Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area
Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach & Equestrian Trail via Mountain Bike Trail
8.9 mi · ▲ 628 ft · 3 hr 17 min
Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach & Equestrian Trail via Mountain Bike Trail is an 8.9-mile out-and-back in Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area near Oxbow, MI. The route reaches Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach at the turnaround, 4.3 miles in. It climbs 628 ft. It scores 29/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach & Equestrian Trail via Mountain Bike Trail
8.9 mi · ▲ 628 ft · 3 hr 17 min
Elevation 970–1,150 ft
Out & Back · Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area
Trailhead: 42.67562, -83.50360
Weather Sep 22: sunrise 7:22 AM · sunset 7:33 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.
- 1.5 miTurn left onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Equestrian Trail, heading NE.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.8 miContinue straight onto Hiking Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Equestrian Trail, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading SE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Hiking Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Equestrian Trail, heading E.
- 350 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 150 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 300 ftTurn right onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading NE.
- 350 ftSharp left, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.4 miPass Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.1 miReach Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
- 300 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 150 ftBear left onto Equestrian Trail, heading N.
- 400 ftBear right onto Hiking Trail, heading SW.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Equestrian Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Hiking Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Equestrian Trail, heading W.
- 0.9 miContinue straight onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Equestrian Trail, heading W.
- 1.6 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
- 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 2.2 mi in (~58 min). Leave by 6:15 PM for the 7:33 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:45 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
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
- Mountain Bike Trail 6.5 mi · ▲ 617 ft
- Equestrian Trail 3.3 mi · ▲ 169 ft
- Mountain Bike Trail 5.7 mi · ▲ 562 ft
- Mountain Bike Trail 5.4 mi · ▲ 535 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Oxbow, emailed to you once a week.
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