P3. Pinckney Recreation Area Trails

Photos from the Crooked Lake Trail, including views of Silver, Crooked and Pickerel Lakes:

Photos of Trail Marker 7 and points farther west near Markers 4, 5 and 6:

Overview: The Pinckney State Recreation Area offers several hikes with trailheads near the park headquarters at Silver Lake:

The mileages listed above are based on data from the OpenStreetMap . My experience has been that the OSM tends to be more accurate and up-to-date compared to what is posted on the Michigan DNR website.

Beyond the hikes that originate near Silver Lake, additional options for Pinckney hikes include

The Silver Lake, Crooked Lake and Potawatomi Trails are multi-use: hiking, cross-country skiing, and mountain biking are allowed on all of them. Hikers are expected to traverse the loops counterclockwise, whereas mountain bikers ride clockwise.

Mountain bikes are not allowed on the Losee Lake Trail; leashed dogs are allowed throughout.

The trails pass through areas where hunting (in season) is allowed.

Update (Summer 2022): On the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail, bikes were at one time allowed only on the portion that overlaps with the Potawatomi Trail. Marker 12  near Blind Lake is where the trails separate; bikes were forbidden on the W-P Trail beyond this point. However, the mountain biking crowd seemed to think it unbearable that one could not easily ride one's bike from the Potawatomi Trail to the DTE Energy Foundation Trails west of M-52. Consequently in June 2022 the W-P Trail was opened up to bike traffic in both directions between Marker 12 and Embury Road.

Update (Summer 2024): The Potawatomi Trail is undergoing renovations , and this has led to some new routing in a few places. For example, a counterclockwise hiker heading north on the segment between the Hiland Lake access road and Patterson Lake Road will discover that a new part of the trail now winds through a stand of pines  on a path that runs to the left (west) of the old route. Also, once you cross Patterson Lake Road, the old route followed the Gosling Lake access road to the boat launch area before continuing northbound. Now, shortly after entering the access road, the Potawatomi branches off to the left, and later crosses the access road before continuing along the old route north of the boat launch.

Update (December 2024): The latest renovations of the Potawatomi have resulted in a drastic re-routing of the trail  in the area south of Patterson Lake Road and north of Halfmoon and Hiland Lakes. In particular, Markers 10 and 11 are in new locations, and there are segments of the original Potawatomi that no longer exist. Some tips for navigating through this changed landscape are provided below.

Planning Your Hike

For hikers, the first three trails listed above (Silver Lake, Crooked Lake, and Potawatomi) all have a common trailhead located north of the parking lots (Trail Marker 1 ) and proceed from there to Marker 2. Mountain bikes are not allowed on this section of the trail.

The Silver Lake Trail. From Trail Marker 1, this 2.3 mile route passes through Trail Markers 2, 3, 4, and 5 in that order, ending at Trail Marker 7 near the south parking lot. Along the way, it traverses up and down a few steep hills and passes through woods and wetlands. Highlights include good views of Silver and Pickerel Lakes. Look for the stone fireplace  and root cellar  roughly halfway between Markers 4 and 5.

The Crooked Lake Trail. This 4.3 mile route passes through Trail Markers 1, 2, 9, 8, 3, and 2 before finishing back at Trail Marker 1. It includes some steep hills in the first and last mile and crosses three streams as it winds around Crooked Lake. Additional highlights include a scenic trek along the north shore of Pickerel Lake . The OpenStreetMap reveals that there are numerous side trips hanging off of this trail that you might want to explore. In particular, since there are few good views of Crooked Lake from the trail, you may want to take a detour down to the fishing pier and lakeside campground: after crossing Silver Hill Road, look for the next dirt road crossing (at about the 1 mile mark) and take it west (left) to the lake. Once there, you can either retrace your steps back to the trail, or continue on the road as it takes you north and then west along the shoreline , ending with an uphill path heading northwest that rejoins the trail at about the 1.6 mile mark.

