Wolverine Campground

Columbiaville, Michigan · on Holloway Reservoir · Holloway Reservoir Regional Park

Verified · 3 independent sources

WATER: reservoir
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: Free
SEASON: May

About Wolverine Campground

Wolverine Campground is a Genesee County Parks campground on the north shore of Holloway Reservoir, a 1,973-acre reservoir near Columbiaville, Michigan. The campground sits adjacent to Buttercup Beach, the park's official swimming beach, which is free and open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

The campground and beach occupy the north shore of Holloway Reservoir, an impounded all-sports lake within Genesee County's Holloway Reservoir Regional Park. Camper accounts describe a mix of partially wooded and open lakefront sites, with hiking and bike trails nearby and the access road (off Baxter Road) noted as rough in places.

Swimming at Wolverine Campground

Swimming happens at Buttercup Beach, a designated, free swim beach at the reservoir open daily 8am-8pm during the summer season. Camper reviews describe the water as shallow in places and note the beach can get crowded and, at peak times, dirty; it's a casual, family-oriented reservoir swim rather than a wilderness swimming hole.

How to get to this swimming hole

From the junction of Highway 57 and Highway 15, go about 3.75 miles south on Highway 15, then 2.5 miles east on Mt Morris Road, then about 0.5 miles south on Baxter Road to reach the campground/beach at 7698 N. Baxter Rd, Columbiaville, MI. One camper review notes the final access road can be rough.

Parking: ADA-accessible beach parking is available at the campground/Buttercup Beach area per the official campground page; a camper review notes drive-in sites have adjacent vehicle parking and walk-in sites have separate lot parking.

The hike in

Time on foot: Walk from parking to sand is at most a couple minutes; exact distance/time from lot to shoreline is not specified on official pages.

No hike is needed to reach the swimming area, Buttercup Beach is a drive-up, designated swim beach with an adjacent parking area at 7130 N. Baxter Rd, Columbiaville, MI, right next to Wolverine Campground. The park separately advertises 'miles of hiking opportunities and shoreline views' elsewhere around the 1,973-acre reservoir (e.g., the Hogbacks Area), but these are optional trails unrelated to reaching the swim spot.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

OK with supervision

Buttercup Beach is a sandy, designated swim area on a reservoir with gently developed shoreline, but the official park page confirms no lifeguards are on duty, and camper reviews describe shallow water in spots plus a beach that gets crowded (and reportedly less clean) at peak times. Fine for kids with active adult supervision, not a lifeguarded facility.

Parking

Lot

Buttercup Beach admission itself is free per the official park page and ADA-accessible beach parking is called out specifically, but exact lot layout/capacity isn't detailed online. Note the adjoining Wolverine Campground charges a $10/vehicle visitor pass for campground access, so day visitors should confirm at the gate whether beach-only parking is separate from the paid campground lot.

Restrooms

Yes

Restroom/shower facilities are listed as an amenity at both Buttercup Beach & Picnic Area and Wolverine Campground; the campground page specifies three modern, ADA-accessible shower/restroom buildings built in 2024. Exact distance from the beach lot to a restroom building isn't specified on official pages.

Water clarity

Varies with season and flow

No source gives a direct clarity rating (e.g., visibility in feet). Camper reviews on The Dyrt describe the water near the beach as 'a tad shallow' and note the beach can be 'dirty' and crowded at peak weekends, which points to variable/murky conditions during high-traffic periods rather than a consistently clear swim; treat as an impounded, all-sports reservoir rather than a clear spring-fed hole.

Hours

Buttercup Beach: 8:00am-8:00pm daily, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day (free admission). Main Holloway Reservoir Regional Park grounds: 8am to sunset daily. Wolverine Campground's 2026 season runs May 1-October 18; campground registration/office hours 8am-9:30pm daily.

On the water

KayaksCanoesMotorboats

Holloway Reservoir is described by Genesee County Parks as a 1,973-acre 'all-sports lake,' implying it is open to full motorized use (not an electric-only/no-wake lake), though no official page states a specific horsepower limit or no-wake zone in the content retrieved. There are three formal launch points: Walleye Pike Boat Launch (7240 N. Henderson Rd, Davison, MI, open 24 hrs, seasonal fee, vehicle boat-launch permit required), a small launch at Zemmer Park (Marathon Rd. to Zemmer Rd., Lapeer), and a canoe launching site at Holloway Dam Public Access on Carr Road (open 24 hrs). Wolverine Campground also has its own boat launch requiring a seasonal or daily boat-launch vehicle permit (price not published online).

What regulars say

Camper reports describe Buttercup Beach/Wolverine Campground as a solid family spot for swimming and walleye fishing, but flag that the beach 'is dirty and always crowded' during peak weekends and holidays, with one camper advising to call ahead before visiting on busy dates. The campground access road off Baxter Road is also called out as rough, potentially hard on tow vehicles or low-clearance cars.

Wolverine Campground: FAQ

Does Wolverine Campground charge a fee?

Buttercup Beach admission is free. Camping requires a paid reservation (booked through Genesee County Parks' reservation system); boat launches such as Walleye Pike have a seasonal fee.

Is Wolverine Campground kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Wolverine Campground?

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

Where do I park for Wolverine Campground?

Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Wolverine Campground?

When is the best time to visit Wolverine Campground?

Buttercup Beach swim season runs Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day; the campground's 2026 operating season is May 1 through October 18.

What are the rules at Wolverine Campground?

No alcohol, marijuana, or illegal substances allowed anywhere in the park, with fines up to $100 per the official park page. Main park hours are 8am to sunset daily; Buttercup Beach hours are 8am-8pm during its Memorial Day-Labor Day season.

What water body is Wolverine Campground on?

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