AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area

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

8.1 mi · ▲ 707 ft · 3 hr 3 min

Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach & Equestrian Trail via Mountain Bike Trail is an 8.1-mile out-and-back in Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area near White Lake, MI. The route reaches Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach at the turnaround, 4 miles in. It climbs 707 ft, with sections as steep as 15% grade. It scores 36/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi968 – 1,152 ft · steepest grade: 15%9.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.67853, -83.50912
Nearest town White Lake, MI
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

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

8.1 mi · ▲ 707 ft · 3 hr 3 min

Elevation 969–1,150 ft

Out & Back · Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area

Trailhead: 42.67853, -83.50912

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
  3. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NE.
  4. 350 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  5. 0.1 miBear right, heading NE.
  6. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Equestrian Trail, heading NE.
  7. 1.5 miTurn left onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading NE.
  8. 50 ftContinue straight onto Equestrian Trail, heading NE.
  9. 350 ftTurn left, heading E.
  10. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Hiking Trail, heading SE.
  11. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Equestrian Trail, heading E.
  12. 0.4 miTurn right, heading SW.
  13. 0.1 miBear left onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading SE.
  14. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  15. 0.1 miReach Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  16. 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
  17. 0.1 miTurn left onto Equestrian Trail, heading N.
  18. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Hiking Trail, heading W.
  19. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Equestrian Trail, heading W.
  20. 0.9 miContinue straight onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading SW.
  21. 50 ftTurn right onto Equestrian Trail, heading SW.
  22. 1.6 miBear left, heading N.
  23. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  24. 350 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  25. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
  26. 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/pontiac-lake-state-recreation-area-beach-equestrian-trail-out-back-13-km

Trail surface

8% dirt92% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:21 AMSunset 7:35 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.4 mi in (~63 min). Leave by 6:12 PM for the 7:35 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:55 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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