AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Marshbank Park

Union Lake–Upper Straits Lake, 5 lakes

10.2 mi · ▲ 111 ft · 3 hr 27 min

Union Lake–Upper Straits Lake, 5 lakes is a 10.2-mile out-and-back in Marshbank Park near Westacres, MI. The route passes Green Lake, Union Lake, Aero View Beach and Upper Straits Lake before reaching Middle Straits Lake at the turnaround, 5.1 miles in. It is mostly level, with 111 ft of elevation gain. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi929 – 988 ft11.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.59881, -83.43384
Nearest town Westacres, MI
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Union Lake–Upper Straits Lake, 5 lakes

10.2 mi · ▲ 111 ft · 3 hr 27 min

Elevation 928–989 ft

Out & Back · Marshbank Park

Trailhead: 42.59881, -83.43384

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:21 AM · sunset 7:35 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 0.6 miPass Green Lake.
  3. 50 ftPass Union Lake.
  4. 50 ftPass Aero View Beach.
  5. 1 miTurn right, heading E.
  6. 0.8 miTurn right, heading SE.
  7. 0.7 miTurn right, heading S.
  8. 350 ftTurn right, heading E.
  9. 250 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  10. 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  11. 0.2 miBear right, heading SW.
  12. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  13. 400 ftTurn left, heading S.
  14. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  15. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  16. 150 ftSharp right, heading S.
  17. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  18. 0.6 miTurn left, heading W.
  19. 300 ftTurn left, heading W.
  20. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  21. 0.6 miPass Upper Straits Lake.
  22. 0.3 miPass Middle Straits Lake.
  23. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  24. 50 ftReach Union Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  25. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  26. 0.9 miTurn left, heading N.
  27. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  28. 350 ftTurn right, heading N.
  29. 0.6 miTurn right, heading E.
  30. 50 ftSharp left, heading E.
  31. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  32. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  33. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  34. 400 ftBear left, heading E.
  35. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  36. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  37. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  38. 250 ftTurn left, heading E.
  39. 400 ftTurn left, heading E.
  40. 0.7 miTurn left, heading E.
  41. 0.8 miTurn left, heading N.
  42. 1.4 miArrive 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/union-lake-upper-straits-lake-out-back-5-lakes

Trail surface

41% paved1% boardwalk58% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:21 AMSunset 7:35 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.8 mi in (~45 min). Leave by 6:30 PM for the 7:35 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:34 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Westacres, Michigan