Hamlin Lake

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At more than 12 miles long and 5,000 acres large Hamlin Lake touches Manistee National Forest on the north, towering dunes in the west and miles of undeveloped wilderness all around. This manmade lake originated during the logging hey-day when lumbermen dammed the Big Sable River to make an enormous holding pond for trees felled upstream. Hamlin Lake Dam, located just inside Ludington State Park, marks a unique historical spot and a great spot for catching salmon in the fall. The sandy  shoreline of Hamlin Lake Beach is popular with swimmers and sunbathers. It features picnic lawns, concession stands, and restrooms. From were you can begin your walk on a hiking path, or rent a canoe, and take a leisurely glide on marked paths that  meander along the state park's shoreline. Whether you traverse the bayous or head for deeper waters, Hamlin Lake offers a smorgasbord of fish. Tiger muskie, northern pike, large and small mouth bass, perch, crappie, blue gill and over 600,000 walleye, planted several years ago, promise a superb catch. The fishing doesn't cool down in winter either. Tip-ups and shanties dot the ice as fishermen pull in delicious panfish and walleye. Winter also means ice-skating and cross-country skiing on miles of groomed trails along  Hamlin Lake and through Ludington State Park's frozen wilderness, truly making Hamlin a lake for all seasons.