AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Brighton State Recreation Area

Reed Lake–Brighton State Recreation Area Beach, 6 sights

4.2 mi · ▲ 28 ft · 1 hr 25 min

Reed Lake–Brighton State Recreation Area Beach, 6 sights is a 4.2-mile out-and-back in Brighton State Recreation Area near Parishfield, MI. The route passes Brighton State Recreation Area Beach and Reed Lake. It is mostly level, with 28 ft of elevation gain. It scores 55/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi873 – 932 ft5.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.50073, -83.83503
Nearest town Parishfield, MI
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Reed Lake–Brighton State Recreation Area Beach, 6 sights

4.2 mi · ▲ 28 ft · 1 hr 25 min

Elevation 872–932 ft

Out & Back · Brighton State Recreation Area

Trailhead: 42.50073, -83.83503

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

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 50 ftPass Brighton State Recreation Area Beach.
  3. 150 ftBear right, heading SE.
  4. 300 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading NE.
  5. 100 ftTurn left onto Murray Lake Trail, heading NE.
  6. 150 ftContinue straight onto Torn Shirt & Murray Lake Trails, heading NW.
  7. 50 ftBear right onto Murray Lake Trail, heading NW.
  8. 150 ftTurn right onto Torn Shirt & Murray Lake Trails, heading NW.
  9. 150 ftTurn left onto Murray Lake Trail, heading NE.
  10. 100 ftBear left onto Murray Lake, heading E.
  11. 50 ftBear right onto Murray Lake Trail, heading E.
  12. 150 ftPass Reed Lake.
  13. 0.2 miBear right, heading E.
  14. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Easy, heading SE.
  15. 150 ftContinue straight onto Murray Lake Trail, heading E.
  16. 250 ftContinue straight onto Racoon Swamp, heading E.
  17. 0.1 miSharp left onto Murray Lake Trail, heading E.
  18. 0.6 miTurn right onto Lost Loop, heading S.
  19. 150 ftBear right, heading S.
  20. 150 ftSharp left, heading S.
  21. 0.2 miBear right onto Ralph's Ride, heading NE.
  22. 50 ftTurn left onto Lost Loop, heading N.
  23. 100 ftBear left onto Ralph's Ride, heading NE.
  24. 50 ftBear right onto Lost Loop, heading E.
  25. 50 ftContinue straight onto Found Loop, heading E.
  26. 50 ftReach Reed Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  27. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lost Loop, heading E.
  28. 50 ftBear left onto Ralph's Ride, heading E.
  29. 50 ftBear right onto Lost Loop, heading E.
  30. 100 ftTurn right onto Ralph's Ride, heading NE.
  31. 50 ftBear left onto Lost Loop, heading N.
  32. 0.2 miBear left, heading NE.
  33. 50 ftSharp right, heading NE.
  34. 250 ftTurn left onto Murray Lake Trail, heading N.
  35. 0.6 miSharp right onto Racoon Swamp, heading S.
  36. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Murray Lake Trail, heading SE.
  37. 250 ftContinue straight onto Easy, heading NW.
  38. 100 ftContinue straight onto Murray Lake Trail, heading NW.
  39. 0.6 miBear right, heading W.
  40. 0.2 miBear left onto Murray Lake, heading NW.
  41. 50 ftBear right onto Murray Lake Trail, heading W.
  42. 100 ftTurn right onto Torn Shirt & Murray Lake Trails, heading N.
  43. 200 ftTurn left onto Murray Lake Trail, heading W.
  44. 150 ftBear left onto Torn Shirt & Murray Lake Trails, heading NW.
  45. 50 ftContinue straight onto Murray Lake Trail, heading NW.
  46. 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
  47. 100 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading W.
  48. 350 ftBear left, heading SW.
  49. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/reed-lake-reed-lake-out-back-7-sights-7-km

Trail surface

96% other2% dirt1% boardwalk1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:21 AMSunset 7:38 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.3 mi in (~33 min). Leave by 6:45 PM for the 7:38 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:26 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Parishfield, Michigan