Medium Demand — Michigan's Largest Lower Peninsula State Park

Waterloo State Recreation Area

Jackson County · Lower Peninsula · Chelsea, MI 48118
200+
Campsites
20,000
Acres
From $17
Per Night
47
Miles of Trail
Season: April – November
Hookups: Electric, some rustic
Pets: Allowed on leash
Reservation: MiDNRReservations.com
Phone: (734) 475-8307
Book on MiDNRReservations.com →

About Waterloo State Recreation Area

Waterloo State Recreation Area is the largest state park property in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, spanning roughly 20,000 acres of glacially sculpted hills, kettle lakes, and hardwood forest between Chelsea and Grass Lake. Its sheer scale supports an enormous trail network — about 47 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails — along with a nature center and a chain of lakes for swimming, fishing, and paddling.

The main modern campground sits at Sugarloaf Lake with 200-plus electric sites, while a smaller rustic campground at Portage Lake offers a quieter, more primitive option. Waterloo connects to neighboring Pinckney State Recreation Area via the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail, forming one of the longest continuous backcountry trail corridors in southern Michigan.

CampgroundSitesHookupsBest For
Sugarloaf Lake Campground200+ sitesElectricFamilies, RVs, swimming
Portage Lake CampgroundRustic sitesNoneTent camping, quiet
Heads up: Given the park's size, GPS directions can sometimes route you to the wrong entrance — confirm you're headed to the correct campground (Sugarloaf Lake vs. Portage Lake) before you leave.
Local tip: Stop by the Eddy Discovery Center, the park's nature center, for exhibits and trail maps before heading out — it's a great orientation point given how large and trail-dense Waterloo is.

The Waterloo-Pinckney Trail

PHOTO PLACEHOLDER

The park's signature feature is its scale — nearly 20,000 acres laced with roughly 47 miles of trail, including the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail, a backcountry hiking route that connects all the way to Pinckney State Recreation Area for a genuine multi-day trek within southern Michigan.

How to Get a Reservation

The 6-Month Booking Window

Like all Michigan DNR campgrounds, Waterloo State Recreation Area opens reservations exactly 6 months in advance through MiDNRReservations.com.

Set a CampDrop Alert

If your dates are sold out, CampDrop monitors MiDNRReservations.com around the clock and texts you the moment a site opens up at Waterloo.

Reserve directly: MiDNRReservations.com · Park phone: (734) 475-8307

What to Know Before You Go

Hookups & Site Types

Sugarloaf Lake Campground offers electric sites; Portage Lake Campground is rustic with no hookups.

Season

The park typically operates April through November; confirm exact dates on MiDNRReservations.com.

Pets

Pets are welcome throughout the park on a 6-foot leash.

Nature Center

The Eddy Discovery Center offers exhibits, programs, and trail information, making it a useful first stop given the park's size.

Directions

Waterloo State Recreation Area is located at 16345 McClure Rd, Chelsea, MI 48118, in Jackson County, just off I-94 between Chelsea and Jackson.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, at roughly 20,000 acres it's the largest state park property in Michigan's Lower Peninsula.

The Sugarloaf Lake Campground has 200-plus modern electric sites, and the smaller Portage Lake Campground offers rustic camping.

Yes, the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail links the two parks, forming one of the longest continuous backcountry trail corridors in southern Michigan.

Reservations open exactly 6 months in advance through MiDNRReservations.com. For sold-out dates, a CampDrop alert will text you the moment a cancellation opens up a site.

The park typically operates April through November. Confirm exact dates on MiDNRReservations.com.

Yes, the Eddy Discovery Center offers exhibits, programs, and trail maps, and is a useful first stop given the park's size.