Tucked away near Pinckney, Michigan, the Pinckney Recreation Area is a local gem that feels worlds away from the hustle of the city. With over 11,000 acres of forest, 40 miles of multi-use trails, and numerous lakes, it is the perfect weekend getaway for outdoor enthusiasts of all levels.
On the north-western side of Pinckney Recreation Area, lies Bruin Lake Campground. This modern campground contains 184 sites, a boat launch, electrical services, fishing, paddlesport rentals, a playground, swimming in Bruin Lake, and a toilet and shower building. There is also a “hike-in” tent area for those looking for a little more isolation without the backpacking experience.
During our visit, most of the sites were closed due to ongoing construction. We stayed at site 113 in the south loop. We had a great view of the lake right from our site.
We chose Bruin Lake Campground for two primary reasons. The first being the location. It is situated about 18 minutes from Silver Lake, which was the start line for the Trail Weekend 50K race I was participating in.
The second reason was that we decided to bring our camper rather than a tent camp to give me the opportunity to recover a little more easily after my race. There is another campground closer to the trails, Crooked Lake Campground, that is also an option for those looking for a more rustic experience.
What I Liked
This was Dakota’s first camping trip! The campground is very dog-friendly. There were plenty of grassy places to walk him for potty that didn’t involve getting into the woods where the ticks were. They also had a doggy poop bag “station” set up. Dakota seemed a bit confused about what we were doing and why we were there, but I think he enjoyed the experience and will be excited about his next camping trip.
Despite construction, Bruin Lake Campground was incredibly quiet. Even with young kids, the noise settled down pretty early in the evening. During the day, you rarely even heard any noises from construction, even on Friday when workers were out.
Being located near the lake and the forest, this area had some pretty amazing bird sightings. The sandhill cranes were plentiful. We also had a bald eagle that we saw multiple times during our stay, flying over the lake and dipping down into the trees.
Our site and the bathrooms were clean and well-maintained.
The lake views made the trip. We had easy access to the lake, and we were able to see it from our site.
I really enjoyed our extended stay at Bruin Lake Campground and am looking forward to a few more weekend trips at this campground. Both for some R&R and to do some back-to-back training runs.
More Information
I loved our camping experience at Bruin Lake Campground. It was one of the best I’ve had in a long time. I’m looking forward to a few more weekend trips back to this campground. Both for some R&R and for some back-to-back training runs.
For more information about Pinckney Recreation Area and Bruin Lake Campground, visit Pinckney Recreation Area.
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