Hardy Dam County Marina
Hardy Dam on the Muskegon River is one of the largest earthen dams in the world. The dam is used to produce hydroelectric power and holds back the river to form Hardy Dam Pond. Hardy Dam Pond features a 50-mile shoreline that surrounds nearly 4,000 acres of water. The pond features a rustic “up north” setting that is a popular spot for fishing, boating, a day at the beach, or camping offering more than 700 campsites.
Nestled in a protected cove next to the Hardy Dam, the marina offers access to 17 miles of open waterway, with miles of undeveloped shoreline. The marina currently offers 35 boat slips with daily and seasonal slips available. It also houses one of the best daily boat launches on Hardy Pond. The marina also offers potable water and a pump-out service.
Details
Size: 3,750 acres, approximately 110 feet deep
Activities: Beaches, boating, fishing, camping, swimming
Species: bluegill, brown trout, chinook salmon, northern pike, bass, and perch
Site Features
Newaygo State Park
Description: Newaygo State Park is a 257-acre park-site rustic campground with 99 rustic campsites and day use area sitting atop 20-foot embankments overlooking the Hardy Dam Pond, a six-mile flooding of the Muskegon River. The campground noted for its large, private sites and scenic beauty with a 20-30 foot forested buffer between sites.
Anglers interested in the Great Lakes species can fish for trout and salmon downstream in the popular Croton Dam area, just 15 minutes south of the park. The nearby White Pine Trail State Park provides hiking and biking opportunities. With fall comes the beautiful color season, enhanced by spectacular views overlooking the Muskegon River.
For additional information visit the DNR website at: www.michigandnr.com
Sandy Beach County Park
Sandy Beach County Park is a 129 acre park that offers 200 modern and semi-modern campsites. 18 miles of open waterway and miles of undeveloped shoreline, provide a rustic setting for a true “up north” experience close to home. This park features day-use, swimming beach, dock rental, playground, group campground, and sanitation station.
You can choose rustic sites, electric sites, sites with water and electricity, and sites with full water, sewer and electric hookups. The campground includes shower buildings and a sanitation station, as well as picnic areas, a swimming beach, boat launch facilities and docks. The campground is a bit less densely wooded than Newaygo State Park, but many sites are within view of the water.
More information available at : County of Newaygo Parks
Big Bend Park
Located on the Big Muskegon River near the Hardy Dam, with 17 miles of waterway for boating, fishing, swimming, waterskiing. The park offers docks, showers, water, and electricity, sewage disposal, archery range, playgrounds, and picnic areas. Open all year.
Visit the Big Bend Park website: https://www.michigan.org/property/big-bend-park
Operator’s Village Park
On the east side of the dam, Consumers Power operates the Operator’s Village Park. At the time of the construction of the dam, Consumers Power purchased four homes from the Sears & Roebuck company and built them for the operators of the dam to live in. The power plant required skilled operators to be on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This allowed staff to rotate shifts and to have help close by for special maintenance projects. The homes were disassembled in the 1960s when the area became more populated and the equipment was updated. The area is now a popular place for picnickers.
