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach via Mountain Bike Trail

2.8 mi · ▲ 210 ft · 1 hr 2 min

Pontiac Lake & Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach via Mountain Bike Trail is a 2.8-mile out-and-back in Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area near Oxbow, MI. The route passes Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach and Pontiac Lake before reaching Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach at the turnaround, 1.2 miles in. It is mostly level, with 210 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi968 – 1,076 ft3.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.67327, -83.44445
Nearest town Oxbow, MI
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Pontiac Lake & Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach via Mountain Bike Trail

2.8 mi · ▲ 210 ft · 1 hr 2 min

Elevation 967–1,075 ft

Out & Back · Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area

Trailhead: 42.67327, -83.44445

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:21 AM · sunset 7:35 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 50 ftPass Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach.
  3. 0.5 miTurn left, heading W.
  4. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  5. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading S.
  6. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  7. 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
  8. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Hiking Trail, heading S.
  9. 50 ftPass Pontiac Lake.
  10. 350 ftTurn right, heading S.
  11. 50 ftPass Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach.
  12. 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
  13. 0.2 miBear left onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading N.
  14. 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
  15. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  16. 150 ftBear left, heading NE.
  17. 200 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  18. 0.6 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/pontiac-lake-pontiac-lake-state-recreation-area-beach-out-back-3-beaches

Trail surface

31% dirt69% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:21 AMSunset 7:35 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~32 min). Leave by 6:43 PM for the 7:35 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:22 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 Oxbow, Michigan