We Camped Here on...

05-24-2003 (Memorial Day weekend)

Park Description from the State website

A paradise for backpackers, mountain bikers, anglers and other recreation enthusiasts, this 11,000-acre park is known for its extensive trail system and chain of excellent fishing lakes. Twenty-six miles of hiking trails are open to mountain biking with access to five hike-in campsites along the the trails. The park is connected to the 46-mile Waterloo-Pinckney Trail, the longest hiking trail in lower Michigan. Also, 10,000 acres of the park are open to hunters during designated seasons.

Campground Info from the State website

Modern camping with seasonal flush toilets, showers, sanitation station, electricity, playground, beach, fishing pier and boat launch with access to chain of seven lakes is available at Bruin Lake. Bruin Lake campground has 186 sites.

How to get to the Campground

From US-23, take exit 49, North Territorial Road, and go west about 14 miles to Hadley Road.  Go north about 4½ miles to Unadilla and turn right on Kaiser Road. Head on down the road about a mile or so to the campground entrance on the right.
These directions have NOT been verified.

Downloads from the web

Click here to download a nice printable map (Adobe pdf) of the Pinckney Recreation Area

Commentary

Very poor Cingular cell phone signal in 2003. Verizon is okay. Newer restrooms and showers. Not very hot water with varying pressure. Sites vary in size (depth) quite a bit. Most are pretty small. Looks crowded when full.
The beach is not very good. Not much sand. The water is murky. All of the lakes in the rec area are connected. Looks like pretty good boating and fishing.

Personal Rating

From Alan: none yet