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The Ludington School Forest occupies 1/4 square mile in northeast Ludington. There are trails for hiking, skiing, or snowshoeing.
In 2006 the Mason County Disc Golf Association began building an 18-hole course on the east side of the area. The first 9 holes are completed.
Hiking
East Loop
The description begins at the Trailhead at the corner of Tinkham and Sherman. Although this entire block would be described as wooded, the East Loop is the more open of the two halves, with several open areas, some bare sand, and sand roads. This is a 1.5 mile long trail. The description takes you around the loop counter-clockwise. Pass two trails to the left which are what I am calling the West Loop. At the next intersection there is a cement bench. Take the right fork. The trail will begin to angle NE, and passes close to the corner of a chain link fence surrounding a cattail pond. Cross an open grassy area, bearing left to stay on the sand road. Soon you will find that you are following under a power line. At the north end of the forest the trail briefly follows the shoulder of Bryant Road past a wooden fence, and then re-enters the forest at the next short section of fencing. Now you are walking SW. When you reach the center of the forest you will be able to see that you are parallel to the West Loop (and could easily switch loops here if you wish). Stay on the sand road and connect again with the outward trail in the grassy area. Turn right to return to the Trailhead.
Access- Park at the Trailhead at the corner of Tinkham and Sherman, or in the Disc Golf Parking area off Jebavy. Walk straight west past cage 18 till you cross the trail.
Restrictions- Dogs must be leashed, no motor vehicles, no alcohol, no smoking (school property).
Distance and time- About 1.5 miles. Plan on an hour unless you know the exact trail well- you may do some wandering. Mileages were measured on a topographic map and/ or verified by pacing, at which I am fairly accurate.
Trail Markers- none
Treadway- wide forest trail, cleared for skiing in winter, some sand roads, generally stable
Grades- flat
Marking- inadequate, there are many, many extra trails, but the area is only 1/2 mile on each side, so if you get off this loop, you really can't get very lost.
Ecosystem- small hills scattered in sandy second-growth forest. Dry- maple, pine, oak.
Other points of interest- You will intersect the Disc Golf Course at many places along the trail.
Most recent date this info personally checked on foot- June 2006
Back to map Comment
West Loop
The description begins at the Trailhead at the corner of Tinkham and Sherman. Although this entire block would be described as wooded, the West Loop is the more heavily wooded of the two halves. This is a 1.25 mile long trail. The description takes you around the loop clockwise. Take the first trail to the left after you leave the trailhead (there is an apparent trail almost immediately, but it just takes you back to the parking area). You will be walking due north. In a short while, pass a plantation of Norway Pine on the right. At the first four-way trail intersection turn left. This will approach Sherman St., and you will turn north to skirt the edges of several back yards. Pass another trail which turns right, and at the next trail, turn right (if you continue straight you quickly come to a chain link gate and Bryant Ave.). Continue east for 1/4 mile, and you will reach a T. Turn right (if you turn left you quickly come to a chain link gate and Bryant Ave.). Continue south, passing many side trails and a bench. You will find the tee for golf hole 15 on the trail, and be sure to veer right on the trail, rather than continuing straight to cage 15. At the next bench, you are intersecting the primary east-west trail through the forest. Continue straight to the next bench. Take the right fork (you can take the left fork, and head south to the East Loop), and continue back to the entrance trail. Turn right to return to the Trailhead.
Access- Park at the Trailhead at the corner of Tinkham and Sherman.
Restrictions- Dogs must be leashed, no motor vehicles, no alcohol, no smoking (school property).
Distance and time- About 1.25 miles. Less than an hour- this trail is fairly easy to follow. Mileages were measured on a topographic map and/ or verified by pacing, at which I am fairly accurate.
Trail Markers- none
Treadway- wide forest trail, cleared for skiing in winter, generally stable
Grades- a few small hills
Marking- inadequate, there are many, many extra trails, but the area is only 1/2 mile on each side, so if you get off this loop, you really can't get very lost.
Ecosystem- small hills scattered in second-growth forest. Maple, pine, oak, birch.
Other points of interest- You will intersect the Disc Golf Course at two places along the trail.
Most recent date this info personally checked on foot- June 2006
Back to map Comment
Other Trails
The description of other trails is general only. The entire area is laced with pathways which walkers and vehicles have made. The area is well-bounded and small enough that you can't possibly get lost, and you can wander for a couple of hours without retracing too many steps. If you walk straight north on Gaylord Avenue, through the cemetery and continue straight into the woods that unmarked trail will connect quickly to the paved walkway.
Access- Park at the Trailhead at the corner of Tinkham and Sherman, or in the Disc Golf Parking area off Jebavy.
Restrictions- Dogs must be leashed, no motor vehicles, no alcohol, no smoking (school property).
Distance and time- The block is 0.5 miles on a side. Wander till you have had enough!
Trail Markers- none
Treadway- various pathways including, wide cleared paths for skiing, two-track roads, and pathways of convenience. Grades- mostly flat
Marking- none
Ecosystem- small hills scattered in second-growth forest- maple, pine, oak, birch.
