Jackpine Hike-In Campground — Ludington State Park

Ludington State Park - Jack Pine camp had everything. A very pleasant drive into the state park - with many places to access the beach.

Check-in and parking for camping was easy and the price was reasonable. Easy hike to Jack Pine and it was easy to find my campsite.

Campsite has well designated corner marker boundaries with plenty of room to pitch a tent and several hammock options. Each site has a solid fire pit and picnic table. Plenty of tree cover for shade. Toilets are close and clean.

The hike to the lighthouse was easy and the lighthouse was picturesque. Great access to the beach and again toilets were close and clean.

It was chilly when we went, since you are right on the lake during the first week of April. Once the sun was out it was great. There’s a camp store. Many hiking trails & these sites are literally a dune walk to the beach.

Well it’s a mile hike in tell your friends prior it’s not 500 feet, oops! Not for the new camper! I loved it. Great camping be very careful ticks are around at this site due to us being in their habitat.

Water is 1 mile and 200 feet away. Just like to be clear.

No Phone service! Love that!

We had a wonderful experience at jack pines. There are about 8 sites with plenty of trees in between. Lake Michigan is just up and over a sand dune. Walk to light house is one mile.

Site had a picnic table, trash cans, and vault toilets.

An easy walk from the designated parking spots by the maintenance area, but I chose to bike. The road was sandy in spots but manageable. Sites contain a fire ring and picnic table. Two clean vault toilets. Signs said the well was closed; not sure if that was seasonal or permanent. Site F was good for hammocking. Walked to the lighthouse for sunset and was not disappointed. There’s a trail from the campground up over a dune to Lake Michigan.

The state park is huge. The modern campsites are packed in very tightly however the Jackpine Hike-In campsites were spacious and peaceful. The dirt road that you hike in on leads to the lighthouse which is another mile from the campsites so there is a decent amount of foot traffic during the day. The dunes block a good amount of wind that comes off the water. There was not a grill on the fire pit which was a little disappointing. Rules say you are not to pick up down wood but you really don’t have a choice when you hike in.. We brought a wagon to pull additional stuff and pulling just one bundle of wood was a little challenge. Lots of raccoons! Overall, it was a very nice site.

Ludington State Park is one of my favorite parks in Michigan and with one night at Jackpine, it quickly became one of my favorite campgrounds. Rustic and quiet, this campground is really tucked away. The sites are wooded and private. It’s a short walk to the lighthouse. We stayed here to be able to photograph the lighthouse around sunset. The path to the campground is gravel so we carried all of our stuff in a wagon. I can’t wait to return to Jackpine.