Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve

Michigan's 103rd state park includes 717 acres of land in Norvell Township, Jackson County and 405 acres of land in Manchester Township. The 1,122-acre property is collaborative effort between the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission. The park is slated to offer a wide variety of recreational opportunities, such as hiking, bird watching, and upland hunting. The property includes a 4.5-mile former rail corridor that traverses the property from east to west. The trail links state and county parcels and has the potential to be developed into a non-motorized multi-use trail, well-suited for hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians. The park is located 15 miles from Jackson and 25 miles from Ann Arbor.