Lake Hudson Recreation Area (Blog Hike #910)

Trail: (unnamed)
Hike Location: Lake Hudson Recreation Area 
Geographic Location: east of Hudson, MI (41.83756, -84.24577)
Length: 3 miles
Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)
Date Hiked: October 2022
Overview: A mostly flat out-and-back near the shore of Lake Hudson.
Park Information: https://www2.dnr.state.mi.us/parksandtrails/details.aspx?id=464&type=SPRK
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=924145
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: From Hudson, take SR 34 east 6.5 miles to SR 156 and turn right on SR 156.  Drive SR 156 south 1.5 miles to the signed recreation area entrance on the right.  Turn right to enter the area, pay the entrance fee, and then turn right at the first side road to head for the picnic pavilion.  Park in the paved lot for the pavilion.

The hike: Established only in 1979, Lake Hudson Recreation Area protects 2796 acres around its namesake lake.  Lake Hudson is unusual because it actually comprises three smaller lakes that were unified by the construction of Lake Hudson's dam.  The lake is only 24 feet deep, but it offers excellent fishing, especially for walleye and muskellunge.  Also, in 1993 the lake was named a dark sky preserve for observation of the nighttime sky.

            The recreation area is only open April through November, and its limited amenities include a 50-site campground, a single boat launch, and a picnic area.  Hikers have only one option: the 1.5 mile out-and-back trail connecting the picnic area, boat launch, and campground.  Such is the trail described here.

Trailhead near picnic pavilion

            The trail starts at the back left (southwest) corner of the mowed-grass area around the picnic pavilion.  A small brown sign gives distances to several points along this trail, although these distances were not particularly accurate according to my calculations.  The trail heads into a shrubby meadow area that demonstrates how young this park is.  I heard a lot of birds in the bushes, but the density of the understory prevented me from seeing many.  I did step over a large number of crickets hopping in front of me on this trail.

Hiking through the beach area

            At 0.5 miles, you enter the park's beach area.  I was the only person at this beach on the chilly Friday morning that I hiked here, but the beach gave me my first broad Lake Hudson view.  Some picnic tables offer an opportunity to sit, observe the lake, and see what you can see.  I managed to see a pair of swans swimming in the lake.

Swans in Lake Hudson

            Past the beach area, the trail reenters the young shrubby forest that now features a few larger trees.  Just shy of 1 mile, you reach the park's boat launch.  Unlike the vacant beach area, there were several people launching boats on Lake Hudson when I hiked through here.  Stay to the left of the parking area, pass a vault toilet, and angle left to again reenter the lakeside woods.

Lake Hudson's dam

Hiking through mature oak forest

            The last segment of trail from the boat launch to the campground is my favorite part of this hike.  Not only do nice lake views emerge, but also the trail passes through the park's most mature forest, which features some large oak trees.  After crossing the dam that forms Lake Hudson, the trail ends at the campground.  Walking back along the park road is both longer and less scenic than the trail, so your best option is to retrace your steps along the trail to the picnic pavilion to complete the hike.