I've saved a 4.4 mile route map that includes the lake shore side trip on MapPedometer .

Roll your own hike. The trail network here is extensive and well-marked, so it is not hard to custom-build a hike of your own. A nice 5.1 mile hike that I enjoy combines the Silver Lake Trail and the southernmost part of the Potawatomi Trail by passing through Trail Markers 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 5, and 7 in that order. There is also the option to shave 1.2 miles off of this hike by taking the shortcut (shown on the trail map) leading more directly to Marker 6.

The Potawatomi Trail and abridgments thereof.

The Potawatomi Trail is a fantastic loop through hilly forested terrain interspersed with numerous lakes, streams, and wetland areas. Hikers traversing it counterclockwise will pass by Trail Markers 1, 2, 9, 10, 11, 12, 4, 6, and 5, ending at Marker 7 near the south parking lot. However, at 18.7 miles long, it is not a day hike unless you are a hard core enthusiast.

For the rest of us, it is possible to use two shortcuts to create a more manageable 11 mile Mini-Potawatomi loop while still getting a full dose of what the trail has to offer.

The first shortcut is a more direct route between Markers 10 and 11 that will shave 4.7 miles off of the hike. And it is important for map readers to understand that this route was significantly altered in 2024 -- it is not the 1 mile 10-to-11 shortcut shown on the original 2003 trail map. Markers 10 and 11 are now in entirely new locations a few hundred feet east  and west  of Glenbrook Road, and the shortcut connecting them is only 0.2 miles long. The OpenStreetMap shows this new route  and has grayed-out some of the old segments of the Potawatomi farther west that no longer exist. [Update: The 2003 trail map has been altered and now shows in very rough terms the placement of the new trail segments.]

The second opportunity to significantly shorten the hike occurs when you reach Marker 4. At this point you can trim off another 2.7 or 2.6 miles by following the tail end of either the Silver Lake Trail (4 -> 5 -> 7) or the Crooked Lake Trail (4 -> 3 -> 2 -> 1), depending on where you prefer to finish.

On MapPedometer, I've saved a route map  for an 11.1 mile Mini-Potawatomi that ends at Marker 7.

New! If 11 miles is still too much of a good thing, an alternative is this 9.2 mile "Middle Potawatomi" route . It starts and finishes at the Pickerel Lake access site near Marker 4 and uses a segment of the Crooked Lake Trail to pass from Markers 4 to 8 to 9. As a result, it bypasses the Silver Lake area. From Marker 9, it follows the Potawatomi counterclockwise, and includes the new 10-to-11 shortcut.

Some additional options for Potawatomi hikers to consider:

* The shortcut that ran between the old locations of Markers 10 and 11 proceeded westbound along the Hiland Lake access road, across Glenbrook, and then followed a second access road -- one that leads to a yurt campsite -- before turning north and then west on the way to (old) Marker 11. Although the last 0.35 miles of this route no longer exist, the remaining parts can be combined with a new section of the Potawatomi to create an alternative shortcut . It will trim 0.2 miles off of a Middle or Mini-Potawatomi loop.

New! * Another new section of the trail is located west of Blind Lake on the way to Marker 12 . You will encounter it after crossing a bridge over the Portage River , climbing a hill, and arriving at a fork in the trail . The reconfigured Potawatomi continues on the left branch, following a curvy route  along the edge of a steep hillside above Halfmoon and Blind Lakes, eventually descending to Crescent Drive after 0.7 miles. The right branch (the original routing of the Potawatomi) takes a more direct 0.5 mile route to Crescent Drive and the two trails merge there. While the new route is more scenic, you might prefer the old route as a momentary respite from bike traffic. Note that the 11.1 mile Mini route posted above follows the right branch; the 9.2 mile Middle route follows the new left branch.

