Lake Hudson State Recreation Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Hudson State Recreation Area |
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View of Lake Hudson from the dam
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 Lake Hudson State Recreation Area
Location in Michigan
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| Location | Hudson and Medina townships Lenawee County, Michigan |
| Nearest city | Hudson, Michigan |
| Area | 2,796 acres (11.32 sq km) |
| Established | 1979 |
| Governing body | Michigan Department of Natural Resources |
| Official website: http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/parksandtrails/details.aspx?id=464&type=SPRK | |
Lake Hudson State Recreation Area is a cool outdoor spot in Lenawee County, Michigan. It's a big park that covers 2,796 acres (about 11 square kilometers). This area is mostly in Hudson Township, with a small part reaching into Medina Township.
The park was created in 1979. It surrounds a large lake called Lake Hudson. What makes Lake Hudson special is that it was the very first "dark-sky preserve" in the United States! This means it's a great place to see stars because there's not much light pollution. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources takes care of the park.
Contents
Discovering Lake Hudson
Lake Hudson is the main feature of this recreation area. It's a big lake, covering 502 acres (about 2 square kilometers). The deepest part of the lake is about 24 feet (7.3 meters) deep.
How Lake Hudson Was Formed
Long ago, Lake Hudson wasn't one big lake. It was actually three smaller lakes: Bear Lake, Covell Lake, and Haley Lake. A stream called Bear Creek connected all three. People built a small dirt dam at the end of Bear Lake. This dam caused the water to rise and connect the three smaller lakes, forming the single large Lake Hudson we see today.
Boating and Fishing Fun
There's one public boat ramp where you can launch your boat. Even though the lake is big, it's a "no-wake" lake. This means that even if you have a motorboat, you can't go fast enough to create waves. This rule helps keep the lake calm and safe for everyone.
Lake Hudson is a super popular spot for fishing! The Michigan Department of Natural Resources often adds fish like walleye and muskellunge to the lake. The biggest muskellunge ever caught here was 47 inches (119 cm) long! You can also find other fish species like black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, and yellow perch.
Activities at the Park
Lake Hudson State Recreation Area offers lots of fun things to do outdoors. It has a campground with 50 campsites. These sites have electricity, but you'll need to use a hand pump for drinking water. There are also special toilets called vault toilets available.
Outdoor Adventures
The forest around Lake Hudson is a popular place for hunting during certain seasons. People hunt for waterfowl (like ducks), turkey, and deer. There are many trails in the forest, but you can't use motorized vehicles off the main roads.
Besides camping, fishing, and hunting, you can also enjoy other activities. These include picnicking, metal detecting, swimming, watching birds, hiking, taking photos, and geocaching (a treasure hunt using GPS).
Stargazing at Lake Hudson
In 1993, Lake Hudson became the first "dark-sky preserve" in the United States. This means the park works to reduce light pollution. For example, they dim headlights and outdoor lights. This makes it an amazing place to see the stars and planets clearly at night! Michigan now has seven dark-sky preserves, including Lake Hudson.
Nearby Towns and Parks
Lake Hudson State Recreation Area is close to several towns. The village of Clayton is about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) north. The city of Hudson is about eight miles (12.9 km) northwest, and Morenci is nine miles (14.5 km) south.
There are also other state parks nearby if you want to explore more. Within 30 miles (48 km), you can find Hayes State Park, Cambridge Junction Historic State Park, and Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve. There's even Harrison Lake State Park just south in Ohio.
