Welcome to Pines Campground, a hidden gem nestled in the heart of Grass Lake, MI. This hike-in only campground is ideal for those exploring the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail or seeking a peaceful overnight retreat in nature. With five official sites, a vault toilet, and no fire rings or water pumps, Pines Campground encourages a true back-to-basics camping experience. Remember to pack all your water, as the nearest seasonal creek is about half a mile west, and a flooded reservoir is accessible about half a mile east.
Customer Feedback: Visitors have praised Pines Campground for its serene atmosphere and convenient location. One reviewer noted, "Nice lil campground! You can park at the trailhead and only have to walk about 15 minutes to get to the campground." Another highlighted its suitability for through hikers, stating, "Great campsite! It's hike in only, mostly for Waterloo-Pinckney through hikers. But you can do overnight trips too."
Onsite services
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Hiking
Picnic tables
Public restroom
Restroom
Running water
Tent sites
Good for kids
Kid-friendly hikes
On-site parking
Dogs allowed
Nice lil campground! You can park at the trailhead at 42.3287050, -84.1782910 and only have to walk about 15 minutes to get to the campground.
Great campsite! It's hike in only, mostly for Waterloo-Pinckney through hikers. But you can do overnight trips too. It's 10.5 miles from Portage Lake campground, 11.5 miles from Green Lake campground (11 miles from the external parking lot on the trailside), and about 6 miles from the Eddy Discovery Center. Those are the only official parking areas that I know of... you may be able to park at the Waterloo headquarters but I'm not sure if they allow overnight parking, from there it's about 4-5 miles to the Pines. There are 5 official sites, a vault toilet, no fire rings (and no ground fires allowed), and no water pumps. So you've got to pack all your water. There is a seasonal creek about .5 mile west and a flooded reservoir about .5 mile east (if you don't mind walking in mud you can access the reservoir from the south side of the campsite by about .1-.2 mile hike and some cattails)...for those with water filters. They have a few horse posts and steps (for the smaller riders). However, horses are not allowed to stay overnight and/or enter the campground. Oh and for what it's worth, the first almost 4 miles of trail to the east is horse/foot traffic. The first 2 miles is horse/foot traffic to the west. Hiking East to West also might open up another parking option, about 3 miles from the east is a horseman's campground with water pumps/seasonal reservoirs.
Nice hike in campsite. No privacy between sites. It's tucked off the hiking/equestrian trail so that was nice. No water on site, need to hike a mile north to the stables where you can find fresh water. Vault toilet was really bad. No fires allowed (even though that was a bummer, people still seemingly felt entitled to have a fire regardless of park rules) I stayed 7/11/2020 and picked up ALL the trash left behind by other campers. Use of campground is not a right however it is a privilege that can be taken away. All in all an ok place to set up camp for the night. Wish the park would pay a little more attention to this campground
Hike in only so you won't get a lot of noisy traffic and all night music. It is close to the Horse trail. There is one outhouse on the Other side of the trail, it can get busy. No water that I have found. The sign says water is available at the stables 1/2 mile away. All the sites have fairly level ground. Not very many trees for hanging a hammock.
Pines campground is lovely with a table at each site. Go online to reseve a site at $17 a nite. There is a pit toilet nearby but water is a long walk to a hydrant near the stables to the north.