Island Lake State Recreation Area
Purple Viewpoint & Island Lake State Recreation Area Beach via Island Lake Pathway
3.8 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 1 hr 17 min
Purple Viewpoint & Island Lake State Recreation Area Beach via Island Lake Pathway is a 3.8-mile out-and-back in Island Lake State Recreation Area near Green Oak, MI. The route passes Island Lake State Recreation Area Beach and Island Lake State Recreation Area Beach before reaching Purple Viewpoint at the turnaround, 1.9 miles in. It is mostly level, with 27 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Purple Viewpoint & Island Lake State Recreation Area Beach via Island Lake Pathway
3.8 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 1 hr 17 min
Elevation 876–925 ft
Out & Back · Island Lake State Recreation Area
Trailhead: Hickory Ridge Trail · 42.51122, -83.68530
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:22 AM · sunset 7:36 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Hickory Ridge Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftPass Island Lake State Recreation Area Beach.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Island Lake Pathway, heading SW.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
- 50 ftPass Island Lake State Recreation Area Beach.
- 0.9 miBear left onto Meadow Picnic, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.2 miSharp right, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 100 ftReach Purple Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Island Lake Pathway, heading NE.
- 0.9 miBear right, heading E.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Hickory Ridge Trail, heading SE.
- 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 0.1 mi in (~2 min). Leave by 7:14 PM for the 7:36 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:52 PM — 12 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
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