Waterloo-Pinckney Trail: Day 1 (15 miles)

May 1st, 2009

Waterloo-Pinckney Trail

38.5 miles

I always look forward to this thru-hike each spring. For most hikers, Waterloo-Pinckney trail can be completed in 4 days, 3 nights. For stronger hikers, 2 nights and 3 days. This means two days of 15 miles each, with the last day an easy 8.5 miles. The total distance is 38.5 miles. If you choose to saunter this moderate skill level trail, you will not be disappointed.

The trailhead can be reached just off the parking lot at Big Portage Lake. To get there, take US 23 to I-94 west. Exit I-94 at Race Road (exit 147) and head north to Seymour Road. The lake entrance is just a mile east (right) on Seymour. The tail head is towards the back left of the parking lot. There is a large sign announcing the gateway to Waterloo-Pinckney Recreation Area. You can have someone drop you off there, but first leave your vehicle at the other end of the trail, at the Pinckney Recreation area. Just let the rangers in the office there know how many nights you plan to leave it.

The half mile of the trail you skirt a ridge overlooking Big Portage Lake. For the next 4 miles, you see a few ponds, lakes, and marshes. At about 4 miles, you cross Glenn Road, which is where the trail begins it's climb of Sackrider Hill. You will find a USGS marker at the top indicating your climb of 1128 feet!

Sackrider Hill is about 5.5 miles from the trailhead. You will also find a large cross and a viewing platform. The views in spring are amazing! You can see for many miles to the south and southwest. There is something cool about standing atop that hill with your backpack on, catching your breath and looking down at the busy traffic, humming by on I-94. I always get a sense at that moment when I arrive like I'm doing something that few people stop to enjoy, the pleasure of walking in the woods.

I try to take a 20 minute break here, enough time to eat, drink, and chill. I get my pack off, spend a few minutes laying down with my feet slightly higher then my head to help my legs and feet recover. This is a place to enjoy.

Leaving Sackrider hill, you will descent quickly to a dirt parking lot. The trail then swings north east for about a mile until you cross Mt. Hope road. The trail continues first through a large open area, then back into a hardwood forest, a couple of marshes, and a few dirt roads. This section of the trail is shared by horse riders, which is evident from the hoof prints on this section of trail. Be careful to stay on the Waterloo-Pinckney trail as you travel through this area, it's easy to get mixed up on which trail to take. You will then come to Baldwin Road. Head north for about a 0.5 mile on the road. The trail will continue on the other side of Baldwin Road, where you will come to Baldwin Flood Plans, a man made pond created to provide a refuge for waterfowl.

Just above the sign in the picture is a point of land I like to use as my second break point. At this point I've walked 10 miles. I have a spot on the side of the slop overlooking the lake. Nice place to stop for about 20 minutes and boil some water to make some noodles and eat some mix. The trail continues for another 2 miles through several open fields and old farms that once worked in the early 1900's. After crossing Clear Lake Rd, you will climb Prospect Hill, 1,150 ft. Continue another half mile and you come to Pond Lily Lookout. This view to the east is worth the climb.

You decend about a mile to Loveland Rd, turn left (north) and walk a 0.5 mile to the entrance to Horseman's Camp, a rustic campground with 22 walk in sites. In the early spring and fall, I have been the only one camping. You can make a fire and use a table for camp. Sleep is very nice the first night on the trail. Ahhhh.

This was my camp in the spring of 2009