AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Highland State Recreation Area

Waterbury Lake via North Loop

5.2 mi · ▲ 256 ft · 1 hr 52 min

Waterbury Lake via North Loop is a 5.2-mile out-and-back in Highland State Recreation Area near Milford, MI. The route reaches Waterbury Lake at the turnaround, 2.5 miles in. It climbs 256 ft. It scores 19/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi971 – 1,086 ft5.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Milford Connector 42.60943, -83.59878
Nearest town Milford, MI
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Waterbury Lake via North Loop

5.2 mi · ▲ 256 ft · 1 hr 52 min

Elevation 972–1,087 ft

Out & Back · Highland State Recreation Area

Trailhead: Milford Connector · 42.60943, -83.59878

Weather Sep 20: Light drizzle, high 64°F / low 57° · precip 46% · wind 10 mph · sunrise 7:20 AM · sunset 7:37 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Milford Connector, heading N.
  2. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  3. 100 ftTurn right, heading N.
  4. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  5. 1.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  6. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  7. 450 ftBear right, heading NW.
  8. 0.4 miBear right, heading N.
  9. 100 ftTurn left, heading N.
  10. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  11. 0.3 miBear left onto North Loop, heading NE.
  12. 350 ftTurn left, heading E.
  13. 350 ftReach Waterbury Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  14. 0.1 miBear right, heading NE.
  15. 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
  16. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  17. 100 ftBear left, heading SW.
  18. 0.4 miBear left, heading S.
  19. 450 ftBear left, heading S.
  20. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  21. 1.3 miTurn right, heading SW.
  22. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  23. 100 ftTurn right onto Milford Connector, heading S.
  24. 0.2 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/waterbury-lake-waterbury-lake-out-back-8-km

Trail surface

32% other26% dirt42% unspecified

Weather

Light drizzleTemperature 64°F57°
Precip46%Wind10 mphUV2Humidity85%
Rained 0.4″ yesterday · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperatureRain chance
70°55° 12 AM: 6% rain1 AM: 4% rain2 AM: 5% rain3 AM: 4% rain4 AM: 4% rain5 AM: 4% rain6 AM: 3% rain7 AM: 4% rain8 AM: 11% rain9 AM: 27% rain10 AM: 26% rain11 AM: 46% rain12 PM: 41% rain1 PM: 32% rain2 PM: 35% rain3 PM: 29% rain4 PM: 13% rain5 PM: 4% rain6 PM: 3% rain7 PM: 2% rain8 PM: 1% rain9 PM: 1% rain
Sunrise 7:20 AM12 AM3 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:37 PM
Mon 61°50°
Tue 66°45°
Wed 60°55°
Thu 70°54°
Fri 71°48°
Sat 72°48°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.4 mi in (~37 min). Leave by 6:40 PM for the 7:37 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:27 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Milford Connector Trailhead

Hikes near Milford, Michigan