Other points of interest- At one time there was an exercise trail marked through the west half of the forest, with at least 14 stops with prescribed exercises, some using equipment provided. You can still find about 6 of the signs, and several pieces of the equipment.
Most recent date this info personally checked on foot- June 2006
Back to map Comment
Disc Golf
Disc Golf
Possibly the most challenging and interesting walk is to follow the Disc Golf Course. At this time, the description of this is sketchy. I will try to improve it. On the map the circle represents the cage, and the number of each fairway is located near the cage. In all cases, the description means to walk from a tee to the corresponding cage, then follow the connecting trail to the next tee.
For holes 1-9, from the parking area, head south near the road to tee 1. The cage is west of the tee. Walk west to tee 2. The cage is again to the west. Walk south to tee 3; the cage is west of the tee. Head NE to tee 4; the cage is north of the tee. Walk west across the East Loop Trail; tee 5 is on the West Loop Trail. The cage is straight south of the tee (the West Loop angles off to the right in the middle of this fairway). Walk SW to tee 6; the cage is south of the tee. Walk SE to tee 7, the cage is NE of the tee. Walk east to tee 8 located on a small hill; the cage is east of the tee. Walk north, NW, and north to tee 9; the cage is east of the tee. Return through the grassy area to the parking lot.
Holes 9-18 are technically not finished, but they can be followed. Cross the parking lot to the gate near a cage with a tire bumper. This is apparently an extra cage for practice. The second half of the course is more challenging to follow. Go up the hill to the NW following some orange arrows on rocks. Tee 10 is at the top of the hill, and the cage is north, down across an open mowed area. Walk west on a narrow trail to tee 11, the cage is west of the tee. Continue west on the wide trail. Look for a log on the right with an orange arrow which says to continue straight. Instead, turn right (north) at the narrow trail beside the log. Reach tee 12 and the cage (with a large 17 on it!) is north of the tee. Walk north on a narrow trail to tee 13; the cage is west of the tee. Follow a narrow trail south to the East Loop, and tee 14 is on the trail, and the cage is south of the tee on the East Loop Trail. Take the next narrow trail to the right, and you will find tee 15. Turn around and the cage is uphill, across the East Loop. I never did find tee 16. However, from cage 15 walk downhill in the wide grassy area, and take the first path to the left. Watch for a very narrow trail going steeply uphill to the right. You will see a bright orange post in the top of the cage. the narrow trail continues past the cage and leads to a wider trail, on which you turn left and go downhill. You will see tee 17 on the left side of the trail. Continue downhill and bear right till you see cage 17 on the right. Look for a narrow trail marked with flagging tape beyond the cage. Take this trail down into an open grassy area. Tee 18 is to the right. Turn around, and you will see cage 18 across the grassy area in the trees. The parking area is directly beyond cage 18.
Access- Park in the Disc Golf Parking area off Jebavy.
Restrictions- Dogs must be leashed, no motor vehicles, defer to golfers... after all this is "their" trail (league play uses this course on Thursday evenings), no alcohol, no smoking (school property).
Distance and time- The block is 0.5 miles on a side. Wander till you have had enough!
Trail Markers- some trails lined with logs or marked with orange marking, tees have numbers, cages do not have numbers.
Treadway- recently cleared wide swaths for the courses, and connectors are narrow trails
Grades- up and down small hills
Marking- none
Ecosystem- small hills scattered in second-growth forest- maple, pine, oak, birch.
Other points of interest- The Disc Golf Course intersects with the other trails at many, many points.
Most recent date this info personally checked on foot- June 2006
Back to map Comment
Skiing
Skiing- The entire trail system is open to skiing.
Rest Rooms and Potable Water
Rest Rooms- none
Potable Water- none
Details
Access- parking on Sherman Street for 3 cars, parking on Jebavy Drive for 20+ of cars
Restrictions- Dogs must be leashed, no motor vehicles, no alcohol, no smoking (school property).
Seasonality- open in winter
Ecosystem- second growth urban forest with some open areas in sand
Other points of interest- other Ludington attractions and shopping
Most recent date this info personally checked- see individual trails
Additional Facilities- none
Maintained by- These trails (except for the Disc Golf Course) the Ludington Area Schools. Contact:
Ludington Area Schools
809 E Tinkham Ave.
Ludington, MI 49431
231-845-7303
More- Disc Golf Course maintained by the Mason County Disc Golf Association. Contact:
Tom Organ, 231-843-7628
or Jeff Schwass, 231-510-0774
golf course maps available at Tire-it-Wholesale at the corner of Jebavy and Tinkham
Locator
Driving Directions
To the Sherman Street entrance- From US 10 as you enter Ludington, turn north on Jebavy Drive. In 0.5 mile turn left on Johnson/ Tinkham Ave. Turn right on Sherman in 0.5 mile. Entrance and limited parking at this corner
To the Jebavy Drive (Disc Golf) entrance- From US 10 as you enter Ludington, turn north on Jebavy Drive. In just over 0.5 mile watch for a small sign on the left indicating the parking area. This is a large dirt parking lot.
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