Living so close to the Waterloo Recreation Area
makes for easy access to this wonderful array of hiking trails
and other area of interest. Loops at the
Gerald R. Eddy Discovery Center are easy hikes while the whole (~43 miles) of
the Waterloo-Pinckney
Trail is a challenging experience that should be undertaken in short day trips.
Many pullouts on roads crossing the trail route make leaving cars at the start
and finish of each leg a breeze. Water is not available so a few snacks and a
canteen are recommended.
Starting out at Sackrider Hill makes for some steep down and uphill climbs
but is well worth the effort while the
remainder of the trail holds many surprises.
Horseback riding,
Mountain Biking and organized
Marathons are allowed on some segments of the trails.
Though extremely rare, don't be to alarmed if you hear
horses or a thundering herd of runners coming,
down the trail, just be vigilant and prepared to step aside.
You may also find bikers where they don't belong but that is to be
expected.
Topographic and other maps of the hiking areas can be had
from the
DNR in Lansing or other on-line services like
TopoZone.com or National Geographic Topo.
A new activity for enthusiastic hikers is
Geocaching: GPS Search
For "Hidden Treasures" which consists of following location
clues to find objects hidden by other participants. There are
active participants in both the Waterloo and Pinckey Recreation
Areas.
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