Ludington State Park and the Big Sable Point Light

Tucked into the northwest corner of the county, in Hamlin Township, sits one of the most loved state parks in the Midwest. Ludington State Park stretches across a wild ribbon of land between Lake Michigan and Hamlin Lake, with big dunes, miles of trails, a sandy swimming beach, and the Big Sable River winding through the middle. You can paddle a canoe on Hamlin Lake, float the river, hike the dunes, or just lie on the beach and watch the freighters go by.

The park’s crown jewel is a bit of a hike to reach. About a mile and a half down a sandy lane, on a lonely point the French once called the “great sand point,” stands the Big Sable Point Light. Built in 1867, its black-and-white tower rises 112 feet, making it the tallest lighthouse on Michigan’s mainland. For decades a keeper lived out here to keep the light burning over a stretch of shore that had wrecked many ships. Today you can walk out, climb the tower’s steps, and take in a view that runs for miles up and down the coast.

A group of local volunteers brought the old light back to life and looks after it now, opening it to visitors from spring through fall. It’s well worth the walk. You can check tour times and hours at lakeshorekeepers.org.