AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Heritage Park

The Giving Tree–Upper Rouge, 4 lakes

6.2 mi · ▲ 229 ft · 2 hr 11 min

The Giving Tree–Upper Rouge, 4 lakes is a 6.2-mile out-and-back in Heritage Park near Farmington Hills, MI. The route passes Upper Rouge, Stuart Little Pond and The Giving Tree. It is mostly level, with 229 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi728 – 863 ft8.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.49225, -83.35886
Nearest town Farmington Hills, MI
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

The Giving Tree–Upper Rouge, 4 lakes

6.2 mi · ▲ 229 ft · 2 hr 11 min

Elevation 728–862 ft

Out & Back · Heritage Park

Trailhead: 42.49225, -83.35886

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 7:21 AM · sunset 7:33 PM

Transit-accessible: Oakland / Orchard Lake (WB) stop 6 m from the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 0.2 miBear left, heading NW.
  3. 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
  4. 50 ftPass Upper Rouge.
  5. 350 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  6. 250 ftBear right, heading SW.
  7. 200 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  8. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  9. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  10. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  11. 150 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  12. 50 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  13. 50 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  14. 100 ftBear left, heading W.
  15. 150 ftBear left, heading W.
  16. 150 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  17. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  18. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  19. 100 ftBear right, heading SE.
  20. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  21. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  22. 1.1 miPass Stuart Little Pond.
  23. 400 ftTurn right, heading S.
  24. 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
  25. 50 ftBear right onto Spicer Trail, heading S.
  26. 500 ftTurn right onto River Trail, heading S.
  27. 0.3 miTurn right onto River View Trail, heading SW.
  28. 150 ftPass The Giving Tree.
  29. 150 ftContinue straight onto River Trail, heading NW.
  30. 450 ftBear right, heading SW.
  31. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Witherspoon Woods Trail, heading N.
  32. 500 ftReach The Giving Tree, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  33. 0.5 miBear left onto River Trail, heading N.
  34. 450 ftContinue straight onto River View Trail, heading NW.
  35. 300 ftTurn left onto River Trail, heading N.
  36. 0.3 miTurn left onto Spicer Trail, heading S.
  37. 500 ftBear left, heading E.
  38. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  39. 100 ftTurn left, heading E.
  40. 1.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  41. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  42. 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
  43. 100 ftTurn left, heading N.
  44. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  45. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  46. 150 ftBear right, heading N.
  47. 150 ftBear right, heading N.
  48. 100 ftSharp left, heading N.
  49. 50 ftSharp right, heading N.
  50. 50 ftSharp left, heading N.
  51. 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
  52. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  53. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  54. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  55. 200 ftBear left, heading N.
  56. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  57. 350 ftTurn right, heading N.
  58. 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
  59. 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/the-giving-tree-upper-rouge-out-back-5-lakes-10-km-7aed

Trail surface

35% paved13% dirt1% gravel51% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:21 AMSunset 7:33 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.6 mi in (~39 min). Leave by 6:33 PM for the 7:33 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:27 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Oakland / Orchard Lake (WB) stop 6 m from the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Farmington Hills, Michigan