Pinckney Recreation Area, Waterloo’s neighbor to the east, has two drive-in campgrounds: Bruin Lake, a 161-site modern campground on a chain of lakes near Gregory, and Crooked Lake, a 25-site rustic campground near Pinckney. From The Oaks Campground in Munith, Bruin Lake is about 19 miles (about 50 minutes) and Crooked Lake about 23 miles (about 55 minutes). Pinckney is known for its trails and lake chain. The Oaks is a nature-first private campground with large sites, its own beach and water park, and about 120 acres of trails. Here’s how they compare.
Pinckney Recreation Area camping vs The Oaks: quick comparison
| Bruin Lake and Crooked Lake (Michigan DNR) | The Oaks Campground (private) | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance from The Oaks | Bruin Lake about 19 miles (about 50 minutes); Crooked Lake about 23 miles (about 55 minutes) | Next to Waterloo Recreation Area |
| Campsites | Bruin Lake: 161 modern sites, a camper cabin and a yurt. Crooked Lake: 25 rustic sites. Also 10 hike-in sites at Blind Lake and the Glenbrook yurt | RV sites from 35×65 up to 55×120 feet, plus 20 tent sites; no cabins or pull-throughs |
| Hookups and power | Bruin Lake: electric, some 50-amp sites, toilet and shower building. Crooked Lake: rustic, vault toilet | 50-amp electric on short-term sites (30 amp on seasonal sites) and water, a gray-water drain, honey-wagon pump-outs and a dump station; bathhouses with showers and laundry |
| Reservations | midnrreservations.com or 800-447-2757; Recreation Passport required for vehicle entry | Book online; no Recreation Passport; no office check-in |
| Swimming | Bruin Lake beach for campers only; buoyed day-use swim areas at Silver Lake and Halfmoon Lake | Sand beach on a spring-fed swim lake, the Aquaglide water park (wristband) and a free Kangaroo Jumper |
| Trails | 40+ miles of multi-use trail, including the 17-mile Potawatomi Trail loop; 13 miles of equestrian trail | About 120 acres of on-site trails for hiking, mountain biking, golf carts and day riding |
| Fishing and boating | Boat launches and fishing piers at Bruin and Crooked lakes; canoe and kayak rentals at Bruin Lake (Memorial Day to Labor Day); Michigan license for ages 17 and up | Fishing lake with a dock, bait at the store; paddle your own kayak; Portage Lake public launch about 9 minutes away |
| Pets | Welcome on a leash of 6 feet or less; not on designated swim beaches or in buildings | Leashed in the campground; off leash on the back trails and in the dog run; can swim in the fishing lake, not at the beach |
| Quiet hours | 10 PM to 8 AM | 11 PM to 8 AM, with kids and bikes back at the site by dusk |
| Season | 2025 dates: Bruin Lake April 22 to October 21; Crooked Lake April 1 to November 29 | May 1 to October 20 |
| Best for | Hikers, mountain bikers and paddlers who want to sleep on the trail system | Families who want trails plus a beach, water park and events at camp |
About camping in Pinckney Recreation Area
Pinckney covers about 11,000 acres of lakes and hills around Pinckney and Gregory. According to the Michigan DNR, the park has more than 40 miles of multi-use trail, including the 17-mile Potawatomi Trail loop, plus 13 miles of equestrian trail with a staging area. The Waterloo-Pinckney Trail links the two recreation areas, so hikers can walk from one to the other.
Bruin Lake Modern Campground sits on a chain of seven lakes. It has 161 sites with electric service (some 50 amp), a toilet and shower building, a fishing pier, a playground, a boat launch and a beach open only to campers. A rental outfitter at the launch rents canoes and kayaks from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Bruin Lake also has a camper cabin that sleeps five or six and a yurt.
Crooked Lake Rustic Campground has 25 rustic sites with a vault toilet, a boat launch, fishing and a fishing pier. For backpackers, the Blind Lake hike-in sites sit about halfway around the Potawatomi loop.
