Welcome to The Wildlife Center at Legends Ranch, an institution with a rich legacy of hunting, family, and conservation. A LEGACY OF FAMILY, HUNTING, & CONSERVATION OUR STORY Established in 2018, The Wildlife Center at Legends Ranch is a 501(c)3 nonprofit...
Experience the Best of FALL in NewayGo County
NewayGo County welcomes you to experience fall color from the roads, trails, and waterways that wind through our county. Marvel at the vibrant colors, taste seasonal flavors, and create adventures that suit your pace and style. Explore the best the fall season of NewayGo County.
EXPLORE OUR FALL TOP 10 THINGS TO SEE & DO!
Experience Seasonal Color
Not sure where to begin your color tour? We’ve got you covered! Our Fall Color Tour Map will lead the way for a one-day driving route winding through the roads of our region flanked experiencing the colors of fall. Find your way to local shops and restaurants of our small towns, and markets offering the best of the fall harvest. Make it an overnight stay and experience the delightful amenities at the popular Harrington Inn, featuring a brand new Eleven Seventeen Lounge, or enjoy one of our other area lodging locations.
Fall Color Camping
Whether you are looking for campsites with full hook-up options or rustic sites to pop a tent nestled in the heart of the Manistee/Huron National Forest, NewayGo County has just the spot for your relaxing fall camping retreat. Camping is the perfect way to end a day on the water and Diamond Lake County Park, White Cloud County Park, or River Rock Campground provide close-by locations for pitching your tent or parking your camper and relaxing around the campfire to share tales from your travels.
Go to Market
Fall in Michigan is never complete without a visit to a farm market. In NewayGo County you will find two treasured fall destinations: Heritage Farms Market and Nelson’s Farm Market. Our markets are the perfect destination for fall family fun. Sip a cider slushie at Heritage Farms and indulge in Nelson’s famous donuts or caramel apples. Choose one or visit both while exploring the fall colors of the countryside.
ORV/ATV
NewayGo County is your destination for 2 or 4-wheeling fall trail fun. The Michigan Cross Country Cycle Trail in White Cloud offers over 16 miles of motorized trails and connects to regional trail systems. The roads of NewayGo County are also Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) friendly welcoming you to explore any of the county’s well-maintained roads, White Cloud County Park, and Diamond Lake County Park.
Fish the River
Fall is the peak season for steelhead fishing when you’ll find the anglers flocking to the areas below to Croton Dam on the Muskegon River and below the Hesperia Dam on the White River for world-class fishing. Learn all about fishing the rivers of NewayGo County on the Riflers and Reelers page of our website.
Explore
The Exploring Challenge provides a unique way to discover all of the great spots for fall experiences in Newaygo County. The NewayGo County Tourism Council has assembled over 130 activities such as playing disc golf at Muskegon River Bluffs in NewayGo, biking the Town & Country Path in Fremont, or exploring the Richmond Woods Nature Preserve in White Cloud to give you a flavor of the region and all we have to explore.
Visit the Challenge page: https://newaygocountyexploring.com/challenge/
Take in the Arts Tour
Diverse public art dots the countryside along the NewayGo County’s Art Trail. This self-guided tour is a great fall color route that leads you to 25+ public art installations along a simple to navigate tour of the county. Start your tour by exploring 11 public art displays throughout the charming town of Fremont, and then take a ride to enjoy even more historic and creative works of art throughout the county.
Take on the Dragon
Get ready for a fall adventure on 45 miles of hiking & biking trails outlining the Hardy Pond. Wooded trails invite you to explore color from a new perspective with amazing views of the natural beauty of our area. The Dragon features: bridges, scenic overlooks, rock armoring, and expanses of wooden boardwalk, creating a trail that is both challenging and fun.
Hike a NCT Loop
NewayGo County is home to almost 70 miles of the North Country Trail, linking scenic, natural, historic, and cultural areas across America’s northern heartlands. Plan a backpacking trip or experience a section of this nationally renowned trail beginning at the Newaygo County Welcome Center. The Center features a 2-mile looped trail that is the perfect fall color destination for hikers of all experience levels.
Hunting on Public Land
Fall brings the beginning white tail deer, small game, and waterfowl hunting seasons. NewayGo County offers access to public land throughout the fall season and into winter. The MI-Hunt map will help you find just the right spot for your hunt. The Michigan deer hunting calendar begins with the Liberty Hunt in mid-September for youth hunters and hunters with disabilities. Learn all about hunting our area on our Riflers and Reelers page.
So many ways to enjoy fall – here are some top spots on our route.
- Downtown Newaygo-shops & dining & walking trail along Muskegon River.
- Hardy Dam on the north and Croton Dam on the south. Walk the trail at Conklin Park for a high view of Croton Dam or the Hardy Dam Rustic Trail.
- White Cloud features Rotary & Millpond Parks along the White River.
- This stretch south of 11 Mile has rolling hills that give great vistas of color.
- A block north is Hesperia’s dam for photos of fish jumping.
- This corner has several Amish businesses.
- Fremont has many resale shops and restaurants.
White River Adventure
Early in the morning I left Lowell and arrived to drop my canoe and gear at Flowing Wells Park west of White Cloud. A short drive to the end of Bingham Road provided a great parking spot and marked the start of my bike ride back to the canoe. Having paddled...
Roaring through Newaygo and Mecosta counties is the beautiful Dragon Trail
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...
Newaygo County is the Perfect Place to Experience 1000 Hours Outside!
My family and I are avid outdoors people. More often than not, you can find us outside enjoying the four seasons of beautiful Michigan weather. From rivers and forests to trails and adventures, we’re pretty blessed to be able to explore Newaygo County that boasts the...
Q & A With a local SLEDHEAD and Snowmobiling Etiquette 101
My family has grown up in the Newaygo County area and we have been riding snowmobiles off the LP3 Trail system for years. When you see the staging parking lots full on a Saturday morning, it feels good to know the area businesses are going to see some out of county...
Fremont’s own Award-winning prairie
Fall is my favorite season, hands-down. Between the fall colors, harvest festivals and some fresh-pressed apple cider, I’m one happy girl. A fall favorite event of ours is Fremont’s Hay Art and this year it was extra special. While out exploring the city’s Hay...