The Waterloo-Pickney Trail is a 34 mile one-way trail that runs through Waterloo State Recreation Area and Pickney State Recreation Area. The western terminus starts at Waterloo Township, but you can also start this hike from Silver Lake. The trails passes various glacier features like Eskers and Kettle Lake along with swamps and meadows remaining from abandoned farmlands.
The trail is marked with blue blazes and at points runs along the Potawatomi Trail. The trail is also open to mountain biking and horse riding in certain sections. Hunting is also allowed along the trail, so wearing orange during hunting season is key here.
Camping/Backpacking: Trailside camping is available within designated campgrounds. Please
contact the park office for registration information before you camp.
Note: this GPS data provides 30 miles from the western trailhead terminus to Silver Lake since Silver Lake is roughly the final destination for this trail. There are various shortcuts, offshoots, and routes you can take to get to Silver Lake; however, once you cross Crescent Drive, you'll be hiking along the Potawatomi Trail as well.
Find our trail guides useful? Consider becoming a Supporter to unlock perks!
MyHikes is an indie platform that makes exploring public trails easier for everyone. The platform has no investors, runs no ads, and is owned and operated by one person, Dave Miller. Dave has personally mapped and written over 1,600 trail guides on MyHikes for the public to explore. As of 2024, MyHikes has helped over 1,300,000 outdoor enthusiasts plan their next adventure.
But it takes a lot of time 🕦, money 💰, and work, and espresso shots ☕ to run MyHikes, including hiking , mapping , writing , and publishing new trails with high-quality (accurate) information... along with software engineering (coding) the platform like building new features, site and mobile app development for iOS and Android, site maintainance . and much much more.
Supporters unlock website and mobile app perks with an annual one-time payment of $25 (you renew) 😎👍. Or you can simply make a Donation of your choice. Otherwise, you can support us by telling your friends about MyHikes - both quick and free 🎉