Watkin s Lake State Park and County Preserve
The park is jointly managed by the DNR and the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission. The park features beautiful rolling land covered in a mixture of open meadow, mixed hardwoods, low wetland areas and open water. It is slated to offer a wide variety of recreational opportunities, such as hiking, bird watching, upland hunting and mountain biking. It is first state park in Michigan to be jointly managed with a county recreation agency.
The lake and surrounding park property is now a designated waterfowl refuge, which means that the refuge area is closed Feb. 15 to May 15 (spring closure) and Sept. 1 to Jan. 1 (fall closure). The park property along Arnold Road and Watkins Lake remains open during this time period for waterfowl viewing. Please reference the Land Use Order for additional information.
A preliminary trail from the parking lot was cleared along the former railroad bed and leads east to a scenic grassland loop trail. A hike from the parking lot, to the grassland loop and back is roughly five miles. Hikers will cross Noggles Road to reach the eastern grassland loop. View preliminary trail map.
Parks in close proximity: Don't miss out on these other nearby Michigan outdoor destinations! Hayes State Park, located in the heart of the Irish Hills, is home to Wamplers Lake and Round Lake and is ideal for both fishing and boating. Cambridge Junction Historic State Park is the site of Walker Tavern and is nestled in the scenic Irish Hills. It was once a stop for stage coaches on the Detroit-Chicago Road and features interpretive exhibits, a reconstructed 1840s barn, an open-air farmers market, vintage baseball games, outdoor concerts and much more!
You are looking for mostly small clear plactic containers and preforms. State Park Sticker needed.