* Shortly after crossing Crescent Drive, the Potawatomi Trail merges onto an access road that leads into a lakeside campground. While there are excellent views of Blind Lake  and gorgeous woods  along this route, there is another path to Marker 12 -- probably part of a very old routing of the Potawatomi -- for those interested in a steep climb  up to a ridge that sits high above the lake. The entry point is a narrow trail heading uphill right at the spot where the Potawatomi merges onto the campground access road. After the initial climb, the trail follows the ridge and eventually descends to Marker 12  where the Potawatomi and W-P Trails diverge. Potawatomi hikers should continue straight ahead (east); a left turn leads back to Blind Lake (the biker direction of the Potawatomi), and a right turn leads west along the W-P Trail.

* As you begin the descent towards Dead Lake, you will notice a fork in the trail. The Potawatomi follows the left branch around the north side of the lake, while the right branch follows a hilly route around the south side , rejoining the Potawatomi about 1/2 mile later. In addition to the lack of mountain bike traffic, you might prefer the southern route for its view of the lake  from a higher elevation with fewer obstructions.

The Micro-Potawatomi Trail.

Before the 2024 renovations of the Potawatomi Trail, there was a 1 mile shortcut and a 5 mile long route connecting Markers 10 and 11, making it possible to combine the two into a 6 mile Micro-Potawatomi loop. Post-renovation, Markers 10  and 11  are in new locations, and the two routes on the Potawatomi that connect them are now 0.2 miles and 4.9 miles long. So we now have a 5.1 mile Micro-Potawatomi loop.

In addition, it is possible to piece together a 1.3 mile route between Markers 10 and 11 that is similar to the old shortcut. Combining it with the 4.9 mile route results in a 6.2 mile Micro-Potawatomi.

I've saved GPX route maps for both versions of the Micro-Potawatomi here [What's this?].

Both routes share highlights that include dense woods, numerous boardwalks across wetlands, and views of Gosling Lake . You will also surely notice that the northernmost stretch of the trail runs alongside a 12 foot high fence topped with barbed wire . No, there isn't a state prison on the other side of that fence; rather, it is the Edwin S. George Reserve , a University of Michigan property used for biological field research.

A convenient starting point for the Micro-Potawatomi is a small parking area  on Patterson Lake Road about 200 yards west of the intersection with Glenbrook. Counterclockwise hikers starting from there should cross the road and follow the trail southbound. A short distance beyond that, the trail turns to the southeast along a new route -- part of the 2024 trail renovations -- across an open field  on the way to Marker 11. Map readers need to be aware that the old route as shown on the 2003 trail map did not have this southeastern turn; it continued in a southwesterly direction. The OpenStreetMap now shows the new route and has the old route grayed out. You may notice that the trail renovators have been very deliberate about tearing up the old route and burying it underneath tree and shrub debris.

At Marker 11, the 5.1 mile version of the Micro-Potawatomi follows the 0.2 mile shortcut to Marker 10 while the 6.2 mile version continues southwest on the Potawatomi before departing southbound  toward a yurt campsite, then east across Glenbrook Road to the Hiland Lake access road , finally rejoining the Potawatomi northbound on the way to Marker 10. One advantage of this route is that it opens up a few more parking options for staging your hike -- look for two small parking areas (such as this one ) along the first 0.2 miles of the access road.

A second advantage of this route is that it invites you to take a side trip to the boat launch area at the end of the access road for a good view of Hiland Lake . This excursion will add 0.5 miles to your hike. Once there, you may find it difficult to resist the urge to extend your excursion by following a short trail leading southwest from the adjacent parking area. Portions of this trail are shown on the OpenStreetMap . Not shown on the map are two branches leading to small fingers of land  that jut out into the lake, offering additional great views .

If you took the 0.2 mile shortcut from Marker 11 to Marker 10, you still have the option to include a Hiland Lake excursion. It is a 0.4 mile hike south on the Potawatomi (the biker direction) from Marker 10 to the access road and another 0.25 miles to the boat launch area.

The Losee Lake Trail.

