Roaring through Newaygo and Mecosta counties is the beautiful Dragon Trail. This winter, my fiancé, two dogs, and I had the chance to check out the trail for the first time and we all quickly fell in love. In fact, we did not just go once, we went twice within the same month. If you have not checked it out, we all highly recommend you do!
The first thing that struck me was the ease of finding the trail head. Both times we visited the trail we started at the Sandy Beach County Park. From there, we took the trail heading north. The gorgeous trail winds through the woods and up and down the hills. It makes for a hike that feels like more than just a walk through the woods, but it is still very doable for many skill levels.
As the trail continues upward, at a slight but manageable incline, you eventually make it to the top and are greeted by a lovely, wide view of Hardy Pond. Since it was winter when we visited, there were no leaves on the trees, and we could see so much of the beautiful area (although I am certain it is just as gorgeous in the summer!). At the top, we stopped to take in the view and grab a few pictures together. Let me just say, this has to be one of the best views in Newaygo County.
When we visited (both times) it was near dusk, so we were able to see a bit of the sunset as we made our way back to the car. We spent about an hour to an hour and half on the trail and it felt like it went by so incredibly fast. I suppose time flies when you are having fun!
All four of us, dogs included, cannot wait to visit the trail again as the temperature warms up. We love to spend our weekends checking out local trails and we are so excited to have the Dragon Trail so close to home. What an amazing addition to our counties!
PS: We have been looking forward to checking out the Dragon Trail ever since it was announced, however what inspired us to get going was a Christmas gift of the Newaygo County and Mecosta County Park passes. A great gift idea for your loved ones who enjoy the outdoors!