State parks are funded and priced differently, through camping fees, the Recreation Passport and public investment, so they focus on land, lakes and trails rather than on-site activities.
Who Pinckney Recreation Area is best for
- Hikers and backpackers. The Potawatomi loop and the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail are among the best-known trails in southeast Michigan, and Blind Lake offers a true hike-in night.
- Mountain bikers. The multi-use trail network is a regional draw.
- Paddlers. Bruin Lake’s lake chain and on-site canoe and kayak rentals make it easy to spend the day on the water.
- Campers coming from the Ann Arbor or Brighton side who want a state park closer to home.
- RVs that need 50 amp (some Bruin Lake sites) and rustic campers (Crooked Lake).
Who The Oaks is best for
The Oaks sits on the other side of the trail system, next to Waterloo, and shares a border with the Haehnle Sanctuary. It’s a nature-first campground with trails at your site and enough to do that you may not leave camp.
- Families. Kids get the sand beach, the Aquaglide, the free Kangaroo Jumper, playgrounds and gaga ball, plus holiday-weekend events like fishing contests and bike and golf-cart parades.
- Trail riders who like a short commute. Our 120 acres of trails start at the campground, and you can bring your own horse for day riding. Waterloo’s equestrian trails are a short drive.
- Big rigs that want room. Our sites are larger than most, from 35×65 up to 55×120 feet. There are no sewer sites; black tanks are handled by honey-wagon pump-outs or the dump station. Short-term sites have 50 amp and seasonal sites 30 amp. For 50-amp full hookups with sewer, our sister park Walnut Hills has 80 sites.
- Campers who want quiet nights. Quiet hours run 11 PM to 8 AM, golf carts park after dark, and kids and bikes are back at the site by dusk.
Rates vary by date and site; see our rates page.
Visiting both
Pinckney makes a good day trip from The Oaks. Drive over for a morning on the Potawatomi Trail or a paddle on the lake chain, then come back to camp for a swim and dinner by the fire. Ambitious hikers can tackle a section of the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail, which starts in Waterloo near The Oaks. Our team likes to say you can’t do everything at the campground and in the surrounding area in one weekend, and Pinckney is a big part of that surrounding area.
Want trails at your site and a beach for the kids? Book your site at The Oaks.
Questions
What campgrounds are in Pinckney Recreation Area?
The DNR lists Bruin Lake Modern Campground (161 sites), Crooked Lake Rustic Campground (25 sites), the Blind Lake hike-in sites on the Potawatomi Trail, plus a camper cabin and two yurts.
Does Bruin Lake Campground have electric hookups?
Yes. Bruin Lake is a modern campground with electric service, and some sites have 50 amp. Crooked Lake is rustic, with a vault toilet.
Can day visitors swim at Bruin Lake?
The Bruin Lake beach is for campers only. Day visitors can use the buoyed swim areas at Silver Lake and Halfmoon Lake.
How far is Pinckney Recreation Area from The Oaks?
Bruin Lake Campground is about 19 miles from The Oaks (about 50 minutes), and Crooked Lake Campground is about 23 miles (about 55 minutes).
Is Pinckney connected to Waterloo?
Yes. The Waterloo-Pinckney Trail connects the two recreation areas, and The Oaks is next to the Waterloo end.
Do I need a fishing license at The Oaks?
Not on the campground’s private fishing lake, where you may keep fish (most guests release them). On public water like the Pinckney lakes, a Michigan license is required.
Can I bring my own firewood to The Oaks?
No. Outside firewood isn’t allowed at our Michigan parks, to protect the old-growth oaks from insects carried in on wood. The camp store sells firewood and delivers it to your site.
When is the Aquaglide open at The Oaks?
Thursday through Sunday plus holiday-weekend Mondays, opening late morning, through Labor Day. Riders must be 7 or older, kids under 16 need a parent present, life jackets are provided, and campers ride free on Thursdays.
