Brighton State Recreation Area
Rock Bath Overlook–Reed Lake, 6 sights
5.5 mi · ▲ 83 ft · 1 hr 52 min
Rock Bath Overlook–Reed Lake, 6 sights is a 5.5-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 Rock Bath Overlook at the turnaround, 2.7 miles in. It is mostly level, with 83 ft of elevation gain. It scores 55/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Rock Bath Overlook–Reed Lake, 6 sights
5.5 mi · ▲ 83 ft · 1 hr 52 min
Elevation 872–978 ft
Out & Back · Brighton State Recreation Area
Trailhead: 42.51402, -83.81188
Weather Sep 22: Overcast, high 65°F / low 47° · precip 0% · wind 9 mph · sunrise 7:23 AM · sunset 7:34 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Ralph's Ride, heading SE.
- 500 ftBear left onto Lost Loop, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading SW.
- 300 ftTurn left onto Murray Lake Trail, heading S.
- 0.6 miSharp right onto Racoon Swamp, heading S.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Murray Lake Trail, heading SE.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Easy, heading SE.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Murray Lake Trail, heading W.
- 0.5 miPass Reed Lake.
- 300 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 0.2 miPass Brighton State Recreation Area Beach.
- 50 ftBear left onto Murray Lake, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right onto Murray Lake Trail, heading W.
- 100 ftTurn right onto Torn Shirt & Murray Lake Trails, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Murray Lake Trail, heading W.
- 150 ftBear left onto Torn Shirt & Murray Lake Trails, heading W.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Murray Lake Trail, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Kahchin Hiking Trail, heading SW.
- 0.5 miReach Rock Bath Overlook, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Penosha Hiking Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Murray Lake Trail, heading N.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Torn Shirt & Murray Lake Trails, heading N.
- 50 ftBear right onto Murray Lake Trail, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Torn Shirt & Murray Lake Trails, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Murray Lake Trail, heading NW.
- 100 ftBear left onto Murray Lake, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right onto Murray Lake Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto Easy, heading E.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Murray Lake Trail, heading E.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Racoon Swamp, heading NE.
- 0.1 miSharp left onto Murray Lake Trail, heading E.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Lost Loop, heading E.
- 150 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 150 ftSharp left, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Ralph's Ride, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.7 mi in (~70 min). Leave by 6:04 PM for the 7:34 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:58 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Bishop Lake–Reed Lake, 5 sights 5.4 mi · ▲ 107 ft
- Mt. Brighton Main Peak (South) & Lime Lake via Found Loop 4.3 mi · ▲ 310 ft
- Reed Lake–Brighton State Recreation Area Beach, 5 sights 4.2 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Lost Loop & Racoon Swamp via Murray Lake Trail 2 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Mt. Brighton SubPeak (North)–Mt. Brighton Main Peak (South), 5 summits 5.6 mi · ▲ 352 ft
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