Haithco Park
Saginaw, Michigan · on Haithco Lake · William H Haithco Recreation Area
Verified · 5 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $5.00 per personal
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Haithco Park
Haithco Park (William H. Haithco Recreation Area) is a 76-acre Saginaw County park in Saginaw Township built around a 40-acre man-made lake formed from a highway construction borrow pit. It has an official, lifeguard-supervised swimming beach in season plus boat rentals, a splash pad, and a loop trail around the water, a fully developed swimming hole with a ready-made lake to swim in at its center.
The park sits at 2121 Schust Road in Saginaw Township, just off I-675, centered on a 40-acre man-made lake originally excavated as a borrow pit during I-675 construction. Saginaw County Parks acquired the site in 1987 and opened it to the public in May 1991. A trail circles the lake through mowed/landscaped park grounds rather than wild terrain.
Swimming at Haithco Park
Swimming is at a designated, sandy, lifeguard-supervised beach on the man-made lake -- a family-oriented, calm-water swim area rather than a wild or remote hole. It suits families and casual swimmers; the lake is also used for non-motorized boating (canoe, kayak, paddleboat, rowboat, paddleboard) during the same season.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located at 2121 Schust Road, Saginaw Township, MI, accessible off I-675 near the Tittabawassee Road exit.
Parking: On-site park parking; vehicle entry fee applies (see fees).
The hike in
Haithco Lake Trail
- To the water
- under 0.1 mi (beach is adjacent to parking)
- Time on foot
- 1-2 minutes walk from parking to the beach; the full lake loop trail takes roughly 25-35 minutes to walk if done for its own sake
Difficulty: easy
Trailhead: Park entrance/parking lot off Schust Rd (park is a short walk-in from the lot; the beach and trail both start right at the parking area)
A separate ~1.4-mile easy paved/gravel loop trail circles the full 40-acre lake for anyone who wants to walk the perimeter, but it is a recreational loop, not the access route to the swim beach -- the designated swim beach itself is a direct, flat walk from the parking lot.
No hike is required to reach the swimming area -- this is a drive-up, official day-use park.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Good for kids
Designated lifeguard-supervised swim beach (11am-7:30pm daily, Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day) on a calm man-made lake, not a river or wild swimming hole -- no current to worry about. Official park rules require children under 13 to be accompanied by a parent/guardian 18+, ban inflatables/air mattresses/inner tubes in the swim area, and let lifeguards require a swim-ability check before letting swimmers into deeper water, which points to a shallow designated area near shore. A splash pad (Ruth Averill Splash Pad) is on-site as a lower-water alternative for younger kids.
Parking
Paid, $5.00 per personal vehicle (waived for Saginaw County residents); free for walk-ins, cyclists, and bus passengers
On-site park entrance lot at 2121 Schust Rd, Saginaw Township, off I-675 at the Tittabawassee Rd exit. Fee is a park admission/gate fee rather than a separate parking charge; non-motorized boats under 17 ft pay an extra $1.00 launch fee.
Restrooms
Yes
Official county page and park history both describe 'modern restrooms/bathrooms' on-site at the park (in addition to restrooms at each of the 5 rental pavilions).
Hours
Swim beach and splash pad: 11:00am-7:30pm daily from the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day. Watercraft (rental and private) and windsurfing/kiteboarding: 9:00am-8:00pm daily in the same season, all craft off the water by 8:00pm. General park grounds hours beyond the swim/boat season were not published on the official page.
On the water
Restrictions: Non-motorized watercraft only, 17 feet or less; all craft must be man- or wind-powered (no motors). Personal/private watercraft limited to sailboats, V-bottom boats, jon boats, kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes meeting Coast Guard safety standards -- inflatable watercraft of any kind are prohibited from lake access. Boating (rental or private) permitted only Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 9:00am-8:00pm daily, and must stay 100 ft from docks, harbor, other boats, and the swimming area. Private watercraft must be carried by hand from the parking lot/drop-off to the shoreline (no vehicle launch). Windsurfing and kiteboarding are also permitted in the same season with a check-in/waiver at the park office.
The park itself is the on-water outfitter: Saginaw County Parks & Recreation directly owns and rents canoes, kayaks, paddleboats, rowboats, and stand-up paddleboards for use on Haithco Lake -- there is no independent commercial kayak/SUP rental business serving this lake found in this search.
Rentals nearby
Canoe, kayak, rowboat, paddleboat, and stand-up paddleboard rentals directly on Haithco Lake
On-site at William H. Haithco Recreation Area, 2121 Schust Rd, Saginaw Township, MI · 9:00am-8:00pm daily, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day (all watercraft must be returned by 8:00pm)
Backstory
The lake was created from a borrow pit dug during construction of I-675; Saginaw County Parks acquired the property in 1987 and it opened to the public in May 1991. The area is named for William H. Haithco in recognition of his roughly 30 years of service to the Parks Commission. The lake was stocked with northern pike, bass, perch, sunfish, and bluegill by the Michigan Wildlife Habitat Foundation and DNR in 1988.
Haithco Park: FAQ
Does Haithco Park charge a fee?
Vehicle entry fee of $5.00 per personal vehicle, waived for Saginaw County residents; bus passengers, walk-ins, and cyclists enter free; non-motorized boats under 17 feet pay $1.00.
Is Haithco Park kid friendly?
Designated lifeguard-supervised swim beach (11am-7:30pm daily, Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day) on a calm man-made lake, not a river or wild swimming hole -- no current to worry about. Official park rules require children under 13 to be accompanied by a parent/guardian 18+, ban inflatables/air mattresses/inner tubes in the swim area, and let lifeguards require a swim-ability check before letting swimmers into deeper water, which points to a shallow designated area near shore. A splash pad (Ruth Averill Splash Pad) is on-site as a lower-water alternative for younger kids.
Do I need to hike to reach Haithco Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Haithco Park?
On-site park entrance lot at 2121 Schust Rd, Saginaw Township, off I-675 at the Tittabawassee Rd exit. Fee is a park admission/gate fee rather than a separate parking charge; non-motorized boats under 17 ft pay an extra $1.00 launch fee.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Haithco Park?
The park itself is the on-water outfitter: Saginaw County Parks & Recreation directly owns and rents canoes, kayaks, paddleboats, rowboats, and stand-up paddleboards for use on Haithco Lake -- there is no independent commercial kayak/SUP rental business serving this lake found in this search.
When is the best time to visit Haithco Park?
Summer, specifically the official swim/boating season from the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day.
What are the rules at Haithco Park?
Beach is lifeguard-supervised 11:00 am-7:30 pm daily from the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day; non-motorized boats under 17 feet allowed on the lake only during that same Memorial Day-Labor Day window, with all watercraft required off the water by 8:00 pm; dogs are not permitted in the park.
What water body is Haithco Park on?
Haithco Park is on Haithco Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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