Holloway Reservoir

Near Otisville, Michigan · on Holloway Reservoir

Verified · 3 independent sources · top-verified

WATER: reservoir
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: Free
SEASON: Year-round

About Holloway Reservoir

Holloway Reservoir is a roughly 2,000-acre man-made reservoir in Genesee County, Michigan, managed as Holloway Reservoir Regional Park by Genesee County Parks. Its designated swimming hole, Buttercup Beach, sits on the reservoir's sandy shore near Columbiaville/Davison and is open free to the public every summer, an easy lake to swim in for Genesee County.

The reservoir covers close to 2,000 acres within a 1,975-acre county park that also includes a campground, equestrian complex, boat launches, and hiking areas, giving the swim beach a developed-park setting rather than a backcountry one.

Swimming at Holloway Reservoir

Swimming happens in a designated, unguarded swim area at Buttercup Beach along the reservoir's sandy shoreline -- calm reservoir water suited to families and casual swimmers rather than a whitewater or spring-fed experience. The official park page explicitly notes there are no lifeguards on duty.

How to get to this swimming hole

Buttercup Beach is located at 7130 North Baxter Road, Columbiaville, MI 48421; the broader park's main office/address is 7240 N. Henderson Road, Davison, MI 48423.

Parking: On-site parking available at Buttercup Beach per the official park page.

The hike in

Buttercup Beach is a drive-up swim area with its own on-site parking lot -- no hike is needed to reach the water. The park separately has a Hogbacks Area (at the Genesee/Lapeer county line, bordered by Elba, Washburn, McDowell and Stanley Rds) designated for hiking, off-leash dog training, and equestrian riding, but this is a distinct part of the 1,975-acre park unrelated to beach access, and no specific trail names/distances for it were found.

Park website mentions 'miles of hiking opportunities' park-wide but gives no trail-by-trail detail; none of it applies to reaching the swim beach itself.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

OK with supervision

Buttercup Beach is a designated sandy swim area on a calm, man-made reservoir (no whitewater, no reported cliffs), which suits families, but the official park page explicitly states there is no lifeguard on duty, so close adult supervision is warranted. No specific hazards (current, drop-offs) are documented in sources found.

Parking

Free

On-site parking at Buttercup Beach; admission to the beach itself is free (per official park page). A separate seasonal fee applies at the park's Walleye Pike Boat Launch, not at the beach.

Restrooms

Yes

Restrooms are listed as an on-site amenity at Buttercup Beach picnic area per the official Genesee County Parks page; the adjacent Wolverine Campground also has modern showers and restrooms.

Hours

Buttercup Beach: 8:00am-8:00pm daily, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. The broader 1,975-acre park (picnic areas, launches) is open 8am-sunset daily year-round; the Walleye Pike Boat Launch and canoe launch site are accessible 24/7 year-round.

On the water

CanoesMotorboats

The park has a dedicated Canoe Launching Site at the Holloway Dam Public Access (Carr Rd between Henderson & Oak Rds, free, 24/7) and the Walleye Pike Boat Launch (7240 N. Henderson Rd, 24/7, seasonal fee) for motorized boats. Kayaks and paddleboards are not explicitly mentioned in official sources but would likely use the same canoe launch; fishing (and by extension boat traffic) is prohibited within the designated Buttercup Beach swim zone itself. No horsepower limits or no-wake designation were found in sources searched.

Holloway Reservoir: FAQ

Does Holloway Reservoir charge a fee?

Free admission to Buttercup Beach; some boat launches elsewhere in the park have seasonal fees.

Is Holloway Reservoir kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Holloway Reservoir?

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

Where do I park for Holloway Reservoir?

On-site parking at Buttercup Beach; admission to the beach itself is free (per official park page). A separate seasonal fee applies at the park's Walleye Pike Boat Launch, not at the beach.

Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Holloway Reservoir?

When is the best time to visit Holloway Reservoir?

Beach officially open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 8:00am-8:00pm daily; broader park open 8am-sunset daily year-round.

What are the rules at Holloway Reservoir?

No alcohol, marijuana, or illegal substances allowed anywhere in the park, with fines up to $100 for violations; fishing is prohibited within the designated beach area (allowed elsewhere in the park); no lifeguard on duty at the swim beach.

What water body is Holloway Reservoir on?

Holloway Reservoir is on Holloway Reservoir, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.