Pinckney Rec is about 15 miles NW of Ann Arbor but can be quite hard to find without a decent map, as there are few signposts (if you go through Dexter, fork right at the sider stall, turn left at the next signals, then right at the Lakes Plaza). However it’s worth seeking out if you have some spare time in the area and fancy a place to jog, walk or just chill out. Visitors in winter still have to pay an admission fee, and for an out of state rental car with one person for one day this felt quite hefty, especially as the bathrooms were closed for the winter, and the only facility was – ahem – primitive. On the other hand, if you are a state resident and buy an annual pass it’s a superb deal.

Mostly it’s rolling deciduous woods with a network of paths – the park office will provide a map – leading down to a lakeshore. On a fine winter’s day it was peaceful, despite there being plenty of cars in the parking lot.