Island Lake State Recreation Area
Purple Viewpoint via Yellow Trail
3.5 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 10 min
Purple Viewpoint via Yellow Trail is a 3.5-mile out-and-back in Island Lake State Recreation Area near Green Oak, MI. The route reaches Purple Viewpoint at the turnaround, 1.8 miles in. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Purple Viewpoint via Yellow Trail
3.5 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 10 min
Elevation 869–911 ft
Out & Back · Island Lake State Recreation Area
Trailhead: 42.51676, -83.69102
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:22 AM · sunset 7:36 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Yellow Trail, heading S.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 150 ftBear right onto Island Lake Pathway, heading W.
- 0.5 miBear left onto Meadow Picnic, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.2 miSharp right, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftReach Purple Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading SE.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Island Lake Pathway, heading N.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Yellow Trail, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading E.
- 150 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 1.2 mi in (~29 min). Leave by 6:46 PM for the 7:36 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:20 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Yellow Trail 4 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Blue Trail & Island Lake Pathway via Yellow Trail 4.7 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Yellow Trail 3.7 mi · ▲ 85 ft
- Yellow Trail 3.9 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Blue Trail via Yellow Trail 5.7 mi · ▲ 113 ft
- Yellow Trail 3.7 mi · ▲ 57 ft
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