AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Brighton State Recreation Area

Reed Lake–Little Appleton Lake, 7 sights

5.4 mi · ▲ 112 ft · 1 hr 51 min

Reed Lake–Little Appleton Lake, 7 sights is a 5.4-mile out-and-back in Brighton State Recreation Area near Parishfield, MI. The route passes Reed Lake and Brighton State Recreation Area Beach before reaching Little Appleton Lake at the turnaround, 2.7 miles in. It is mostly level, with 112 ft of elevation gain. It scores 51/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi873 – 932 ft6.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.51743, -83.81126
Nearest town Parishfield, MI
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Reed Lake–Little Appleton Lake, 7 sights

5.4 mi · ▲ 112 ft · 1 hr 51 min

Elevation 872–932 ft

Out & Back · Brighton State Recreation Area

Trailhead: 42.51743, -83.81126

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:21 AM · sunset 7:38 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 350 ftContinue straight onto Found Loop, heading W.
  3. 250 ftBear left onto Ralph's Ride, heading S.
  4. 50 ftContinue straight onto Found Loop, heading SW.
  5. 250 ftBear left onto Ralph's Ride, heading SW.
  6. 200 ftBear left onto Found Loop, heading S.
  7. 0.1 miBear right onto Ralph's Ride, heading SE.
  8. 50 ftTurn left onto Lost Loop, heading SE.
  9. 50 ftTurn right onto Ralph's Ride, heading SE.
  10. 50 ftBear left onto Lost Loop, heading SE.
  11. 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
  12. 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
  13. 300 ftTurn left onto Murray Lake Trail, heading SE.
  14. 0.6 miSharp right onto Racoon Swamp, heading SE.
  15. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Murray Lake Trail, heading SW.
  16. 250 ftContinue straight onto Easy, heading S.
  17. 150 ftContinue straight onto Murray Lake Trail, heading SE.
  18. 0.5 miPass Reed Lake.
  19. 350 ftBear right, heading W.
  20. 0.2 miPass Brighton State Recreation Area Beach.
  21. 50 ftBear left onto Murray Lake, heading W.
  22. 50 ftBear right onto Murray Lake Trail, heading W.
  23. 100 ftTurn right onto Torn Shirt & Murray Lake Trails, heading W.
  24. 150 ftTurn left onto Murray Lake Trail, heading SW.
  25. 150 ftBear left onto Torn Shirt & Murray Lake Trails, heading W.
  26. 50 ftContinue straight onto Murray Lake Trail, heading W.
  27. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  28. 50 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading W.
  29. 350 ftTurn right onto Appleton Lake Loop, heading W.
  30. 0.2 miPass Little Appleton Lake.
  31. 250 ftReach Reed Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  32. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  33. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NE.
  34. 300 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading NE.
  35. 100 ftTurn left onto Murray Lake Trail, heading NW.
  36. 150 ftContinue straight onto Torn Shirt & Murray Lake Trails, heading NW.
  37. 50 ftBear right onto Murray Lake Trail, heading NW.
  38. 150 ftTurn right onto Torn Shirt & Murray Lake Trails, heading NW.
  39. 150 ftTurn left onto Murray Lake Trail, heading N.
  40. 100 ftBear left onto Murray Lake, heading SW.
  41. 50 ftBear right onto Murray Lake Trail, heading SW.
  42. 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
  43. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Easy, heading E.
  44. 150 ftContinue straight onto Murray Lake Trail, heading NE.
  45. 250 ftContinue straight onto Racoon Swamp, heading NE.
  46. 0.1 miSharp left onto Murray Lake Trail, heading E.
  47. 0.6 miTurn right onto Lost Loop, heading S.
  48. 150 ftBear right, heading S.
  49. 150 ftSharp left, heading E.
  50. 0.2 miBear right onto Ralph's Ride, heading E.
  51. 50 ftTurn left onto Lost Loop, heading E.
  52. 100 ftTurn right onto Ralph's Ride, heading NE.
  53. 50 ftBear left onto Found Loop, heading NE.
  54. 0.1 miBear right onto Ralph's Ride, heading SE.
  55. 200 ftBear right onto Found Loop, heading NW.
  56. 250 ftContinue straight onto Ralph's Ride, heading NE.
  57. 50 ftBear right onto Found Loop, heading NE.
  58. 400 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/reed-lake-little-appleton-lake-out-back-9-sights-9-km

Trail surface

84% other3% dirt1% boardwalk12% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:21 AMSunset 7:38 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~30 min). Leave by 6:48 PM for the 7:38 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:22 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Hikes near Parishfield, Michigan