Waterloo Recreation Area is truly an outdoor enthusiast’s haven. With 20,000 acres of land, Waterloo Recreation Area is the largest state park in Michigan’s lower peninsula. It includes diverse camping options, 11 inland lakes, and multiple systems.
On my visit, I decided to explore the extensive Waterloo-Pinckney Trail.
The Waterloo-Pinckney Trail
The Waterloo-Pinckney Trail is 33.9 miles long and stretches from Waterloo Recreation Area to Pinckney Recreation Area. Primarily forested, the trail also takes visitors passed kettle lakes, open meadows, and eskers.
I began my journey at the Portage Lake trailhead in Waterloo and stayed within the state park. I covered 14 miles total, out and back.
There were plenty of things that I loved about this trail. The first was how isolated it felt. Most of the time, I felt like I was deep within the woods and far away from any civilization. There were a few road crossings along the way and a house or two but overall this trail allowed me to be submerged in nature.
The second was the challenge of the hills. Steep and constant, this made my run very tough and very enjoyable. The hilly terrain is lacking in the mid-Michigan region, making the Waterloo-Pinckney trail even more of a gem.
The scenery is beautiful. From the timber trails to the open meadows. I could have easily spent more hours exploring.
I was impressed with how well-marked the Waterloo-Pinckney trail was. There were plenty of direction signs along the way and every mile had a mile marker. I knew exactly where I was at all times. This was a refreshing change from some of the other state parks I have visited.
I spent my time on the trail running but this is also an excellent backpacking trail. If you are looking for a multi-day backpacking adventure, dispersed camping isn’t allowed. However, there are several campgrounds along the trail. Portage Lake, The Pines, Sugarloaf, Green Lake (I have previously stayed here), Blind Lake, and Crooked Lake are all options.
Other Trail Options
If the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail isn’t something you want to tackle, Waterloo Recreation Area has other trails as well.
- Discovery Center Trail – 14 miles
- Dry Marsh – 0.50 miles
- DTE Energy Foundation Trail (primarily for Mountain Biking)- 10 miles
- Equestrian Trails – 21 miles
- Hickory Hills – 1 mile
The park also has a track chair available for those who may need a mobility aid to enjoy the trails. The track chair can handle trails, snow, sand, and up to 4 inches of water.
Overall
I love my time spent on the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail. It was beautiful, easy to access, well-marked, and provided a lot of challenging fun. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a difficult hike or training for a trail race.
I will be back and look forward to using this trail system for training for my next ultra.
For more information about the Waterloo-Pinckney trail, visit Waterloo Recreation Area.