How to Start a Lavender Farm: A Great Lakes Business Guide
Lavender Field Planting Guide: Soil, Spacing & Irrigation
Phenomenal Lavender: A Cold-Climate Growing GuideWe all need a Savior
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Romans 3:23
None of us can earn our way to God by being good enough. We all need mercy.
🗺️ Farm Day Trips guide
Things to Do Near the Lavender Farm of White Cloud & Newaygo County, Michigan
Walk Loda Lake's wildflower sanctuary, paddle Hardy Dam Pond and visit a fall corn maze near White Cloud, home of Sleepy Creek Lavender Co.
4 places · updated October 17, 2026
Newaygo County is where West Michigan farm country runs into the Manistee National Forest. The Muskegon River flows through the town of Newaygo, held back upstream by the Croton and Hardy hydro dams, and White Cloud to the north is a stop on the North Country Trail. Most of the day here is spent outside: forest walks, river parks, lake beaches and a long trail around Hardy Dam Pond.
Sleepy Creek Lavender Co., a husband-and-wife farm near White Cloud, grows lavender without pesticides and steam-distills it into creams and hydrosol goods. It calls itself a private farm and posts no visiting hours, so order from its website rather than driving out. Plan the trip around the rest of the county instead: kayaks for rent at Newaygo State Park from June to mid-September, Friday farmers markets in Newaygo through early fall, and a farm-market fall season near Fremont from late August into November.
The lavender farms
- Sleepy Creek Lavender Co.Lavender farm · White Cloud
English lavender mid to late June; lavandin mid to late July
Not open to the public. Goods sold at their boutique shop inside Market 41 in downtown Newaygo and on their website.
Best time to visit
Sleepy Creek publishes no bloom dates or open days, so time a visit by the county's other seasons. Loda Lake National Wildflower Sanctuary is open all year, though its road is not plowed in winter. Kayak rentals at Newaygo State Park run from early June to mid-September, and the Newaygo farmers market sets up in Brooks Park on Fridays from 2 to 7 p.m. in summer and early fall. Heritage Farms Market near Fremont runs its 2026 fall season from August 25 to November 7, with a corn maze, hayrides through the orchards and cider and donuts. The Heritage Museum of Newaygo County is open Tuesday through Saturday, so a Saturday in September or October lets you fit the forest, the museum, the river and the farm market into one day.
Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks
- Loda Lake National Wildflower Sanctuary🌲 Preserve · White Cloud · about 7 mi, 12 min drive
The only wildflower sanctuary in the national forest system: a small spring-fed lake, a bog-like wetland, a creek, oak woods and an old farm site along an interpretive trail. There are vault toilets but no drinking water.
Open year-round, 24 hours; the road is not plowed in winter
$5 per vehicle per day or $15 for seven days, paid on site by cash or check
- White Cloud Park & Campground (North Country Trail connector)🥾 Trail · White Cloud · about 4 mi, 8 min drive
A 4.3-mile loop leaves the city campground on Echo Drive, joins the North Country Trail on national forest land and passes Flowing Wells Park on the White River, with its artesian wells and kayak launch, and the foundations of the old logging town of Alleyton.
North Country Trail open year-round
- Newaygo State Park🌳 State park · Newaygo · about 15 mi, 24 min drive
About 400 acres on 20-foot banks above Hardy Dam Pond, a six-mile flooding of the Muskegon River, with a boat launch, a buoyed swim area, rustic campgrounds and an 18-hole disc golf course.
Kayak rentals early June to mid-September; disc golf year-round
Michigan Recreation Passport required for vehicle entry
- Michigan's Dragon at Hardy Dam🥾 Trail · Newaygo · about 14 mi, 22 min drive
A 45-mile trail that circles Hardy Dam Pond, built with a regional mountain biking group; a 2-mile stretch follows the Newaygo State Park embankment with views over the water. Trailheads are at Hardy Dam County Marina and Sandy Beach County Park.
Newaygo County Parks vehicle permit required to park at the trailheads
- Croton Hydroelectric Plant🏛️ Historic site · Croton Township · about 16 mi, 24 min drive
Built in 1906 and 1907 on the Muskegon River, the plant drew visiting engineers from several countries because its 110,000-volt line was the highest voltage in use at the time. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and has a state historical marker.
- Heritage Museum of Newaygo County🏛️ Museum · Newaygo · about 16 mi, 22 min drive
County history from Native American life through logging, the rise of farming and modern tourism, with exhibits that change over time and a research room.
