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Built on rolling hills, this loop run follows the bike trail along the scenic woodlands above Pontiac Lake.


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Map Key

9.7

Miles

15.5

KM

97%

Runnable

1,117' 340 m

High

968' 295 m

Low

673' 205 m

Up

673' 205 m

Down

3%

Avg Grade (2°)

20%

Max Grade (11°)

Dogs Unknown

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek

Overview

One of the more popular Metro Detroit trails, Pontiac has been a favorite for decades.

One of the best known and most used trails in the Detroit metropolitan area due to its location (just 11 miles from Pontiac and 38 miles from downtown Detroit) and challenging terrain, Pontiac Lake Recreation Area has been providing an escape from the hustle and bustle of this auto building community for hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers for years.

Pontiac Lake features a single, easy to follow loop (with two optional, signed, difficult sections) which starts and ends just off of a main parking lot.

Description

Starting from the parking lot, you'll cross Gale Road, and head a few hundred yards down the wide path until the trail starts off to your left. It begins heading east on rolling terrain for the first couple of miles.

After reaching the top of a climb around the three-mile mark, you'll be rewarded with an overlook of Pontiac Lake. The trail continues to wind through the woods until the final switchback climb that ends the trail.

Head south and onto the doubletrack you started on, and continue straight back to the parking lot.

Contacts

Shared By:

Zander Göpfert

Trail Ratings

  4.8 from 6 votes

#1282

Overall
  4.8 from 6 votes
5 Star
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4 Star
17%
3 Star
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1 Star
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Recommended Route Rankings

#13

in Michigan

#1,282

Overall
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2,468 Since Nov 10, 2016
Intermediate Intermediate

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Photos

When presented with the choice, take the "hard" option. It's not too challenging and it has a nice coaster-like quality on some steeps.
Dec 5, 2017 near Waterford, MI

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Current Trail Conditions

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Check-Ins

Jun 6, 2019
Dan Hughes
A little muddy, but not bad. Not too buggy if you keep moving. 9mi — 1h 33m
Jul 28, 2018
Karl Nagengast
9.7mi
Jun 30, 2018
Karl Nagengast
9.7mi
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