AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area

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

4.9 mi · ▲ 547 ft · 1 hr 54 min

Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach & Equestrian Trail via Mountain Bike Trail is a 4.9-mile out-and-back in Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area near Andersonville, MI. The route reaches Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach at the turnaround, 2.5 miles in. It climbs 547 ft. It scores 26/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi971 – 1,152 ft5.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.68627, -83.48204
Nearest town Andersonville, MI
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

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

4.9 mi · ▲ 547 ft · 1 hr 54 min

Elevation 971–1,150 ft

Out & Back · Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area

Trailhead: 42.68627, -83.48204

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

Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 0.1 miTurn left onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading SE.
  3. 0.5 miSharp left onto Equestrian Trail, heading NE.
  4. 350 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  5. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Hiking Trail, heading SE.
  6. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Equestrian Trail, heading SE.
  7. 0.4 miTurn right, heading NE.
  8. 0.1 miBear left onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading NE.
  9. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  10. 0.1 miReach Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
  12. 0.1 miTurn left onto Equestrian Trail, heading NW.
  13. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Hiking Trail, heading SW.
  14. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Equestrian Trail, heading NE.
  15. 0.9 miSharp right onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading W.
  16. 0.5 miTurn right, heading W.
  17. 450 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-8-km

Trail surface

33% dirt67% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:20 AMSunset 7:37 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.9 mi in (~23 min). Leave by 6:54 PM for the 7:37 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:14 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Andersonville, Michigan