Sleepy Hollow State Park and the county's wild side

For a farm county this close to Lansing, Clinton has some real outdoor gems. The biggest is Sleepy Hollow State Park. It covers about 2,600 acres in the southeast part of the county near Laingsburg. At its center is Lake Ovid, a 410-acre lake. It was created in 1974 by damming the Little Maple River. The fishing is popular here (bass, pike, panfish, and stocked muskie). There’s also a campground, a sandy swimming beach, and miles of trails.

Up in the northern part of the county near St. Johns is the Maple River State Game Area. At over 9,000 acres, it spills into Gratiot and Ionia counties. It’s the largest connected wetland in mid-Michigan. It’s also a famous stopover for migrating ducks, geese, and swans. Dikes and an observation tower make it good for birdwatching. And down near Bath, the Rose Lake research area offers still more state land for hiking and hunting.

If you like having woods, water, and wildlife close to home, this corner of the county delivers.