AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area

Robinson Lake & Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach via Equestrian Trail

4.9 mi · ▲ 140 ft · 1 hr 42 min

Robinson Lake & Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach via Equestrian Trail is a 4.9-mile out-and-back in Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area near Oxbow, MI. The route passes Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach before reaching Robinson Lake at the turnaround, 2.4 miles in. It is mostly level, with 140 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 20/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi971 – 1,079 ft5.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.67327, -83.44445
Nearest town Oxbow, MI
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Robinson Lake & Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach via Equestrian Trail

4.9 mi · ▲ 140 ft · 1 hr 42 min

Elevation 972–1,080 ft

Out & Back · Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area

Trailhead: 42.67327, -83.44445

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:20 AM · sunset 7:37 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 50 ftPass Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach.
  3. 0.8 miSharp left, heading W.
  4. 200 ftBear right onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading W.
  5. 0.6 miTurn left, heading NW.
  6. 50 ftBear left onto Old Maceday Roadbed, heading NW.
  7. 0.4 miTurn right onto Equestrian Trail, heading W.
  8. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading W.
  9. 0.4 miTurn left onto Old Orr Roadbed, heading SW.
  10. 50 ftTurn right onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading SW.
  11. 0.2 miReach Robinson Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  12. 0.2 miTurn left onto Old Orr Roadbed, heading W.
  13. 50 ftTurn right onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading S.
  14. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Equestrian Trail, heading E.
  15. 0.2 miTurn left onto Old Maceday Roadbed, heading SE.
  16. 0.4 miBear right, heading E.
  17. 50 ftTurn right onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading E.
  18. 0.6 miBear left, heading S.
  19. 200 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  20. 0.6 miArrive 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/robinson-lake-robinson-lake-out-back-3-lakes-8-km-b289

Trail surface

61% dirt39% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:20 AMSunset 7:37 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.4 mi in (~65 min). Leave by 6:12 PM for the 7:37 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:54 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Oxbow, Michigan