Blind Lake (Pinckney)
Lower Peninsula, SE · Michigan DNR (state recreation area)
The closest real backpack night to Detroit, ten rustic sites a few miles in, glacial lakes and oak woods with the city an hour behind you.
From above. USDA NAIP, public domain.The vibe
Works for hammock, tent. Measured dark skies, a real one for stargazing.
Hanging a hammock?
Hammocks are fine in Michigan state parks. There's no rule against them. The rule is about the tree: use wide, tree-friendly straps, no nails or wire, and don't tear the bark. The state sets no strap or tree-size requirement, so when in doubt, ask the park. We'll point you at sites that likely have trees worth hanging from, but we can't see the trunks, so eyeball it on arrival.
The rules
Hike-in or paddle-in rustic backcountry campground on the Potawatomi / Waterloo-Pinckney trail, about four miles in by the shortest route. Ten sites with fire rings, vault toilets, hand-pump water; one-night limit. Reserve via MiDNRReservations (day-of first-come too) and check in at the park office before hiking; Recreation Passport required.
~1 hr west of Detroit; ~45 min north of Ann Arbor.
Thicket is not the managing agency and not affiliated with it. The vibe read is our estimate from open data (OpenStreetMap, USGS elevation, NASA Black Marble nighttime light); the rules, permits, and access can change. Confirm with the agency before you go, and leave no trace.