Waterloo-Pinckney Trail App is now available!
The Waterloo-Pinckney Trail is now available, free, on Android Market. This trail, the only true backpacking trail in southeast Michigan, is more than 50km for the “short” route, but our app has 110km of trails on it, just in case you want to add some extra loops for a longer hike.
You can get the app free for your Android here.
Waterloo-Pinckney Trail – Camping
While hiking the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail end to end, eventually you’re going to need to stop for the night. There are two forms of camping available.
- Organized campgrounds: There are a number of established campgrounds along and very near the trail. All these campgrounds are available to backpackers. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially during the summer.
- Backcountry camping: Backcountry camping is not allowed along the trail, although a number of campsites are walk-in only. These also fill up quickly in the summer. Reservations are strongly recommended.
Return to the main Waterloo-Pinckney Trail page.
This page is just a small part of the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail app.
Waterloo-Pinckney Trail – Trails
The Waterloo-Pinckney Trail is the only true backpacking trail in southeast Michigan. The trail extends through old farmlands, past ruins of a couple homesteads, and passes countless fences and other signs of previous habitation, if you keep your eyes open. There’s also plenty of wildlife of nearly every type found in southeast Michigan. Although it extends for over 55 km (before you add any extra loops, the app includes 110km of trails), it’s also easy to day hike the entire trail across many different days, as parking is plentiful along the trails.
The Waterloo Pinckney Trail app is designed specifically for hikers, cross-country skiers, and snowshoers. This is the only use allowed on most of the trails. The trail passes through Waterloo State Recreation Area, Pinckney State Recreation Area, and Park Lyndon. For more detail on adjacent trails in those parks, please download the app for that park.
- The Waterloo Pinckney Trail: This is the main trail, stretching from Big Portage Lake to Silver Lake.
- The Southwest Loop: This loop, near the west end of the trail, offers 4.5 km off the main trail, and takes you south into area shared with horses and mountain bikes. The trail is fairly loose, sandy gravel, but you do travel up along the top of a ridgeline, with nice views on both sides, before rejoining the main trail.
- The Southfork Cabin Loop: 2 km loop off the main trail, including one significant portage (or go just a bit farther north for an easier crossing).
- The Discovery Center Trails: Waterloo State Recreation Area’s Discovery Center is a great museum/nature center/visitor center for the park, and definitely worth a stop. While in the area, take a quick trip over to the bog or around any of the other short trails in this area.
- Park Lyndon Trails: Park Lyndon straddles The Waterloo-Pinckney Trail at North Territorial Road. With a mix of steep hills and wetlands, it’s near the center of the trail, and offers a chance to do a bit of aimless wandering before getting back on the main trail. South of North Territorial Road, stick to the west for the most scenic routes. North of North Territorial, stay east for some nice wetland trails. The entire park is fairly small, so you aren’t likely to add more than a kilometer or two diverting off the main trail here.
- Potawatomi Trail Loop: The Potawatomi Trail is one of the most popular hiking and mountain biking trails in the area. The Waterloo-Pinckney Trail comes into the southwest corner of this trail network and follows the southern part of the trail, ending at the Silver Lake parking lot. The northern part of the loop, 17km long, adds a good bit of extra hiking to your trip (or you can add less, or even slightly shorten your trip on the trails in this area).
Pinckney State Recreation Area App
Pinckney State Recreation Area is a large park located in southeast Michigan known for its extensive network of hiking trails and boating opportunities.
Download the Android app here.
Return to the main Pinckney State Recreation Area page.
Pinckney State Recreation Area Half Moon Beach
Half Moon Beach is one of two main beaches in Pinckney State Recreation Area (the other is Silver Lake). In addition to providing a beach area, Half Moon also provides access into the chain of lakes that makes boating so popular within the park.
Return to the main park page
This page is just a small part of Pinckney State Recreation Area app.
Pinckney State Recreation Area Boating
Pinckney State Recreation Area has two main draws. First, the extensive trail network, and second the extensive boating opportunities. If countless lakes and ponds weren’t enough, Pinckney State Recreation Area is also home to a chain of seven lakes, some built up with homes, but others nearly untouched, this chain of lakes is created by the dam in Hell, MI. Most people access the chain via either Half Moon Beach or a launch on Hi-Land Lake. The chain is long enough to allow a full day of kayaking or canoeing around its perimeter. Be sure to poke your boat into the little side channels and inlets, as some of them, especially the one headed toward Unadilla, for example, provide opportunities to get off the beaten path into wild areas seen by few others.
Return to the main park page.
This page is a small part of the Pinckney State Recreation Area app.