AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area

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

5.2 mi · ▲ 171 ft · 1 hr 49 min

Robinson Lake & Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach via Equestrian Trail is a 5.2-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, 2.6 miles in. It is mostly level, with 171 ft of elevation gain. It scores 19/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi968 – 1,086 ft5.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.67271, -83.44696
Nearest town Oxbow, MI
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

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

5.2 mi · ▲ 171 ft · 1 hr 49 min

Elevation 970–1,084 ft

Out & Back · Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area

Trailhead: 42.67271, -83.44696

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

Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 50 ftPass Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area Beach.
  3. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  4. 350 ftTurn left, heading N.
  5. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  6. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
  7. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  8. 0.1 miBear right onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading N.
  9. 400 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  10. 0.5 miBear right, heading N.
  11. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  12. 50 ftBear left onto Old Maceday Roadbed, heading N.
  13. 0.4 miTurn right onto Equestrian Trail, heading W.
  14. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading N.
  15. 0.4 miTurn left onto Old Orr Roadbed, heading W.
  16. 50 ftTurn right onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading W.
  17. 0.2 miReach Robinson Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 0.2 miTurn left onto Old Orr Roadbed, heading NW.
  19. 50 ftTurn right onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading W.
  20. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Equestrian Trail, heading SE.
  21. 0.2 miTurn left onto Old Maceday Roadbed, heading S.
  22. 0.4 miBear right, heading E.
  23. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  24. 300 ftBear left onto Mountain Bike Trail, heading E.
  25. 0.5 miBear left, heading S.
  26. 400 ftBear left, heading W.
  27. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
  28. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  29. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
  30. 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
  31. 350 ftTurn right, heading E.
  32. 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/robinson-lake-robinson-lake-out-back-3-lakes-8-km-c736

Trail surface

51% dirt49% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:20 AMSunset 7:37 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.5 mi in (~65 min). Leave by 6:11 PM for the 7:37 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:55 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Oxbow, Michigan