Did you know that Michigan has it’s very own Sleepy Hollow? We do and stating there is a surplus of fun in the Sleepy Hollow State Park may just be an understatement!
Read on as I share my experience from my visit here…
*Note: This is a repost. The original blog post was published on July 16, 2021
The Backstory
The Sleepy Hollow State Park is located just north of Lansing and is approximately six miles East of US-127.
Property for the park was aquired during the 1960’s and opened to the public in 1976.
Lying within the park is Lake Ovid, which was created when the Little Maple River was dammed, covering 410 acres of the park’s more than 2600 acres.
It’s easy to see why it is a popular destination for fisherman, kayakers and canoe enthusiast.
What You Will Need to Enter
Because Sleepy Hollow is a state park, you will need a recreational passport to enter.
One of my first, and most important, tips for traveling around Michigan is to buy the pass when you renew your tabs or license plates each year. Why add one more thing to think about every time you want to go on a a little jaunt? You’re already there, so why not? Once and done!
Passport Price Breakdown
Michigan Residents:
- Annual Vehicle purchased at renewal: $12
- Vehicle purchased at gate: $17 (includes a convenience fee of $5)
- Annual Motorcycle purchased at renewal: $6
- Motorcycle purchased at gate: $11 (includes a convenience fee of $5)
- Moped pass is $6 when purchased at state parks
- Commercial Daily purchased at gate: $17
- Non-Resident Daily pass purchased at gate: $9
- Non-Resident Annual pass: $34 (only valid until December 31)
- Commercial Daily pass: $17
- There is NO convenience fee for non-Michigan residents
For more information on any of the Recreational Passes, including costs, fees, etc. please visit https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79134_79210—,00.html
Our First Stop
Do not leave the gate without a park map…you will thank me later
After finding the correct parking lot for the beach area (I made a wrong turn, oops), it was a very easy walk. There is an asphalt walkway that is more than wide enough for strollers and wheelchairs, allowing 3-4 for people in width. The walkways continues through the picnic area and to the pier but not around the beach.
FYI: the beach area is not near the park entrance
There are two pavillions with multiple picnic tables and are more than large enough to host a family gathering. It looked as though they are first come, first serve so I imagine someone would need to get there early for setup and to “hold” the tables. I would definitely call to inquire before sending 50 people there only to find out you need to reserve them.
Speaking of picnic tables, they are EVERYWHERE. There is no shortage of places to sit and have a nice afternoon bbq with your family. And when you get hungry, the park has you covered with charcoal grills scattered around just waiting to cook up those hamburgers and hot dogs.
Unlike many places I’ve visited lately, there are plenty of shade trees, benches and bathroom facilities, making this a very family friendly environment.
The restrooms at the beach are in a building and are fairly nice. They offer three changing stalls in addition to toilets and sinks.
And don’t feel like you need to leave your furry friend behind either. Sleepy Hollow State Park has it’s own Dog Beach! Isn’t that great?! I think it’s great…their very own beach! But a park rule is that if your dog is in the water – whether at the beach or from a boat – you MUST be in the water with them.
Of course, you must always have your dog under control and clean up after them. For your convenience there are poo bags and stations around in case you forgot to bring some or you have an overachieving pooch.
Most of us with dogs are responsible pet owners so any rules will not be a surprise or difficult to follow.
What a Beach
I have been to some state parks where there is no beach. There is no sand. Not a bench in sight. Not even a porta-potty. Would you like to fish from a nice pier? Forget about it…But that isn’t the case here.
The beach at the Sleepy Hollow State Park is well manicured and a reflection of how well the entire park is taken care of. The beach area has a grated twenty-five foot, or so, sandy frontage and the yard is mowed and trimmed where it should be.
Spaces that are not meant for human interaction, or very little, are left to grow as they should be.
Fishing and Boating and Kayaking, Oh My
If you are looking for a sports lake that offers a lot of activity, this is your spot. Remember, Lake Ovid is actually a reservoir that was created in the 1970’s.
While it covers 410 acres, the maximum depth never exceeds 23′ and it has an average depth of around 10′. This may be why it is so popular for kayak and canoe devotees. I must have seen a couple dozen people out in their kayaks in just the short amount of time I was there.
If you do not own a canoe or kayak and would like to enjoy the fun of it too, the state park has some for rent! They are on a first come, first serve basis. Call 517-651-6217 for more information.
Fishing is also a huge sport activity on Lake Ovid! If you don’t have a boat, no worries! The state park allows fishing opportunities from the shoreline, piers and boats. Heck, I saw a few fishing from kayaks. The lake’s typical variety of fish caught include sunfish, yellow perch and largemouth bass, among a couple others.
I do wish some, not all, of the lily pads and growth was cut out just a little. I know if gives the fish a hiding spot but it also wrecks havok on lures.
You will need a valid fishing license and have a recreational passport to fish in Lake Ovid. And don’t forget your sunscreen!
“Hey, Boo Boo! What’s in the Picnic Basket?”
