AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Whitetail Ridge Viewpoint & Vernal Ponds via West Bloomfield Trail

8.2 mi · ▲ 194 ft · 2 hr 50 min

Whitetail Ridge Viewpoint & Vernal Ponds via West Bloomfield Trail is an 8.2-mile out-and-back near Orchard Lake, MI. The route passes Vernal Ponds before reaching Whitetail Ridge Viewpoint at the turnaround, 4.1 miles in. It is mostly level, with 194 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi899 – 1,007 ft9.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.56530, -83.36044
Nearest town Orchard Lake, MI
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Whitetail Ridge Viewpoint & Vernal Ponds via West Bloomfield Trail

8.2 mi · ▲ 194 ft · 2 hr 50 min

Elevation 898–1,009 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 42.56530, -83.36044

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:20 AM · sunset 7:34 PM

Transit-accessible: Orchard Lake / Will O Way (NB) stop 161 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  3. 0.5 miTurn right, heading W.
  4. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  5. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  6. 1 miTurn left, heading W.
  7. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  8. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  9. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  10. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  11. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  12. 0.6 miTurn right, heading NW.
  13. 0.3 miSharp left onto West Bloomfield Trail, heading N.
  14. 0.7 miPass Vernal Ponds.
  15. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  16. 150 ftContinue straight onto Whitetail Ridge Trail Loop, heading W.
  17. 300 ftTurn right onto Hi Line, heading W.
  18. 50 ftContinue straight onto Jump, heading W.
  19. 50 ftBear left onto Hi Line, heading W.
  20. 50 ftTurn right onto Whitetail Ridge Trail Loop, heading W.
  21. 50 ftReach Whitetail Ridge Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  22. 50 ftTurn left onto Hi Line, heading W.
  23. 50 ftBear right onto Jump, heading W.
  24. 50 ftContinue straight onto Hi Line, heading W.
  25. 50 ftTurn left onto Whitetail Ridge Trail Loop, heading W.
  26. 500 ftTurn right onto West Bloomfield Trail, heading W.
  27. 0.8 miSharp right, heading E.
  28. 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
  29. 0.6 miTurn right, heading S.
  30. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  31. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  32. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  33. 0.4 miTurn left, heading E.
  34. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  35. 1 miTurn left, heading E.
  36. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  37. 0.4 miTurn left, heading E.
  38. 0.5 miTurn right, heading E.
  39. 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/whitetail-ridge-viewpoint-vernal-ponds-out-back-13-km

Trail surface

20% gravel12% paved2% other66% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:20 AMSunset 7:34 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.6 mi in (~66 min). Leave by 6:08 PM for the 7:34 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:53 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Orchard Lake / Will O Way (NB) stop 161 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Orchard Lake, Michigan