[1] The park is connected to the nearby Waterloo State Recreation Area by the 35-mile (56 km) Waterloo–Pinckney Trail.

[3] The village of Pinckney is the largest settlement in the area, lying just to the east of the northeast corner of the park.

The investors increased the size of the millpond by raising the level of the dam creating what is now Hiland Lake.

Just west of the present Pinckney park, the federal government had developed the Waterloo recreational demonstration project in the 1930s and the state acquired the lease of that area in 1943.

[7] The previous description regarding open grasslands is out of date and although true 40 years ago, most of the area has now grown back with young woodlands.

Most of the flatter terrain consists of old fields dominated by non-native plants like knapweed, quack grass, timothy-grass, and white sweet clover, with native plants present too, including tall goldenrod, hairy aster, black-eyed susan, common cinquefoil, and wild strawberry.

Other plants found in Pinckney, like the white lady's-slipper and rosepink, are classified as "threatened" and are protected under Michigan law.

Mammals found in Pinckney are typical of the region and include white-tailed deer, raccoons, and Virginia opossums.

Typical avian species consist of various water birds such as blue-winged teals, snow and Canada geese, mallard and wood ducks, egrets, and great blue herons.