Hayes State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Walter J. Hayes State Park
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
Beach area along Wamplers Lake
Walter J. Hayes State Park Location in Michigan
Location	Lenawee County, Michigan, United States
Nearest town	Onsted, Michigan
Area	654 acres (265 ha)
Elevation	968 feet (295 m)
Designation	Michigan state park
Established	1920
Administrator	Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Website	Hayes State Park

Walter J. Hayes State Park is a public recreation area covering 654 acres (265 ha) on the southeast corner of Wamplers Lake in the Irish Hills region of the state of Michigan. Most of the state park lies within Lenawee County with a small portion extending into Jackson and Washtenaw counties in the Round Lake area. The park offers access to 796-acre (322 ha) Wamplers Lake and completely surrounds 100-acre (40 ha) Round Lake, which connects to Wamplers Lake via a channel navigable by smaller boats. Other scenic lakes including Evans Lake and Sand Lake as well as chains of smaller lakes lie nearby. The park is traversed by Michigan Route 124 north of its intersection with US Highway 12.

History

Dedicated in 1920, the park was among the first 25 established by the Michigan State Parks Commission, which referred to it as both Cedar Hills State Park and Adrian State Park. It originally comprised a 99-acre purchase by the state plus two donations of land which brought the park's size to some 200 acres. It was renamed in 1930 after the family of Michigan State Senator Walter J. Hayes made a donation of land with the stipulation that the name change take place. The Civilian Conservation Corps made improvements to the park during the 1930s. Michigan CCC camp SP1 was active in Hayes State Park from 1933 to 1935.

Facilities and activities

The park offers fishing for bass, bluegill and pike, swimming, hiking, picnicking, boat launch, boat rentals, campgrounds, and mini-cabins.