This trip report is for canoers and kayakers that want to see where they're going before they go. Please visit Kohne Camera & Photo while on your way. We're a full service imaging lab and camera dealer operated entirely by photo enthusiasts ready to attend every photographic need you have.
Now, a paddling report from Hudson Lake in Lenawee County, Michigan:
It's part of a recreation area. Other states have state parks; Michigan has recreation areas. Lake Hudson Recreation Area has the lake and some posh camping to offer (they will actually deliver fire wood to your campsite) ; plus, it's a "dark sky area." If you're a star-gazer, this is a place to go that's well away from any light pollution.
You have about 700 acres of water to explore here and the lake is relatively shallow so all storms in the area seem to congregate here. When the wind kicks up, this is a hostile water body. Fair & mild, sunny skies, no wind... That's when you want to go to Hudson Lake in a canoe or kayak. Unfortunately, well...Hudson Lake is rarely altogether calm.
If you don't buy a season sticker, you're in for an entry fee to get into the place if anyone is manning the entry station and it's eight bucks per vehicle if you live out-of-state. AFTER you decide you like this place, buy a season pass. It'll save you money. Last year (2005) was more friendly, weather-wise, and I paddled Hudson all the time. Lots of wind and rain this year so I'll pay as I go for now.
There's a concrete DNR boat ramp at the very end of the 1-mile+ driveway which is good for the powerboats. To the right of the ramp are two gravel and sand areas which are good for the kayaks and canoes. Either way, you'll be launching into a calm lagoon, pictured below.
Once you're in the lake itself, you're at the mercy of the weather. If the weather report for the area suggests winds of 6-10mph, that's a plenty nasty bit of wind for a canoe or kayak at this particular site.
The lake is irregularly shaped and there are plenty of inlets and coves to explore. This young one was grazing in the water one afternoon just east of the beach in a cove of 6-inches of water where nobody but kayakers and canoers can go (the water is much higher as of this writing; the woods here are downright flooded).
The shore is a mixture of marshy areas and gentle inclines of sand and/or gravel. Getting in and out of your boat almost any time you want is easy, comfortable and safe. After eight or more trips, I've still never made it all the way to the west end of the lake. Usually I head for the northeast corner and into a short channel that leads to a large pond which features a small island. When the water is low you'll see an abundance of killdeer wandering the sand dunes for food.
Motor boaters don't go there much and it's a nice, smaller area to explore when the water is low.
Bear Creek veers off to the northwest near the pond. I remember reading a trip report about Hudson Lake on paddling.net that said that a creek (Bear Creek) went "nowhere." A creek has to go somewhere, right? Not Bear Creek. My map says this creek goes on for miles, but after a quarter mile past the end of the lake, this creek actually goes nowhere.
At 700 acres, Hudson Lake (Lake Hudson) is pretty big. Anticipate wind and don't get caught in a storm.
Location: Exit the Ohio Turnpike west of Toledo at Exit 34 (Wauseon) and head north on Route 108 to Route 20 (about 5 miles). Turn west on Route 20 until Route 108 heads north again (about 3 miles). There is no stop sign or traffic light, but a sign for Route 108, a sign for Morenci, and a gas station on the corner will be your landmarks in this otherwise largely featureless farmland area. Turn north on Route 108; 108 will turn into 156 and will take you on a zig-zag into downtown Morenci, Michigan. Watch your speed limit here. From the center of town, turn north on Route 156 (it's well-marked near the traffic light) and head out of town.
When you reach a set of railroad tracks (they will be 3-4 miles north of Morenci on Route 156) you'll be exactly 5.1 miles from Lake Hudson Recreation Area. Keep heading north. The driveway to the rec area is on the left. No stoplight, no Stop sign; watch for it carefully. At 55 mph (or 65 mph if a local is tailgaiting you), you might miss the driveway altogether; however, they just put up a really nice new sign at the entrance.
