Clinton Lakes County Park

St Johns, Michigan · on Hayworth Creek

Verified · 3 independent sources

WATER: lake
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: No fee found
SEASON: Best in summer

About Clinton Lakes County Park

Clinton Lakes County Park is a 272-acre Clinton County park near St. Johns, Michigan, centered on Big Clinton Lake (90 acres) and Little Clinton Lake (12 acres). The county's own facility page advertises a 1,200-foot beachfront with a designated, gently sloped swim area, making this an officially sanctioned swimming hole rather than an informal one, and a reliable lake to swim in near St. Johns.

The park sits along N DeWitt Road outside St. Johns, Michigan, built around Big and Little Clinton Lakes, with over 5 miles of hiking trails and a native prairie restored from former agricultural land that supports grassland birds and monarch butterflies, per the county's facility description.

Swimming at Clinton Lakes County Park

Swimming takes place at a designated, gently sloped sand beach (1,200 feet of beachfront) on Big Clinton Lake, per the official county listing, a setup oriented toward easy, family-friendly lake entry rather than deep-water or current-driven swimming. No first-hand accounts of water clarity, temperature, or crowding were found.

How to get to this swimming hole

Park address is 4665 N DeWitt Road, St. Johns, MI 48879, per the official county facility page; no turn-by-turn directions from town were found.

Parking: On-site parking areas are listed as an amenity; the county page notes that after Labor Day the main gate and beach house close but two gravel parking lots along DeWitt Road remain accessible for day use.

The hike in

The park has 'more than 5 miles of hiking trails' through restored prairie per the county page, but the swim beach itself sits on Big Clinton Lake directly off the DeWitt Road parking lots, so no hike is needed to reach the water. No trail names or trail map could be located despite repeated searches, so trail-specific details are left null.

Multiple search attempts (Bing, DuckDuckGo, general web) for a trail map or trail names returned no usable results, mostly blocked by CAPTCHAs or drowned out by 'Bill Clinton' search noise because of the park's name.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

Good for kids

Official county page describes a 1,200-foot beachfront with a 'Gently Sloped Swim Area' on Big Clinton Lake, which is a designed, easy-entry family beach rather than a cliff/current spot; no lifeguard staffing was confirmed one way or the other.

Parking

Lot

Two gravel parking lots along N DeWitt Road; these stay accessible for day use even after Labor Day when the main gate and beach house close. No fee amount is published on the county's page, so cost/paid status could not be confirmed.

Restrooms

Yes

Vault toilet facility on site, per the official Clinton County park page (no indoor restrooms described).

Hours

8:00 am to sundown, staffed by Park Rangers through Labor Day; after Labor Day the main entrance and beach house close until May, though the gravel lots remain reachable and visitors must leave by sundown.

On the water

KayaksCanoesPaddleboards

Restrictions: Carry-in only; no gasoline-powered motors allowed on Big or Little Clinton Lake, a rule enforced to limit spread of aquatic invasive species (zebra mussels, Eurasian milfoil), per the official county facility page. The source does not clarify whether electric trolling motors are permitted.

No motorized/gas boat launch exists at this park; hand-launch (carry-in) non-motorized craft are implied to be welcome given the explicit invasive-species framing around gas motors specifically.

Clinton Lakes County Park: FAQ

Is Clinton Lakes County Park kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Clinton Lakes County Park?

No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.

Where do I park for Clinton Lakes County Park?

Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Clinton Lakes County Park?

No motorized/gas boat launch exists at this park; hand-launch (carry-in) non-motorized craft are implied to be welcome given the explicit invasive-species framing around gas motors specifically.

When is the best time to visit Clinton Lakes County Park?

Summer through Labor Day, when the main entrance, beach house, and full staffing (Park Rangers) are active, per the county facility page.

What are the rules at Clinton Lakes County Park?

Park hours are 8:00 am to sundown, with Park Rangers on duty through Labor Day; after Labor Day the main entrance and beach house close until May (property still reachable via gravel lots, visitors must leave by sundown). Boating access is carry-in only with no gasoline motors allowed, to limit spread of aquatic invasive species (zebra mussels, Eurasian milfoil), per the official county page.

What water body is Clinton Lakes County Park on?

Clinton Lakes County Park is on Hayworth Creek, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.