Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve
| Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve | |
|---|---|
Watkins Lake from Arnold Road | |
| Type | Michigan state park |
| Location | Jackson & Washtenaw counties, Michigan, United States |
| Nearest city | Manchester, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 42°07′29″N 84°08′08″W / 42.1247256°N 84.1356345°W |
| Area | 1,122 acres (454 ha) |
| Elevation | 974 feet (297 m) |
| Established | 2016 |
| Administered by | Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission |
| Website | Official website |
Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve is a combination public recreation area and nature preserve located five miles west of Manchester in Jackson and Washtenaw counties, Michigan. The area occupies a total of 1,122 acres (454 ha), with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources owning 717 acres (290 ha) in Norvell Township, Jackson County, and Washtenaw County owning 405 acres (164 ha) in Manchester Township. Dedicated in 2017, it is under the joint management of the Michigan DNR and the Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission. A five-mile former rail corridor runs through the park and into grasslands in the eastern portion of the preserve.