Island Lake State Recreation Area
Purple Viewpoint–Spring Mill Pond, 4 beaches
5.8 mi · ▲ 84 ft · 1 hr 59 min
Purple Viewpoint–Spring Mill Pond, 4 beaches is a 5.8-mile out-and-back in Island Lake State Recreation Area near Green Oak, MI. The route passes Island Lake State Recreation Area Beach and Spring Mill Pond before reaching Purple Viewpoint at the turnaround, 2.9 miles in. It is mostly level, with 84 ft of elevation gain. It scores 3/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Purple Viewpoint–Spring Mill Pond, 4 beaches
5.8 mi · ▲ 84 ft · 1 hr 59 min
Elevation 865–918 ft
Out & Back · Island Lake State Recreation Area
Trailhead: Blue Trail · 42.49468, -83.73324
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:22 AM · sunset 7:36 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Blue Trail, heading E.
- 1.7 miPass Island Lake State Recreation Area Beach.
- 500 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 250 ftPass Spring Mill Pond.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 200 ftBear left, heading E.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Purple Trail, heading NE.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading NE.
- 0.1 miSharp right, heading NE.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 100 ftReach Purple Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 200 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading NE.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Blue Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 1.7 miArrive 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 (~56 min). Leave by 6:20 PM for the 7:36 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:47 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Blue Trail Trailhead
- Briggs Lake–Spring Mill Pond, 5 beaches 10.5 mi · ▲ 162 ft
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