Ride Summary:
Rolling hills are the name of the game at Pontiac Lake. There are a couple of good climbs but they are middle chainring.

Trail Description:
The trail starts off on a short fire road. From the fire road, take the first left to get on the trails. Look for signs, the first climb though short, is a quick warm-up.

Once your heartrate is in excercise mode, follow the trail downhill through a number of roller coaster hills. After the downhill you will come upon a fork, take the right trail to cut off a few miles or take the left and continue your ride through technical sections. The left will take you through a rock garden which is negotiable for moderately skilled riders. Big puke is the major hill at Pontiac Lake. It is low grade, slow, technical grind that will bust your lungs. The reward is miles of singletrack bliss.

The trail will crosses a paved road and heads back into the trail followed by a Y. The right heads to a water pump, a left continues the ride. The singletrack section last a few miles ending with a fast straight away. A few hundred yards up is another Y, left goes up a steep hill meeting up with the right trail at the top. Taking a right takes you through a fast open singletrack, at the end of the singletrack make a left towards the big hill. Just before the hill is decent on the right, follow it to remain on the trail. After a few miles of rolling/flat terrain you will come to the first of 2 short steep hills, look for the bench before the hill. Head up this hill, turn right at the top to roll down a rough downhill and cross the old dirt road at the bottom. Continue on the trail to the 4 way intersection. Take the farthest left you can onto a short rocky descent and climb. In this section, tackle the hill, take Blue Panty ridge, for fun or turn right for a short cut. These trails meet again at the bottom of a loose rocky downhill, which again crosses the dirt road.

After a grove of pine trees you will take a straight away until you hit a right turn next to the landfill. Be ready for a fast downhill. At the bottom of this decent you can take a bail-out route and head left to the dirt road, or you can head straight to the last big hill. The hill has 2 options if you head on a faint trail to the right, you will ride up the right hand side of the hill. This is longer but more a more gradual and consistent climb. The straight on approach is shorter but offers loose traction. Head home by taking the down hill to the dirt access road.

How to get there:
From US 23

From US 23 take M59 East towards Pontiac. Once you pass Duck Lake where Highland Recreation Area is located, follow M-59 past Williams Lake Rd. on your right, the next light heads north (left) onto Williams Lake Rd. Follow this for almost a mile until it curves right. This intersection is at Gale Rd. Turn left (straight then left) here. Follow Gale Rd. for a short distance. There will be a large sign on the right and the park entrance just ahead on the left. Once past the ranger booth, turn right and head for the farthest corner of the parking lot. The trailhead is located in this corner, along with the accommodating signs.

From I-75

From 75 tale M-59 West through downtown Pontiac for 9 miles west of Pontiac. Turn right (North) onto Williams Lake Rd. Follow for almost a mile, to where it curves right. At this intersection is Gale Rd., turn Left (straight then left) here. Follow Gale Rd. for a short distance and you'll see the large park sign on the right.

Additional Notes:
Other activities include boating, camping (reservation needed), canoeing, fishing, hiking, horseback