| Ludington State Park | |
|---|---|
 Big Sable Point Lighthouse | |
  Location in Michigan Show map of Michigan Ludington State Park (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Location | Mason County, Michigan, United States |
| Nearest city | Ludington, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 44°01′49″N86°30′25″W / 44.03028°N 86.50694°W /44.03028; -86.50694[1] |
| Area | 4,800 acres (1,900 ha) |
| Elevation | 587 feet (179 m)[1] |
| Established | 1927[2] |
| Administered by | Michigan Department of Natural Resources |
| Designation | Michigan State Park |
| Website | www |
Ludington State Park is a public recreation area located two miles north ofLudington, Michigan, occupying 4,800 acres (1,900 ha) between the shores ofLake Michigan andHamlin Lake. Thestate park is crossed by a one-mile stretch of theBig Sable River and is home to the 112-foot-high (34 m)Big Sable Point Lighthouse, which dates from 1876.[3]
Thestate park encompasses multiple ecosystems including sand dune, forest, wetlands, and marshlands.[3] The park contains the southern 2,820 acres (11.4 km2) of the Big Sable Dunes complex, with theNordhouse Dunes Wilderness, immediately north of the park, preserving the northern half of the complex.
The park began through the efforts of the Isaac Walton League to have 800 acres held by the federal government as a lighthouse preserve transferred to the state of Michigan for the purpose of creating a state park. The park was established in 1927 after theU.S. Congress authorized the transfer. During the 1930s, theCivilian Conservation Corps was active in the park making improvements that included building the park'sArts and Crafts style beach house. In 2002, theU.S. Coast Guard deeded the 57.5-acre (23.3 ha) lighthouse station complex to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.[4]
The park's water activities include fishing and swimming on Lake Michigan and Hamlin Lake and tubing on Big Sable River. The park offers 21.5 miles of hiking trails, 10 miles of cross-country ski trails, a 2-mile bicycle trail, and a 4-mile canoe trail. The park has four campgrounds containing a total of 360 campsites that include remote hike-in sites.[3] The park also offers a cafe and lighthouse tours and is a stop on the Mason County Sculpture Trail.