If you would like to have a picnic – a very large picnic gathering, actually – there is a place down the road from the beach area that presents visitors with two pavillions and a very sizeable “yard”. It is very similar to the picnic area at the beach but away from any water.
There are more than enough tables and grills to accommodate even a colossal crowd…I’m thinking family reunions, weddings or their rehearsal dinner and graduation parties…just a few suggestions. In case you’re wondering, yes, that is a functioning hand pump.
There are vault toilet restrooms in this area and, in my opinion, the best part are the trails behind the pavillions that lead around the lake! We’ll chat more about the trails in a hot second.
Hitting the Trails!
Sleepy Hollow State Park is a hikers dream! There are 16 miles of trails leading all over the park for hikers and bikers (don’t forget to take your dogs) and 12.5 miles of trails for horses. There were several out riding their horses or taking ther dogs for a good stretch of the legs.It’s nice too because the horse trails do not seem to share or intersect with the bike trails much at all. Less chances of spooking horses and riders!
The trails are assorted in length and vary in degrees of difficulty.
The trails I walked were not difficult but I would suggest contacting the park if you have any questions or concerns. Their contact number is 517-651-6217.
Let’s Go Camping!
As with many state parks in Michigan, there are plenty of camping opportunities in Sleepy Hollow. You can pull a camper in, pitch a tent or even stay in one of the two cabins that are available.
As I said, there are only two cabins. One is considered a Deluxe Cabin. It is heated and has electricity, a flush toilet, a shower, two bedrooms, sleeps six, a kitchenette and more. The rent is currently $101/night.
The Rustic Cabin is solar powered and and accommodates a party of five. It does not have electricity or showers and has a vault toilet outdoors, along with drinking water. Each cabin comes with a picnic table, charcoal grill and fire ring. The current rent for this cabin is $68/night.
I really like this campground. Driving around we saw that many of the sites had cement half-round pull throughs with the picnic tables, etc behind your camper or vehicle. There are sites for campers and tents and I found that the ones against the woods along the sides and back tended to be just a touch larger.
Keep in mind that campground rules state not more than two vehicles per site and no stay ling than 15 consecutive nights.
I had intended to check out the bathrooms but they were in the process of cleaning them – and I’m pretty sure one of the young ladies thought I was a weirdo for taking a picture of the building and, honestly, I would think the same thing.
A few days later I was making small talk with a cashier at a store I’ve never been to and she gave the entire place high praise. They have been going there for years and absolutely LOVE IT! She informed me that the bathrooms are always clean and the people are very nice here. Don’t believe just me…
And parents, don’t worry about play areas to entertain your little ones with. The park has an awesome playground! I walked around, took a quick look and was pretty impressed with the variety of activities available for them. There was a large “jungle gym/fort”, a Gaga Ball Pit (something like Dodge Ball), Basketball Hoops, Horseshoes Pit (I think that’s more for the big kids, like husbands) and more.
Camping prices (as of this writing) are $25/night for a modern site. They have 181 such sites. If you would like to make reservations, you can call 800-447-2757 or visit https://midnrreservations.com/
Flowers and Berries in the Park
Information All Around
The park is very good about making sure the information you need is prominately posted throughout.
Take a few minutes to stop and read them when you come across them and you will have a more enjoyable experience. I will say, though, that I didn’t see anyone being harrassed or park rangers out looking to give anyone trouble. As a matter of fact, everyone of them I met were very nice and more than willing to help. They want your adventure to be a fun and pleasant one while you’re there.
Be Familiar Before You Go
Yay or Nay?
I wasn’t sure what to expect when we made the trek to Sleepy Hollow State Park. I’ve been to some that are really nice and some that made me scratch my head and think “this is a state park?”
Overall, my impression of Sleepy Hollow is off the charts and my family agrees.
We loved that whether you are into hiking, water sports, horse trail riding, camping, fishing or winter activities, this venue has you covered. They even allow some hunting and trapping when in season, if that’s your activity of choice.
We liked that the park is so family friendly, too. There was no place within the park that I wouldn’t feel comfortable taking even small children. That alone is worth gold!
I loved that the entire place was well maintained and manicured where it should be. My husband was really impressed with the maintenance of the Disc Golf Course!
However, we were puzzled by the lack of people here. The camp sites were not full and most of the parking lots were nearly empty. When I was a kid we were always camping on Fourth of July weekend and this place only looked to be at 75% capacity, if that.
Conclusion:
Whether you are looking for a daytrip or a vacation spot, I absolutely recommend the Sleepy Hollow State Park! If you go, please let me know about your adventure! A definite Yay!
Cost of the Day
- Gasoline for the daytrip was around $40 ($3.149/gallon) 125 miles round trip
- No Admission Charge today. I previously purchased the Michigan Recreational Passport for $12
- We made no purchases today. We took fluids and Built bars for snacks
- Total time at the park: 3.5 hours
- Total time for the day: 5 hours
Nearby
- City of Laingsburg 5.4 mi
- Lansing 23 mi
- City of Ovid 7.6 mi
- St Johns 13 mi
Where’s the Map
Last Views
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