Pinckney State Recreation Area


Pinckney State Recreation Area is a Michigan state recreation area in Dexter, Sylvan and Lyndon Townships, Washtenaw County and Putnam and Unadilla Townships, Livingston County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The park is and sits at an elevation of. The park is connected to the nearby Waterloo State Recreation Area by the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail. Pinckney State Recreation Area is open for year-round recreation including hiking, fishing, swimming, hunting and a variety of winter sports.

History

Pinckney State Recreation Area comprises several connected, but scattered parcels of land that surround private lands and land owned by the State of Michigan.http://www.michigandnr.com/Publications/PDFS/RecreationCamping/pinckney_map.pdf | title = Pinckney State Recreation Area map | accessdate = 2010-07-25 | publisher = Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Geology

The area is covered with glacial moraines, kettle lakes, and swampy lowlands. Much of the area is open grasslands of abandoned agricultural fields with some oak forests on hilly areas with shrub swamps remaining in lowlands. Over 20 lakes, the largest at about, are in the park. The area is in the Grand River and Huron River watersheds. The highest elevation is Stofer Hill at.

Ecology

Most of the forested areas in Pinckney are on land too steep or deemed otherwise unsuitable for agriculture. The stands that remain are smaller than and consist of deciduous trees, like white oak, red oak, black oak and hickory. The flatter terrain that was originally used as farmland was allowed to become overgrown with native plants like goldenrod and black-eyed susan, but invasive plants like knapweed, quack grass, timothy-grass, and white sweet clover have also taken hold. Other plants found in Pinckney, like the white lady's-slipper and rosepink, are classified as "threatened" and are protected under Michigan law. Other species found in the park, like English sundew, are classified as "special concern."
Mammals found in Pinckney are typical of the region and include white-tailed deer, raccoons, and Virginia opossums. Typical avian species consist of various water birds such as blue-winged teals, snow and Canada geese, mallard and wood ducks, egrets, and great blue herons. Pinckney is also known by birders as a habitat for sandhill cranes.

Recreation

Pinckney State Recreation Area is home to several campgrounds and many miles of hiking trails. Bruin Lake Modern Campground has 186 modern campsites. Electric service for recreational vehicles is provided along with modern restrooms. Other facilities at the campground include a boat launch, fishing and swimming areas and a playground. Blind Lake Rustic Campground has ten rustic campsites with vault toilets. This campground is a hike-in camping area. Crooked Lake Campground is also a rustic campsite with 12 camping areas. Additionally, one yurt and one cabin are available to rent at the park.
Silver Lake is a center of park activities with swimming beach on the lake as well as access to a number of trails including the 17-mile Potawatomi mountain bike trail. The Waterloo-Pinckney Hiking Trail runs through the two parks. The park is also open to hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, picnicking and boating.

Trails

Lakes

Pickney Recreation Area hosts several lakes open for recreation.