Things to Do
Lakes
More than 50 lakes within a 15-mile radius of the Village of Brooklyn have given our area the title "Heart of the Lakes."
Three area lakes, Wamplers Lake, Clark Lake and Vineyard Lake, are large, have parks and support substantial numbers of visitors for summer and winter fun. W.J. Hayes State Park is located at Wamplers Lake and county parks are at the other two lakes. Clark Lake also has two township parks.
Public Access Lakes (Over 100 Acres)
| Lake Name | County | Water Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Clark Lake (map) | Jackson | 580 |
| Devils Lake (map) | Lenawee | 1300 |
| Round Lake (map) | Lenawee | 515 |
| Sand Lake (map) | Lenawee | 440 |
| Vineyard Lake (map) | Jackson | 505 |
| Wamplers Lake (map) | Lenawee | 780 |
Hiking Trails
6214 Monroe Rd, Tipton, MI 49287
Phone: (517) 431-2060
www.hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu
Hayes State Park/Lake Hudson RA/Cambridge Historical Site
1220 Wamplers Lake Rd, Onsted, MI 49265
Mac Cready Reserve
9243 Skiff Lake Rd., Clarklake, MI
McCourtie Park (The Bridge Park)
12715 E. Chicago Rd, Somerset, MI 49282
Onsted Village Park Rail Trail
Second Street, Onsted MI 49265
517-467-4618
Open daily 8 am to 10 pm
Approximately 2 miles, down and back.
Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve
14801 Arnold Road, Brooklyn MI 49230
(517) 467-7401
Open 7 am to 8 pm daily
Length: 4.5 miles
Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve is a combination public recreation area and nature preserve located in the Irish Hills, Jackson and Washtenaw counties, Michigan. contains over 1,100 acres of forests, grasslands, wetlands, and open water.
https://www.michigandnr.com/publications/pdfs/RecreationCamping/Watkins_Lake_map.pdf
W. J. Hayes State Park
1220 Wamplers Lake Road, Onsted MI 49265
517-467-7401
www.michigan.gov.hayes
McCourtie Park and Recreation
104 South Jackson Road, Cement City, MI 49233
517-688-9223
Open Daily 8 am to 9 pm.
Onsted State Game Area
Prospect Hill Road West, Grassy Lake Road North
Open Daily 7:30 am to 8 pm
There are no set hiking trails, wander at will.
Parks & Recreation
Onsted/Irish Hills Area
1220 Wamplers Lake Rd, Onsted, MI 49265
Facebook Website
Walker Tavern Historic Complex
Cambridge Junction, MI
From 1836 to 1855, when a stagecoach ride from Detroit to Chicago was a long and arduous five-day trip, a favorite stopping place to relax and enjoy a meal was Walker’s farmhouse and tavern. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day.
6214 Monroe Rd, Tipton, MI 49287
Phone: (517) 431-2060
www.hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu
Hidden Lake Gardens is owned and operated by Michigan State University under the division of Land Management, but supported through admission fees, endowments, gifts and the "Friends of Hidden Lake Gardens" membership program. The Gardens is open 362 days of the year. Guided tours, requested at least two weeks in advance, are available at no additional charge. In addition to more than 6 miles of one-way paved drives, there are 5 miles of hiking trails to allow the visitor a closer look at the beauty the Gardens provides.
Agri-Tourism
Agricultural Tourism (Agri-Tourism) is right here in the Irish Hills.
Agri-tourists can choose from a wide range of activities that include picking fruits and vegetables, riding horses, tasting honey, agricultural shows, learning about wine and cheese making, or shopping in farm gift shops and farm stands for local and regional produce or hand-crafted gifts.
People have become more interested in how their food is produced. They want to meet farmers and processers and talk with them about what goes into food production. For many people who visit farms, especially children, the visit marks the first time they see the source of their food, be it a dairy cow, an ear of corn growing in the field, or an apple they can pick right off the tree.
10701 Adams Rd, Clark Lake, MI 49234
Phone: (517) 529-4268
8430 Groger Rd, Onsted MI 49265
(Between Springville and Sand Lake off M-50)
11000 Silver Lake Hwy, Brooklyn, MI 49233
Phone: (517) 592-4663
290 Devils Lake Hwy, Manitou Beach MI
Every Saturday from 8 am - 1 pm (May-Sept)Fresh produce, flowers, homemade baked/canned goods, handmade arts/crafts.
Intersection of US 12 & M-50, Brooklyn, MI
(Entrance is currently off M-50)
Phone: (517) 467-7793
