Clinton County: Lakes, Riverfronts and Culture

In Clinton County, nature ranges from lakeshores to trails, river views, and seasonal wildlife watching. The county also offers railroad history, art, and traditions rooted in agriculture. As you plan your trip, consider whether you want to spend most of your time outdoors, seek out specific activities on the water, or focus on culture and local history.

Lakes, Trails, and River Views

Sleepy Hollow State Park is home to 410-acre Lake Ovid. Clinton Lakes County Park offers a different kind of scale: the park covers 272 acres and features more than five miles of hiking trails. The landmarks are distinct—one is a lake, while the other is a network of trails for hiking.

The 15-acre Searles Lake in Motz County Park is suitable for boating, fishing, picnicking, and swimming. Motz Park is fully accessible. If you’d rather explore a riverfront than a lakeshore, Looking Glass Riverfront Park has a viewing platform overlooking the river. The park covers 5.2 acres and has 930 feet of riverfront; the platform provides a dedicated viewpoint along this stretch.

Granger Meadows Park and Valley Farms Park are also connected by a paved, lighted trail. This connection makes the two parks useful reference points when planning your trip. The Maple River State Game Area, meanwhile, encompasses a vast landscape spanning Clinton, Gratiot, and Ionia Counties. Its habitats include agricultural land, forests, grasslands, and cattail marshes.

Seasons and Outdoor Activities

Maple River State Game Area is a destination for bird and wildlife watching in spring and summer. This seasonal focus sets it apart from the parks’ waterside offerings and hiking trails. If you’re planning your trip around wildlife watching, these two seasons can help guide your plans.

Another specialized facility is the Rose Lake Shooting Range. It is located in the Rose Lake State Wildlife Area in Clinton County and is intended for youth groups and hunter education programs. For a roadside stop, the Grand Ledge Rest Area is located on I-96 in Clinton County.

Railroads, Art, and Local Traditions

The Clinton Northern Railway Museum focuses on historic railroad cars from the early 20th century, especially Barney and Smith cars. Tours of the historic cars are available. The depot’s east room also features a model railroad display depicting all four seasons. The museum brings together full-size historic vehicles and a detailed miniature landscape.

Another cultural attraction centers on visual art: Art & Soul Gallery in St. Johns displays paintings, jewelry, prints, ceramics, glassware, metalwork, illustrations, and literature. Participating artists share their knowledge in classes. This offers two different ways to engage: explore the art on display or take a class to try your hand at creating art.

The Paine-Gillam-Scott 1860 House is the oldest brick residence in St. Johns and is listed on Michigan’s State Register of Historic Sites. The house is owned by the people of Clinton County and entrusted to the Clinton County Historical Society for use as a museum. Together, the house and museum offer a different way to learn about local history than a railroad collection does.

Agriculture and community events also shape the area’s cultural offerings. In St. Johns, the St. Johns Mint Festival celebrates the agricultural heritage of mint growing each year. In summer, the Clinton County Arts Council hosts family-friendly concerts in the park featuring unique musical performances. Uncle John's Cider Mill offers fresh cider and donuts, as well as festive seasonal activities and family-friendly experiences. Depending on your interests, these offerings highlight different themes: tradition, music, art, or seasonal activities.

Discover more destinations: Dewitt, Presque Isle County, Kalkaska County, Baraga County, Washtenaw, Lenawee County, Midland County, Emmet.

See the main travel guide: Michigan.