Tuesday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday
- Newaygo Riverfront Park🏞️ Park · Newaygo · about 16 mi, 22 min drive
Two connected sections on the Muskegon River with overlook decks, a paved riverside path, playgrounds and grills; a canoe rental runs beside the second section in summer. Brooks Park behind City Hall hosts the farmers market.
Farmers market Fridays 2–7 p.m., summer into early fall
- Fremont Lake Park🏞️ Park · Fremont · about 20 mi, 30 min drive
City park on Fremont Lake with a swimming beach, boat launch, campground, playground, sand volleyball court and picnic pavilions.
Where to stop: farms, food and stays
- Heritage Farms MarketFamily fun farm · Fremont
Fifth-generation farm market with a geography-themed corn maze, hayrides through the orchards, a petting zoo and cider and donuts in its August 25–November 7, 2026 fall season.
- River Stop CafeCafé or coffee shop · Newaygo
Downtown Newaygo café open seven days, serving soups, sandwiches and house baking by day and small plates Wednesday through Saturday evenings.
- Nelson's Farm MarketFarm stand · Grant
Farm market south of Newaygo with summer strawberries and cherries, fall caramel apples, donuts and cider, and a petting zoo.
- Millie's Farms MarketFarm stand · Newaygo
Family market and butcher shop selling beef and pork raised and processed in Newaygo County.
- Happy Campers CampgroundFarm stay or campground · Newaygo
Private campground near Croton Dam with roomy electric sites and Muskegon River access for fishing.
A one-day plan
- 10:00 AMLoda Lake National Wildflower Sanctuary · about 12 min drive
Walk the interpretive trail around the lake and wetland, about an hour. Bring cash or a check for the day pass.
- 11:15 AMWhite Cloud Park & Campground · about 12 min drive
Walk part of the North Country Trail connector toward Flowing Wells Park on the White River, about 45 minutes out and back.
- 12:30 PMRiver Stop Cafe · about 20 min drive
Lunch in downtown Newaygo: soup, a sandwich and something from the bakery case. About an hour.
- 1:30 PMHeritage Museum of Newaygo County · about 3 min drive
Logging, farming and Native American history exhibits, about 45 minutes.
- 2:30 PMNewaygo Riverfront Park · about 3 min drive
Stroll the paved path and overlook decks along the Muskegon River for half an hour.
- 3:15 PMCroton Hydroelectric Plant · about 15 min drive
Read the historical marker and look over the 1907 dam, about 15 minutes.
- 4:00 PMHeritage Farms Market · about 25 min drive
Corn maze, hayride, petting zoo and cider and donuts until the 6 p.m. close (fall season, Monday–Saturday).
Tips
- Sleepy Creek Lavender Co. does not post visiting hours; buy its lavender goods from its website instead of heading to the farm.
- Loda Lake has vault toilets but no drinking water, and the day pass is paid on site with cash or a check.
- Each park system has its own pass: a Michigan Recreation Passport for Newaygo State Park and a Newaygo County Parks permit for the Dragon trailheads.
- The Heritage Museum is closed Sunday and Monday, and Heritage Farms Market opens at noon on Sundays.
- Distances on this page are measured from the White Cloud area, where the lavender farm is.
Checked in October 2026 against official park, tourism and business websites. How we check listings
Questions
Can you visit Sleepy Creek Lavender Co.?
The farm describes itself as a private lavender farm and lists no public hours or events. Its creams and hydrosol goods are sold through its website.
Is there a fee at Loda Lake Wildflower Sanctuary?
Yes. Day use is $5 per vehicle, or $15 for seven days, paid on site with cash or check.
When is the fall season at Heritage Farms Market?
August 25 through November 7 in 2026, with the corn maze, hayrides, petting zoo and cider and donuts. Hours are Monday–Saturday 10–6 and Sunday noon–5.
Where can you swim near White Cloud?
Newaygo State Park has a buoyed swim area on Hardy Dam Pond, and Fremont Lake Park has a public beach.
🪪 Collect a stamp at every stop
The free Lavender Passport keeps a stamp for each farm and stop you visit, in real life and in the Lavender Farm Simulator. At the farm, play Field Quest to collect plant varieties as you walk, climb the leaderboards and unlock sponsor rewards.
Open the Passport🏡 Own a farm, café or inn here?
Add your listing for free so travelers find you, or become a Featured sponsor to sit at the top of this guide, on the Passport map and in the event calendars.
Add your listing Get featured