If the other trails are overrun with mountain bikers, a worthwhile hiker-only option in the Silver Lake area is the 3.3 mile Losee Lake Trail. It has its own set of trail markers (L1 through L6) and a separate trailhead  at the eastern edge of the south parking lot. The trail winds through hilly hardwood and pine forests, interspersed with grasslands, wetlands, and views of Losee Lake . For the best view of the lake, venture about 100 yards northwest along the shoulder of Dexter Townhall Road when you cross it on the way from Marker L5 to L6.

A nice alternative finale for the Losee Lake hike presents itself at the point you return to Marker L2. As you head uphill there is a short branch on your left that takes you to Silver Hill Road. Across the road and a few yards south is a short trail that heads southwest and joins the last mile of the Potawatomi Trail through Markers 6, 5, and 7. I've saved a 4 mile route map for this Losee Lake variation on MapPedometer .

The Waterloo-Pinckney Trail. Trail Marker 7  is where the 35-mile Waterloo-Pinckney Trail comes to an end. The last 6.6 miles, running eastbound through Trail Markers 12, 4, 6, 5, and 7, is shared with the Potawatomi Trail. For a westbound hike starting at Marker 7, you may prefer the shorter 3.8 mile route to Marker 12  that goes directly from Marker 5 to 4, bypassing Marker 6. Whether you take the long or the short route, you will be traveling in the same direction as the bikers. Once you venture beyond Marker 12, you will be in a zone with two-way bike traffic.

Proceeding west from Marker 12, you will reach Goodband Road after 0.7 miles, Hadley Road after 1.6 miles, Joslin Lake Road after 2.7 miles, Embury Road and a no-bike zone after 3.25 miles, and Park Lyndon North [see Hike #2] after 4.4 miles. Thus you can set up an 8.2 mile or (without the shortcut) 11 mile point-to-point hike between Park Lyndon and the W-P trailhead at Silver Lake.

The Bill Baker Trail and destinations nearby.

Near the spot where the W-P Trail crosses Goodband Road is a small parking area  that can serve as a launching point for hikes deep in the interior of the Pinckney Recreation Area.

In particular, a short distance north from there is a trailhead for the Bill Baker Trail . The trail was constructed in 1991 as a 5 mile loop, and based on the map  posted at the trailhead, it appears that it originally curled to the south around a large pond  (often carpeted with lily pads ), then

However, the Boy Scout camp closed permanently in January 2020 and was sold a few years later; it is now The Woodlands at Bruin Lake . In any case, it is private property and hiking through it may be considered trespassing.

Despite this obstacle, it is possible to construct a 4.1 mile route that resembles the original loop but avoids any potential trespassing. The main alteration involves turning east at Bartell Road, along the southern border of the camp, and then taking advantage of the renovations of the Potawatomi west of Blind Lake discussed earlier. Regarding the latter, if you continue due east beyond where Bartell Road ends, the path eventually turns north onto a trail that was part of the Potawatomi prior to the recent renovations. (And it remains open for hikers as of June 2025.) After about 0.3 miles this orphaned trail segment joins the renovated Potawatomi. One should turn right at this junction, following the Potawatomi south along a scenic route  on the edge of a steep hillside above Halfmoon and Blind Lakes before descending into a (public) campground with good views of Blind Lake .

I've saved a GPX route map for this modified Bill Baker Trail here [What's this?]. A web version is also available on MapPedometer . Note that the route is oriented clockwise so that it moves against the flow of mountain bike traffic on the Potawatomi segment.

The GPX file also includes a 6.2 mile route with these extras:

* A 1.2 mile out-and-back segment west to Hadley Road on the W-P Trail. A highlight of this side trip is a hilltop view  of the woods on the other side of Hadley. You may find it difficult to resist the urge to continue hiking another 2.8 miles all the way to Park Lyndon North.

