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This park is a small gem located on the north end of Hamlin Lake. You can picnic, hike, play ball, do some fishing or boating in a quiet, off the beaten track location. If the township would do a little work here the park would offer a wonderful experience. As it is, you need to be a little more prepared with your own amenities, but the location is great.
Boat Launch
Boat Launch- cement ramp with a dock and adequate parking
Fishing
Fishing- Hamlin Lake - black crappie, bluegill, brook trout, channel catfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, rock bass, smallmouth bass, sunfish, walleye, yellow perch (list from lake-link.com)
Hiking
Victory Park Trails
The description begins at the west side of the picnic pavillion. Enter the woods at the base of the hill, but slightly above the water line. You will pass the now-closed toilet building. The trail is an old wood road. It continues around the base of the hill past the shoreline of Hamlin Lake and then turns south keeping swampy land near the seasonal creek on the right, and the hill on the left. You will note two less-used side trails angling to the left up valleys. Both of these lead to the top of the bluff and the road to the upper park. If you continue straight on the main trail you will reach Victory Park Road near its final bend to the north.
Access- Via Victory Park Road off Fountain Road. Park at the beach, or at the top of the hill in the upper park. The road to the upper park is bad in wet weather, but should be fine under dry conditions.
Restrictions- Private land on both sides of the park.
Distance and time- about a mile to walk outbound on the trail and return to the shore via the road. Add a little more for side trips up the valleys and to the upper park. Mileages were measured on a topographic map and/ or verified by pacing, at which I am fairly accurate.
Trail Markers- none, just stay on the obvious old roadbed
Treadway- level old road, fairly stable footing with a few roots.
Grades- main trail flat, moderate climbs up the valleys
Ecosystem- freshwater lake, steep hillside in maple-beech-hemlock woods, with scattered white cedar and wetland on lower side
Other points of interest- Monument to residents of Victory Township who died in WWI and WWII is located at the upper park on top of the hill.
Most recent date this info personally checked on foot- October 2006
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Picnicking
Picnicking- Hamlin Lake Beach- nice picnic pavillion with 6 tables, grill is missing a top grate to cook on
Hilltop- grill is missing a top grate to cook on, no tables- bring a blanket
Playgrounds
Playground- ball diamond
Historic Site
Historic Site- Monument to residents of Victory Township who died in WWI and WWII is located at the upper park on top of the hill.
Swimming
Swimming- swimming allowed in Hamlin Lake, no actual beach.
Rest Rooms and Potable Water
Rest Rooms- porta potty
Potable Water- none
Details
Access- via Victory Park Road off Fountain Road. Park at the beach.
Restrictions- no camping.
Seasonality- open all year if the road is plowed
Ecosystem- Large inland lake subject to high waves. Wooded.
Most recent date this info personally checked - October 2006
Additional Facilities- benches
Maintained by- Victory Township. Former toilet buildings have been closed and vandalized.
More- Michigan DNR Mason County Lakes
Locator
Driving Directions
Travel west on Fountain Road from US 31 (6.5 miles north of US 10 at Scottville), for 5 miles. The paved road becomes Angling Road, veering southwest. However, you can continue straight (around a slight jog for traffic safety) on Fountain Road, now dirt. Do this, and take the first right on Victory Park Road. This road goes north for just under one mile, then jogs left. Shortly, there is a road to the right marked to Sunset Bluff Resort, however, continue straight and the road will dead end at the park.