Island Lake State Recreation Area
Purple Viewpoint–Orchard - View Colony Beach, 3 beaches
6.2 mi · ▲ 135 ft · 2 hr 8 min
Purple Viewpoint–Orchard - View Colony Beach, 3 beaches is a 6.2-mile out-and-back in Island Lake State Recreation Area near Green Oak, MI. The route passes Orchard - View Colony Beach before reaching Purple Viewpoint at the turnaround, 3.1 miles in. It is mostly level, with 135 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Purple Viewpoint–Orchard - View Colony Beach, 3 beaches
6.2 mi · ▲ 135 ft · 2 hr 8 min
Elevation 866–922 ft
Out & Back · Island Lake State Recreation Area
Trailhead: 42.50591, -83.73628
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:22 AM · sunset 7:36 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Blue Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miPass Orchard - View Colony Beach.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.6 miBear left onto Yellow Trail, heading E.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Yellow & Blue Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Blue Trail, heading E.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Yellow Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 450 ftSharp right onto Island Lake Pathway, heading NE.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Meadow Picnic, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.2 miSharp right, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 100 ftReach Purple Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading SE.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Island Lake Pathway, heading NW.
- 0.7 miSharp left, heading W.
- 400 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 N.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.9 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn 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 6:18 PM for the 7:36 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:49 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Island Lake–Trout Lake, 6 beaches 8.7 mi · ▲ 81 ft
- Orchard - View Colony Beach & Blue Trail 2.7 mi · ▲ 108 ft
- Trout Lake–Island Lake State Recreation Area Beach, 4 beaches 7.8 mi · ▲ 135 ft
- Spring Mill Pond–Orchard - View Colony Beach, 4 beaches 8 mi · ▲ 189 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Green Oak, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Green Oak, Michigan