Ludington State Park
| Ludington State Park | |
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Ludington State Park
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 Location within the state of Michigan
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| Location | Lower Peninsula, Mason County, Michigan USA |
| Nearest city | Ludington, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 44°02′28″N 86°30′15″W / 44.04121°N 86.50429°WCoordinates: 44°02′28″N 86°30′15″W / 44.04121°N 86.50429°W |
| Area | 5,300 acres (2,100 ha) |
| Governing body | Michigan Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Ludington State Park |
Ludington State Park is a state park located just north of Ludington, Michigan between the shores of Lake Michigan and Hamlin Lake. The park encompasses nearly 5,300 acres (2,100 ha) and contains several ecosystems, including: forests, sand dunes, a dam, a Great Lake, and a river.
Ludington State Park is home to Big Sable Point Lighthouse. The lighthouse was first lit in 1876 and stands 112 feet (34 m) high. It can be visited from the beginning of May through the end of October. Visitors must walk 2 miles (3.2 km) on the sandy beach to reach it, though there is limited bus transportation on certain days throughout the season. Visitors can tour the lighthouse for a small donation.
Hamlin Lake is an artificial lake created by the backup of the Big Sable River by the Hamlin Lake Dam. The lake, which covers 4,990 acres (20.2 km2), is five miles long and two miles wide. It has two sections, the upper and lower lakes, which are separated by the narrows. The lake is great for swimming during summer months as it is typically much warmer than Lake Michigan and has a smaller swimming area, making it easier to keep track of family and friends. Park visitors can rent a variety of boats at this location and many of the park's trails (including a canoe trail) begin and end here. During the winter season, ice fishing is popular.
Big Sable River is the primary river that runs through the park. The park's portion of the river begins at Hamlin Lake Dam, the dam that created Hamlin Lake, and ends at Lake Michigan. The primary road that runs through the park runs alongside the full length of this portion of the river. During the summer months, Big Sable River can often be seen with groups of people floating down current in inner tubes. The river is home to otters and many fish. In 2005, the park made an effort to replenish the salmon population by creating cages for the fish to grow in and then releasing them when they were able to live on their own.
Ludington State Park has four campgrounds—Pines, Cedars, Jack Pine Hike-in, and Beechwood—containing a total of 352 campsites. Each campground also contains one mini-cabin. In addition, there are ten campsites within the remote Jack Pine camping area set aside for backpack hikers. All the campsites at Ludington State Park require a reservation and reservations typically fill up about 6 months before any given date. Campers sometimes secure campsites less than 6 months in advance by checking the reservation system frequently until a vacancy opens.
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Wikipedia