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Waterloo Recreation Area
Nearby Parks:
Unadilla State Wildlife Area
Pinckney Recreation Area
Southern Michigan State Forest Nursery
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| Park Contact Information: |
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Waterloo Recreation Area
16345 McClure Road
Chelsea, Michigan 48118
Phone: 734-475-8307
Reservations: 800-447-2757
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| Adopt-A-Park Contacts: |
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Photography: add your photos
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| Park Reservations: |
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Reservations: 
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| Park Overview: |
| Waterloo Recreation Area is the largest park in the Lower Peninsula. At more than 20,000 acres, the park boasts two modern campgrounds, a rustic campground, an equestrian campground, a swimming beach, several picnic sites, 11 excellent fishing lakes, eight boat launches, 12 miles of interpretive nature trails, 47 miles of hiking trails, three rustic cabins, numerous equestrian trails and the Gerald E. Eddy Discovery Center. |
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| Be the 1st to Review Waterloo Recreation Area. You can rate it, post a comment on it, or do both. |
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| Camping: |
| Waterloo Green Lake-Rustic(734) 475-8307 25 site(s)Boat Launch, Fishing, Hiking, Rustic Site, Vault Toilet
Waterloo Portage Lake-Modern(800) 447-2757 136 site(s)Campsites with 50 amp Service, Electrical Service, Modern Restrooms, Swimming
Waterloo Sugarloaf-Modern(800) 447-2757 164 site(s)Boat Launch, Campsites with 50 amp Service, Electrical Service, Modern Restrooms, Playground, Swimming
Waterloo-Equestrian(734) 475-8307 25 site(s)Campers with horses, Equestrian, Rustic Site, Vault Toilet
Waterloo-Group Use Area(734) 475-8307 5 site(s)Playground, Rustic Site, Swimming, Vault Toilet
Waterloo-Rustic Cabins(800) 447-2757 3 site(s)Cabins & Lodges, Vault Toilet |
| Trails: |
| A variety of trails are available for hiking, skiing, mountain biking, horseback riding and nature study can be found in the recreation area. The Trails of Waterloo's Discovery Center can help guide your exploration of all the natural features to be found.
Waterloo-Bicycle Trails Trail Length: 5.00 (Miles)Mountain Biking
Waterloo-Bridle Trails Trail Length: 12.00 (Miles)Equestrian
Waterloo-Discovery Center Trail Trail Length: 14.00 (Miles)Cross Country Ski, Hiking
Waterloo-Dry Marsh Trail Length: 0.50 (Miles)Cross Country Ski, Hiking
Waterloo-Hickory Hills Trail Length: 1.00 (Miles)Cross Country Ski, Hiking
Waterloo-Pinckney Trail Trail Length: 22.00 (Miles)Cross Country Ski, Hiking |
| Picnicking: |
| A picnic site is located at Big Portage Lake (E4) and has tables, grills, water, toilet facilities, and a picnic shelter which may be reserved. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. daily. The smaller picnic sites are at Crooked Lake located at F8 and Mud Lake located at D8. Both have tables and grills. The picnic area at Big Portage Lake meets current ADAAG standards for universal accessibility.
Two picnic shelters are available to rent at the Portage Lake day-use area. Contact the park headquarters for reservations: (734)475-8307. Playgrounds are available at the Portage Lake day-use area and the Sugarloaf Campground. |
| Boating: |
| Public boat launches are located on Big Portage(E4), Cedar(F10), Green(D10), Crooked(F8), Mill(E9), Mud(E8), and Walsh(E10) lakes and the Winnewana Impoundment(D9).
Access by foot across state land is available at Clear(E7), Doyle(F9), Cassidy(E10), Little Portage(D4) and Merkle(C6) lakes. Only the launch site at Big Portage Lake meets ADAAG standards for universal accessibility.
Access is limited to registered campers at Sugarloaf Lake(E8) because it is located within the campground. |
| Swimming: |
| A public beach is located at Big Portage Lake, E4. Hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with a beach store open during the summer. A beach is also located for campers only at the Sugarloaf Campground, G8. |
| Fishing and Hunting: |
| Fishing
Fishing piers are located at Big Portage and Crooked lakes. The pier at Big Portage Lake is the only one considered universally accessible by ADA Guidelines. Bass, panfish and pike can be found in the many lakes in Waterloo Recreation Area.
Hunting
Waterloo Recreation Area is open to hunting for all species following regular State Regulations between September 15 and March 31. This park boasts excellent deer and turkey hunting, with prevalent numbers of both species. Rabbit and squirrel can be found to a lesser degree throughout the park. In addition, there are pockets throughout the park with decent populations of pheasant, quail, grouse and woodcock. The park is also open to trapping. The terrain is a mixture of open brush land to mature hardwood forest, with some pockets of open meadows mixed in with several large areas of wetland habitat. All users are reminded that private property is interspersed within many of the park and recreation area properties. It is the responsibility of all users to determine where they are and to stay off private property. Waterloo does have hiking and equestrian trails within the open hunting areas. |
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| Related Links: |
| Area Campgrounds | | | | Area Resorts and Lodging | | North Haven Resort
11400 Waterman Rd
Brooklyn, MI
(517) 592-6170
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| Directions: |
| Because the park is so large and spread out, finding where you want to go may require some extra time. The park map can be obtained by clicking on the link at the top of this page. Each location described here will refer to a letter/number locator on the park map. Please call the park for additional directions. |
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