Island Lake State Recreation Area
Purple Viewpoint & Blue Trail
5.2 mi · ▲ 141 ft · 1 hr 48 min
Purple Viewpoint & Blue Trail is a 5.2-mile out-and-back in Island Lake State Recreation Area near Green Oak, MI. The route reaches Purple Viewpoint at the turnaround, 2.6 miles in. It is mostly level, with 141 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Purple Viewpoint & Blue Trail
5.2 mi · ▲ 141 ft · 1 hr 48 min
Elevation 866–916 ft
Out & Back · Island Lake State Recreation Area
Trailhead: 42.51319, -83.71931
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:22 AM · sunset 7:36 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right onto Blue Trail, heading SW.
- 100 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.7 miBear left onto Yellow Trail, heading NE.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Yellow & Blue Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Blue Trail, heading E.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Yellow Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 450 ftSharp right onto Island Lake Pathway, heading N.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Meadow Picnic, heading E.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Purple Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftReach Purple Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 450 ftTurn right onto Meadow Picnic, heading NW.
- 450 ftTurn left onto Island Lake Pathway, heading W.
- 0.6 miSharp left, heading W.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 250 ftBear right onto Yellow Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Blue Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Yellow & Blue Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Yellow Trail, heading NE.
- 200 ftBear right onto Blue Trail, heading W.
- 0.7 miBear left, heading SW.
- 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 1.7 mi in (~45 min). Leave by 6:31 PM for the 7:36 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:35 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Island Lake State Recreation Area Beach & Blue Trail via Island Lake Pathway 6.9 mi · ▲ 110 ft
- Spring Mill Pond–Island Lake State Recreation Area Beach, 3 beaches 7.2 mi · ▲ 200 ft
- Mallard Lake & Blue Trail 6.9 mi · ▲ 168 ft
- Island Lake & Orchard - View Colony Beach via Blue Trail 2.2 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Blue Trail 2.3 mi · ▲ 58 ft
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