Sleepy Hollow State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sleepy Hollow State Park |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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Lake Ovid is the principal feature of the state park
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 Sleepy Hollow State Park
Location in Michigan
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| Location | Clinton County, Michigan, United States |
| Nearest city | Laingsburg, Michigan |
| Area | 2,678 acres (10.84 km2) |
| Elevation | 781 feet (238 m) |
| Designation | Michigan state park |
| Established | 1965 (Opened 1976) |
| Visitors | 332,276 (in 2012-2013) |
| Administrator | Michigan Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Sleepy Hollow State Park |
Sleepy Hollow State Park is a fun outdoor area in Michigan. It covers about 2,678 acres, which is like 2,000 football fields! The park is in Clinton County, near the towns of Laingsburg and St. Johns.
The main part of the park is a large, man-made lake called Lake Ovid. This lake is about 410 acres big. It's a great spot for many activities.
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Discovering Sleepy Hollow's Past
Sleepy Hollow State Park was created a while ago. The state bought the land in the late 1960s. Then, they built a dam on the Little Maple River. This dam helped create the big Lake Ovid.
The park officially opened its doors in 1976. Since then, many people have visited. In 2009, a cool 18-hole disc golf course was added. It's called the Legend Disc Golf course.
Exploring Lake Ovid's Wildlife
Lake Ovid is the biggest body of water in this area. It's home to many different kinds of fish. You can find catfish, black crappie, and largemouth bass. Other fish include muskellunge, sunfish, and yellow perch.
The lake also has bluegill, northern pike, and carp. The park regularly adds muskellunge and channel catfish to the lake. This helps keep the fish population healthy.
Bird Watching at the Park
Sleepy Hollow State Park is a fantastic place for bird watching. More than 228 different types of birds have been seen here! Many birds that travel long distances, like migrating waterfowl, stop at Lake Ovid. Shorebirds and passerines also visit the park.
Fun Things to Do at Sleepy Hollow
There are so many activities to enjoy at Sleepy Hollow State Park!
- Swimming and Boating: You can swim in Lake Ovid. Boating is also popular, but it's a "no wake" lake. This means boats must go slowly to avoid making big waves.
- Fishing: With all the fish in Lake Ovid, it's a great spot for fishing.
- Trails: The park has 11 miles of trails. You can use them for hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing in winter. There are also 6 miles of trails just for horseback riding.
- Disc Golf: Try out the 18-hole disc golf course.
- Picnics: There are special areas for picnicking with your family and friends.
- Winter Sports: In winter, you can go snowmobiling.
- Hunting: Certain areas are set aside for hunting during specific seasons.
Camping Adventures
Sleepy Hollow State Park offers many ways to stay overnight. There are 181 campsites available. These are split between the North and South campgrounds.
- All campsites have electricity.
- You can easily access safe drinking water.
- Reservations can be made online or by phone.
- The main camping season is from June to October.
- Winter camping is also an option for those who like the cold!
Besides regular campsites, the park has other choices. You can stay in a modern cabin or a rustic cabin. There are also rustic walk-in campsites. For groups, there's an organizational campground.
