Michigan’s Most Popular State Park: Ludington

By Ari B. Adler

LUDINGTON STATE PARK has been the most popular state park in Michigan for generations, and it’s easy to see why. There are endless activities, including camping, hiking, biking, boating, fishing, hunting, backpacking, swimming, wading, tubing, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, birding, and lighthousing—totally a word. You could easily spend weeks there; it’s hard to decide which activity to start with!

The 5,300-acre park is located along the shore of Lake Michigan in northwest lower Michigan. There is something magical about the woods, water, and beaches that keeps families coming back year after year.

Big Sable Point Lighthouse

One of Ludington State Park’s most defining and notable features is the Big Sable Point Lighthouse. At 112 feet tall, it has been guiding sailors since its construction in 1867. The lighthouse has seen many restorations and was the last Great Lakes lighthouse to be automated.

For a small fee, visitors can climb 130 steps to the top for a spectacular panoramic view of Ludington State Park and Lake Michigan. The original keeper’s quarters at the lighthouse’s base serve as a museum and gift shop.

Getting to Big Sable Point Lighthouse requires hiking or biking in the sand for about 1.5 miles from the main parking lot. Bus transportation is available for an extra fee a few weekends a year.

History Of Ludington State Park

In the mid-1800s, Hamlin was a small logging community along the bank of the Big Sable River, near where the river enters Lake Michigan. Hamlin Lake was created when a dam was built to control the flow of lumber from the nearby forests to the Hamlin sawmill, then out to the barges.

It was a bustling village in the 1870s, with boarding houses, sawmills, stores, and a schoolhouse. But twice, the dams broke, flooding and washing away portions of the village. After the second break in 1912, with the lumber industry dying, there was no need to rebuild the community.

However, with the Hamlin Lake shoreline now a prime spot for resorts, private homes, and businesses, a concrete dam was built in 1914 to keep the lake levels steady. In 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps established Camp Ludington-Pere Marquette to create Ludington State Park. The CCC constructed the camp from the ground up, including trails, buildings, campsites, roads, and picnic areas. They also planted dune grass and trees and constructed erosion control structures to stabilize the soil from all the logging damage. Ludington State Park was completed and officially dedicated in 1936.

Beaches

If you’re into laying on the beach or playing in the water, you have two great choices—Ludington State Park boasts 7 miles of shoreline on Lake Michigan and 5 miles along Hamlin Lake. Along Lake Michigan, you’ll find a large beach with white sand where you can sunbathe, play beach volleyball, or build sandcastles. A short, ADA-accessible walkway to the beach and a mobi-wheelchair are available.

Be sure to visit the historic Beach House, constructed in 1935 by the CCC for the park’s grand opening. It underwent a significant renovation in 2013. Today, the Beach House has interactive interpretive displays and an outside veranda on the top level, with concessions and changing facilities on the first floor.

If the Lake Michigan beach is too crowded or the lake is a bit too chilly, head over to Hamlin Lake on the other side of the park. Since Hamlin Lake is inland and more shallow, it tends to be warmer. The beach is smaller, but there is a nice playground, pavilion, picnic tables, and watercraft rentals.

A one-mile stretch of the Big Sable River connects Hamlin Lake to Lake Michigan. Floating down the river using inner tubes, paddleboards, and kayaks is very popular.

Trails

Visitors can hike eight marked trails totaling more than 20 miles through dunes, woodlands, and wetlands. A paved walking and biking path also runs alongside the Big Sable River connecting the campgrounds, two beach areas, the dam, and the amphitheater. A 4-mile canoe trail also can be found in Hamlin Lake. During the winter, cross-country ski and snowshoe trails are available throughout the park, along with a heated shelter at the trailhead.

Amphitheater and Interpretive Programs

Ludington State Park offers a wide range of events year-round for guests of all ages. Guided hikes, interpretive programs, and concerts are just a few ways to spend your time. We especially liked the free Saturday night concerts in the outside amphitheater hosted by the Friends of Ludington State Park. All summer long, they bring in different Michigan-based musicians. Donations are suggested to help with maintenance and programming in the park.

Fishing, Hunting, and Boating

Fishing is a popular activity in the Big Sable River and Hamlin Lake, and fall is a good time for salmon, lake trout, and steelhead. During appropriate seasons, part of the park is open to hunting and trapping. An official boat launch with plenty of boat parking is located above the dam in Hamlin Lake for motorized boats. For kayaks or canoes, there are several unimproved access points for Hamlin Lake and Big Sable River.

Camping

Despite having four different campgrounds, the park’s popularity makes it challenging to get a camping spot in the summer—you’ll need to book six months in advance the minute reservations open.

The three modern campgrounds are Pines (99 campsites), Cedar (106 electric and eight non-electric sites), and Beechwood (147 sites). All feature modern restrooms and 20/30-amp hookups, though some sites have been upgraded to 50-amp service. There is no privacy between sites, and site sizes vary. Each modern campground has one mini cabin available for rent; they sleep four and are furnished with a microwave and a small refrigerator, with no linens or cookware.

One mile north of the Pines Campground is a fourth camping option—the Jack Pine rustic, walk-inonly campground, which has 10 sites. Only a vault toilet and a hand pump are provided. This campground may be closed at times due to high groundwater levels.

Although Ludington is the most popular state park in Michigan, it never feels overly crowded like some other well-visited state parks. Due to its size, there is plenty of room for visitors to spread out. The Lake Michigan parking lot fills up quickly on weekends, but don’t be discouraged, as there are hundreds of other parking spots throughout the park.

We recommend visiting for a week if you can get camping reservations, and visiting at different times of the year for various experiences. If you haven’t been to Ludington State Park, be sure to add it to your must-visit list!

Ari and Jessi can be found at their website, trekers.org, or on their YouTube channel @trekers