Bald Mountain State Recreation Area
Heron Hollow Pond & Bullfrog Bog via Polly Ann Trail
8.3 mi · ▲ 146 ft · 2 hr 50 min
Heron Hollow Pond & Bullfrog Bog via Polly Ann Trail is an 8.3-mile out-and-back in Bald Mountain State Recreation Area near Lake Orion Heights, MI. The route passes Heron Hollow Pond before reaching Bullfrog Bog at the turnaround, 4.2 miles in. It is mostly level, with 146 ft of elevation gain. It scores 2/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Heron Hollow Pond & Bullfrog Bog via Polly Ann Trail
8.3 mi · ▲ 146 ft · 2 hr 50 min
Elevation 985–1,054 ft
Out & Back · Bald Mountain State Recreation Area
Trailhead: 42.75916, -83.26889
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:19 AM · sunset 7:36 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 350 ftBear right, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
- 150 ftBear left, heading W.
- 0.6 miSharp left onto Polly Ann Trail, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 400 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.1 miSharp right, heading S.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.8 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.7 miPass Bullfrog Bog.
- 250 ftReach Heron Hollow Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.8 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.8 miTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.3 miSharp right, heading E.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.5 miSharp right, heading NE.
- 0.6 miBear right, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
- 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 3.6 mi in (~89 min). Leave by 5:47 PM for the 7:36 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:20 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Tommys Lake & Elkhorn Lake via Polly Ann Trail 4.3 mi · ▲ 53 ft
- Square Lake & Tommys Lake via Polly Ann Trail 4.2 mi · ▲ 53 ft
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