Ludington State Park Cabins

Half a mile long this trail provides some of the clearest views across Lake Michigan, often as far as 20 miles on a clear day. The distant sand dunes make for charming photographs and the short length of this hike means it's great for beginners.

See a lot of the park on this combined four-mile hike. Heading out from the park office, the Ridge Trail loop meets the Island Trail loop and lets you see sand dunes and bird and marine life at the shoreline. You can therefore complete either elliptical trail or mix and match them.

A scenic lakeside route that will take you to the lighthouse, which you can visit between May and October. Head to the top and you will have superb panoramic views of the forest and lake. With varied sand and gravel terrain, the trail is three miles long and takes around two hours to complete.

Head out onto the water and catch rainbow and lake trout, walleye, largemouth bass, salmon and plenty more varieties of fish. Fishing on Lake Michigan is an experience no angler should miss out on when staying in the area. You can also hire charter captains here, who can guide you to the best fishing areas.

The South End Ski Trails are ideal for this exciting winter sport in the park, allowing you to appreciate the beauty of the snow-capped forest and lake surroundings. As it cuts through the valley, there is a good amount of protection from the colder winter winds.

Get on a boat and head out to see the park from the water. It takes around three or so hours to complete, starting at the Hamlin Lake Watercraft Rental area out onto the wide water. The trail is reasonably easy if you have some canoeing experience, or take a tour and be guided along with interesting local info.