Chelsea, Michigan: Waterloo State Recreation Area, Green Lake Rustic Campground, Hiking, Biking, Discovery Center

May 2022, Green Lake primitive site GL6, 3 nights, weekdays

View of Green Lake from rustic campsite GL6 in Waterloo Recreation Area

This was our first visit to Waterloo park, which is the largest state park in Michigan's lower peninsula. We plan to visit again!

Info and registration instructions at Green Lake Rustic Campground in Waterloo Recreation Area

Reservations

We had not initially planned to make a reservation, since our stay was during the week at the beginning of May. After we looked at the park more closely, however, we decided it would be easier to make a reservation, in order to drive directly to our site. It did not look like there was a way to check in at this primitive campground, and the staffed areas in this park would have been out of our way.

After we arrived, we observed a self-registration kiosk, similar to Michigan State Forest campgrounds. There were also "reserved" tags on some sties; however, this information was not accurate, nor was it checked by anyone. There was no reservation tag on our site when we arrived, even though we had made a reservation. There was a reservation tag on the site next to us when we arrived, and this site was not occupied until the last night of our stay (I also checked the website after we arrived, and there was no reservation for that site until the last evening). Many people came to this campground and stayed on sites for just a few hours: in lounge chairs, tree hammocks, and at picnic tables around a fire. Some of the sites people used had reserved tags on them, and some did not. We could not figure out any rhyme or reason to most of the activity in this campground. The clipboard list with reserved site numbers in the photo above was not present until the last night of our stay. We were glad or site was unoccupied when we arrived!

Above: campsite GL6 in Green Lake Rustic Campground in Waterloo Recreation Area
Below: labels for campsites GL6, GL5, and GL3

Campsites in Green Lake Rustic Campground

Although campsite GL6 is unlevel and hilly, we thought this was one of the best campsites in this campground. The water view is excellent, and the site is quite large. There are no trees between this site and site GL5. GL5 is also a large site, so when the people arrived at that site on our last evening their camper were quite aways away from us.

Above: sunrise from inside our camper on campsite GL6 in
Green Lake Rustic Campground in Waterloo Recreation Area
Below: another view of campsites GL5 and GL3

I also liked campsites GL3, GL14, and GL20, although my husband thinks GL6 is best. Site GL3 is more level than 5 and 6, although there are also mores trees between the campsite and the water. Campsite GL14 is somewhat private, although it is not level and not as large as GL6. I liked this site because it looked like there would be a fabulous sunset view over the water. Campsite GL20 is the most private site. This site would be great in cool weather because it is open and surrounded by trees. You cannot see the lake from this site.

Waterloo-Pickney hiking trail in Waterloo Recreation Area

Recreation: Hiking, biking, boating, fishing, Discovery Center

There are many activities in this park! We did not even begin to do them all during our 3-night stay. We hiked part of the Waterloo-Pickney Trail that is accessible from Green Lake Campground. The trail is hilly and scenic. 

Along Chelsea-Stockbridge Corridor trail

We walked and biked on different portions of the paved trail that crosses at the entrance to Green Lake Rustic Campground (Chelsea-Stockbridge Corridor). This trail was not yet complete, and only went as far south as Werkner Road at the time of our visit. The portion from the campground to the south is quite hilly. There are stopping areas with benches along the trail. DTE mountain biking trails, located just northwest of Green Lake, are accessible from this trail, as well. 

Green Lake boat ramp in Waterloo Recreation Area

It was easy to launch our kayaks at the boat ramp in Green Lake Campground. Small motorized boats are also allowed, although this lake is not very big. The only boats we observed in the lake were kayaks. We fished a bit, and did not catch any keepers. We chatted with another camper who had been fishing from his kayak, and he said the same thing. There were many small fish swimming around the ramp area.

Above: Discovery Center trail from first parking lot in Waterloo Recreation Area
Below: Mill Lake from observation deck at Discovery Center in Waterloo Recreation Area

We stopped at Discovery Center on Bush Road when we left this park. Waterloo-Pickney Trail is paved as it passes through this area. There is a lot to see inside the center, and the rocks and information along the walking trail are interesting. 

We had planned to go to the sanitation station in Sugarloaf Campground when we left the center; however, after the 1½ mile ride down Bush Road, which is dirt, we decided to take the shorter route out via Pierce Road, and use the station at our next campground.

Misc. and overall

We loved the areas of this park that we had time to visit! Green Lake Rustic Campground was peaceful. There were not many mosquitos or bugs out during our stay. The traffic noise across the lake from M-52 was minimal.

Let me know if you have any questions!