Ludington State Park reopened to the public at the tail end of June, after a closure of nearly 10 months for upgrades and renovations. The park’s entrance road and parking lots were repaved, new pedestrian pathways added, and renovations were made to the beach house. Now that the park is open again, we knew we had to go visit and check things out. More importantly, we wanted to visit the Big Sable Point Lighthouse, an iconic Lake Michigan landmark that had essentially been unreachable since September of last year. Today we will take a look at some of the ways you can get to this 112 foot tall lighthouse and even climb the tower thanks to the efforts of the Lakeshore Keepers.

There are more than 20 miles of trails at Ludington State Park and several of them will lead to the lighthouse. The most direct route is the Lighthouse Trail from the Pines Campground, which runs a little more than 1.5 miles. You can also start at the beach and walk around two miles along the shoreline to get to the lighthouse, or park in the lot near the entrance and connect to the trail there (around 1.8 miles). The Lighthouse Trail also connects to the Lost Lake Trail on the east side of the park near Hamlin Lake.

On our most recent visit we approached the Big Sable Point Lighthouse in a new way, first hiking the Lost Lake Trail/Island Trail then connecting to the Ridge Trail and then the Lighthouse Trail. This meant that our first views of the lighthouse came from the dunes, which was a pretty spectacular view. We also got to see a lot of great wildlife, plants, and scenic views on our way there.

The Big Sable Point Lighthouse dates back to 1867. A Michigan historical marker near the lighthouse tells more: “Called Grande Pointe au Sable by French explorers and traders, Big Sable Point was an important landmark for mariners traveling a treacherous stretch of Lake Michigan shoreline between Big Sable Point and present-day Ludington. In 1855 twelve ships wrecked in that area. Commerce linked to the burgeoning lumber industry required that Big Sable Point be suitably lighted. State senator Charles Mears pressed the legislature to ask the federal government for a light station at Big Sable. In 1866 the U.S. Congress appropriated thirty-five thousand dollars for a lighthouse, which was built the following year. As the lumbering era waned, steamers carrying coal, foodstuffs, and tourists continued to rely on the lighthouse for navigation. The Big Sable Point Lighthouse is one of the few Michigan lights with a tower reaching one hundred feet. Completed in 1867, Big Sable’s tower measures 112 feet high. In 1902 the deteriorating brick tower was encased in steel. The keeper’s dwelling, which once housed a single family, has been enlarged over the years, resulting in the present three-family residence. Indoor plumbing and heating and a diesel electric generator were added in 1949. In 1953 power lines were extended to the Point. In 1968 the tradition of light-keeping begun in 1867 by Alonzo A. Hyde and his wife, Laura, ended when the station was fully automated.”

The Lakeshore Keepers (formerly the Sable Points Light Keepers Association) maintains the site today, opening the tower for climbs (and amazing views) and operating a museum and gift shop. This was my first time out here in a few years, and I was impressed at how many things the gift shop had, how friendly the staff was, and how many visitors were taking advantage of the opportunity to climb the tower.

For those who are unable to make the walk out to the lighthouse, bus days are offered several times each summer. August 30 is the last remaining 2025 date for this service, which runs from 12-430 pm for a small fee.

We couldn’t be happier to see Ludington State Park back open and full of campers and visitors. If you’re making the trip to this beautiful state park on Lake Michigan this summer, don’t miss out on visiting the beautiful Big Sable Point Lighthouse!