* A 0.9 mile round trip on the Potawatomi that descends steeply down to the lakes to obtain good views of the water routes that connect Watson and Halfmoon Lakes , and Halfmoon and Blind Lakes . Note that the northbound portion of this side trip runs in the same direction as the mountain bike traffic.

* Rather than following the Potawatomi into the campground at Blind Lake, the route follows the alternate, bike-free path to Marker 12 discussed earlier in the list of Potawatomi options. This segment may have been part of the Potawatomi at the time that the Bill Baker Trail was created.

On mileage discrepancies and the rules of the road for hikers and bikers: The posted mileage for the Crooked Lake Trail and the length reported by MapPedometer (5.1 miles vs. 4.3) suggest that the trail route has been altered at some point in its history. A possibly related conundrum is that if you examine the official trail map, you'll notice that the Crooked Lake and Silver Lake Trails overlap between Markers 2 and 3, but biking clockwise on these two loops would result in two-way traffic on this segment.

A simple way to improve the situation would be to re-route the Crooked Lake Trail (for hikers) so that it runs through Trail Markers 1, 2, 9, 8, 3, 4, 5, and 7 in that order. This results in a hike that MapPedometer reports as about 5 miles long, or 5.1 miles if you add the walk across the parking lots back to Marker 1. It also makes the rules of the road more sensible: for hikers, the Silver Lake, Crooked Lake, and Potawatomi Trails would all start at Marker 1 and finish at Marker 7, whereas bikers would all start at Marker 7 and finish on Silver Hill Road near Marker 2.

I've saved the route for this "corrected" Crooked Lake Trail on MapPedometer .

Directions: Take I-94 west to Baker Road (Exit 167). Head north on Baker to downtown Dexter, turning left onto Main Street. After passing through downtown Dexter, continue straight through the one-lane underpass below the railroad. You are now on Island Lake Road. Follow it another 3 miles as it heads west-northwest, then turn right (north) onto Dexter Townhall Road. After 3 miles you will cross North Territorial Road. One mile beyond that intersection, turn left onto Silver Hill Road and you will enter the Pinckney Recreation Area.

A Michigan recreation passport is required for vehicle entry.

After passing through the entry gate you will see the park headquarters on your left. Head for either of the two large adjacent parking lots at Silver Lake. The near one is more convenient for the Waterloo-Pinckney and Losee Lake trailheads, while the far one is closer to the Silver Lake, Crooked Lake, and Potawatomi trailheads.

If you are headed for the Bill Baker Trail, follow the above directions to the intersection of North Territorial and Dexter Townhall Roads. Once there, proceed west on North Territorial for 2.9 miles to Hadley Road. Turn right (north) onto Hadley. After 0.7 miles turn right again onto (unpaved) Goodband Road. Continue north on Goodband and look for the small parking area  on your left after 1.2 miles.

For hiking the Middle or Micro-Potawatomi loop, head west on North Territorial Road from Dexter Townhall Road as above. After 1.5 miles, turn right (north) onto Hankerd Road. The access road for Pickerel Lake and the Middle Potawatomi will be on your right after 1.2 miles. For the Micro-Potawatomi, continue on Hankerd as it twists and turns and eventually becomes Glenbrook Road. After 3.5 miles, Glenbrook ends at a T-intersection with Patterson Lake Road. Turn left (west) on Patterson and look for the small parking area  on your right (north) after 200 yards. (A right turn on Patterson leads straight to Hell .) If the parking area is full, another option is to return to Glenbrook Road -- 1/2 mile south of Patterson Lake Road on your left (the east side) is the access road  for Hiland Lake. Look for two small parking areas a short distance down this road, and initiate your hike by heading north from the second one. If those spots are taken, there are several more parking spots near the end of the road next to the boat launch.

Excerpt from the website: [The] Pinckney Recreation Area is a paradise for backpackers, mountain bikers, anglers and other recreation enthusiasts. Pinckney is known for its extensive trail system and chain of excellent fishing lakes. Over forty miles of multi-use trail with remote campsites afford a backcountry experience.