Pinckney State Recreation Area facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pinckney State Recreation Area
Pinckney State Recreation Area in winter
Pinckney State Recreation Area Location in Michigan
Location	Lower Peninsula, Livingston County, Washtenaw County, Michigan USA
Nearest city	Pinckney, Michigan
Area	17.2 mi2 (27.7 km2)
Established	1944
Governing body	Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Pinckney State Recreation Area is a super cool park in Michigan! It's a big place where you can have fun all year long. This state recreation area is located in both Livingston and Washtenaw counties. It covers about 11,000 acres (4,450 hectares) of land.

The park is connected to the nearby Waterloo State Recreation Area by a long trail. This trail is called the Waterloo–Pinckney Trail and is about 35 miles (56 km) long. Pinckney State Recreation Area is open for lots of activities. You can go hiking, fishing, swimming, or even hunting. In winter, there are many fun winter sports to try too!

Park History: How Pinckney State Recreation Area Began

Pinckney State Recreation Area is made up of many connected pieces of land. These pieces surround some private lands and other state-owned areas. The village of Pinckney is the biggest town nearby. It sits just east of the park's northeast corner.

A unique place called Hell is actually inside the park! This spot is a main center for fun activities at Pinckney State Recreation Area. Hell started as a small settlement with a sawmill, a gristmill (for grinding grain), a distillery, and a tavern. George Reeves ran all these businesses. He moved to the area in the 1830s from New York. In 1841, he bought a sawmill on what is now Hell Creek.

Later, in 1924, Reeves' family sold the land to investors from Detroit. These investors made the millpond bigger by raising the dam. This created what is now Hiland Lake. The area soon became a popular summer spot. People came to swim and fish. Even Henry Ford thought about building factories here, but he decided not to.

In the 1930s, the government developed the Waterloo recreational project nearby. Michigan took over this area in 1943. The next year, the Michigan Legislature set aside money to buy land in southeastern Michigan. They also funded the building of state parks. Pinckney State Recreation Area grew a lot in the 1940s and 1950s.

Park Landscape: Hills, Lakes, and Swamps

The land in Pinckney State Recreation Area was shaped by glaciers long ago. You can see many glacial features here. These include moraines (hills made of rock and dirt left by glaciers) and kettle lakes. Kettle lakes are bowls in the ground that filled with water. There are also many swampy lowlands.

Much of the park has open grasslands. These were once farm fields that are now abandoned. You can also find oak forests on the hilly parts. Shrub swamps remain in the lowlands. The park has over 20 lakes! The biggest one is about 200 acres (81 hectares). The park's water flows into the Grand River and Huron River systems. The highest point in the park is Stofer Hill, which is about 1,150 feet (350 meters) high.

Park Wildlife: Plants and Animals

Most of the forests in Pinckney are on land that was too steep for farming. These forest areas are smaller, usually less than 100 acres (40 hectares). They are filled with deciduous trees. These are trees that lose their leaves in the fall. You can see white oak, red oak, black oak, and hickory trees.

The flatter areas were once farms. Now, they are overgrown with native plants. Some common ones are goldenrod and black-eyed susan. However, some non-native plants have also grown here. These include knapweed, quack grass, timothy-grass, and white sweet clover.

Some special plants in Pinckney are protected by Michigan law. These include the white lady's-slipper and rosepink. They are classified as "threatened." Other plants, like English sundew, are of "special concern."

You can see many common Michigan mammals in the park. Look for white-tailed deer, raccoons, and Virginia opossums. Many different birds also live here. You might spot blue-winged teals, snow geese, and Canada geese. There are also mallard and wood ducks, egrets, and great blue herons. If you enjoy birdwatching, Pinckney is a great place to see sandhill cranes.

Fun Activities: Camping, Hiking, and More

Pinckney State Recreation Area offers many ways to have fun outdoors. It has several campgrounds and many miles of trails.

Camping Options

• Bruin Lake Modern Campground: This campground has 186 modern campsites. They offer electric service for recreational vehicles. You'll also find modern restrooms here. Other facilities include a boat launch, fishing and swimming areas, and a playground.
• Blind Lake Rustic Campground: This campground has ten rustic campsites. It has vault toilets (a type of outdoor toilet). You have to hike in to reach this camping area.
• Crooked Lake Campground: This is another rustic campsite with 12 camping areas.
• Yurt and Cabin Rentals: Besides campsites, you can also rent one yurt (a round tent-like structure) and one cabin in the park.

Popular Park Activities

Silver Lake is a busy spot for park activities. It has a swimming beach and access to many trails. One popular trail is the 17-mile (27 km) Potawatomi mountain bike trail. The 35-mile (56 km) Waterloo–Pinckney Hiking Trail also runs through Pinckney and Waterloo parks. The park is also open for hunting, fishing, watching wildlife, picnicking, and boating.

Exploring the Trails

• Crooked Lake Trail: This trail is about 5 miles (8 km) long. You can go hiking, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing on it.
• Equestrian Trail: This trail is about 8 miles (13 km) long. It's for horseback riding. You can rent horses at Hell Creek Corral, a private business near the park.
• Losee Lake Trail: This trail is about 3.3 miles (5.3 km) long. It's only for hiking.
• Potawatomi Trail: This trail is about 17 miles (27 km) long. It's great for hiking, cross-country skiing, and mountain biking. It also leads to the two rustic camping areas and the yurt at Glenbrook.
• Silver Lake Trail: This trail is about 2 miles (3.2 km) long. You can hike, mountain bike, and cross-country ski on it.
• Waterloo–Pinckney Trail: This long hiking trail is about 35 miles (56 km) long. It goes through both Waterloo Recreation Area and Pinckney Recreation Area. The trail takes you past cool glacial features like eskers (long ridges of sand and gravel) and kettle lakes. You'll also see swamps and open meadows from old farms. The forests along the trail have oak and pine trees. This trail was first started in the 1960s. The last part was finished in 1986.

Lakes for Water Fun

Pinckney Recreation Area has several lakes where you can enjoy the water.

• Silver Lake: This lake is close to the park headquarters. It's open for swimming, fishing, and boating.
• Crooked Lake: This lake has a boat launch and is next to a rustic campground. However, you cannot swim in Crooked Lake.
• Halfmoon Lake: This lake has a large swimming area and a boat launch.
• Pickerel Lake: This lake no longer has a boat launch. It's a great swimming area, and no motorboats are allowed. Many people think it's one of the best swimming lakes in Michigan, even though it doesn't have a big beach. The lake has a sandy bottom. You'll often see people floating on the water. It's about 56 feet (17 meters) deep and has many fish and turtles. It's a very natural place with no buildings visible around the lake.

Images for kids

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  Pinckney State Recreation Area in winter