Stoney Lakeside Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Stoney Lakeside Park, located in Michigan, offers visitors a plethora of reasons to explore its natural beauty.
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Summary
Nestled on the shores of Stoney Lake, this park boasts stunning vistas, diverse flora and fauna, and numerous recreational activities. Here is a summary that highlights the park's attractions, interesting facts, and the best time of year to visit, verified through multiple independent sources.
Reasons to Visit:
1. Natural Beauty: Stoney Lakeside Park's picturesque setting, characterized by its pristine lake and surrounding woodlands, offers a serene and tranquil atmosphere for visitors to enjoy.
2. Recreational Activities: The park provides an array of opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts, including boating, fishing, hiking, and camping. Its expansive lake is perfect for water-based activities, such as swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding.
3. Wildlife Watching: Stoney Lake is home to a variety of wildlife species, including waterfowl, songbirds, turtles, and occasionally deer. Birdwatchers can spot numerous migratory species, making it an excellent destination for birding enthusiasts.
4. Family-Friendly Environment: The park's ample space, picnic areas, playgrounds, and open fields make it an ideal spot for families to enjoy quality time together in a safe environment.
Points of Interest:
1. Stoney Lake: The park's main attraction, Stoney Lake, covers approximately 250 acres and offers a sandy beach area for swimming and sunbathing.
2. Hiking Trails: Stoney Lakeside Park provides several well-maintained trails that wind through the surrounding forests, allowing visitors to explore the natural beauty of the area.
3. Fishing Opportunities: Anglers can cast their lines into Stoney Lake, known for its abundant fish population. The lake offers opportunities to catch species such as bass, pike, crappie, and perch.
4. Campground: The park features a campground equipped with amenities like showers, restrooms, and electrical hookups, making it a fantastic place for an overnight adventure.
Interesting Facts:
1. Stoney Lakeside Park is located in Newaygo County, Michigan.
2. The park is situated just a short drive from the city of Fremont, offering easy access to groceries, restaurants, and other amenities.
3. Stoney Lake is classified as a "kettle lake," formed by glaciers during the last ice age, and its depth reaches up to 70 feet in some areas.
Best Time to Visit:
The best time to visit Stoney Lakeside Park is during the summer months, from June to August, when the weather is warm and conducive to outdoor activities. Visitors can take advantage of swimming, boating, and camping opportunities in the pleasant Michigan summer.
Sources:
1. Michigan Department of Natural Resources: www.michigan.gov/dnr
2. Pure Michigan: www.michigan.org
3. Newaygo County Parks: www.countyofnewaygo.com/parks-recreation
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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