AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Watkins Lake–Silver Lake, 3 lakes

12.9 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 4 hr 18 min

Watkins Lake–Silver Lake, 3 lakes is a 12.9-mile out-and-back near Lake Angelus, MI. The route passes Silver Lake and Scott Lake before reaching Watkins Lake at the turnaround, 6.3 miles in. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi951 – 991 ft14.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.67747, -83.28733
Nearest town Lake Angelus, MI
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Watkins Lake–Silver Lake, 3 lakes

12.9 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 4 hr 18 min

Elevation 950–992 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 42.67747, -83.28733

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:19 AM · sunset 7:36 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  3. 0.2 miBear right, heading W.
  4. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  5. 1 miBear left, heading W.
  6. 350 ftTurn left, heading W.
  7. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  8. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  9. 1.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  10. 0.7 miPass Silver Lake.
  11. 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
  12. 0.2 miPass Scott Lake.
  13. 1.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  14. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  15. 0.5 miBear right, heading W.
  16. 0.8 miBear left, heading W.
  17. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  18. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  19. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  20. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  21. 250 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  22. 100 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  23. 250 ftPass Watkins Lake.
  24. 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
  25. 50 ftSharp right, heading W.
  26. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  27. 200 ftBear left, heading W.
  28. 350 ftReach Watkins Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  29. 300 ftBear right, heading NW.
  30. 250 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  31. 100 ftSharp left, heading NW.
  32. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  33. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  34. 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  35. 250 ftBear right, heading NW.
  36. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  37. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  38. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  39. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  40. 0.8 miBear left, heading SE.
  41. 0.5 miTurn left, heading E.
  42. 100 ftTurn left, heading E.
  43. 1.4 miTurn right, heading N.
  44. 1 miTurn left, heading N.
  45. 1.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
  46. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  47. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  48. 350 ftBear right, heading NE.
  49. 1 miBear right, heading NE.
  50. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  51. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  52. 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/silver-lake-out-back-5755

Trail surface

39% paved61% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:19 AMSunset 7:36 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.0 mi in (~48 min). Leave by 6:27 PM for the 7:36 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:40 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Lake Angelus, Michigan