Explore Winter in NewayGo County
EXPLORE WINTER IN NEWAYGO COUNTY
As soon as the snow flies, a new sense of adventure takes hold and our thoughts turn to snowmobiling, fat tire biking, ice fishing, and more. NewayGo County is your perfect winter destination, whether this is your first time trying a new activity, or you are a seasoned winter warrior. Check out our top ten ways to play to plan a memorable winter getaway.
Fat Tire Biking on the Dragon Trail
Don’t let winter keep you from the trails. 29+ miles of technical trails invite you to an action-packed winter fat tire biking adventure on The Dragon. The initial trail segments will be regularly groomed to accommodate fat tire bikers. Trail heads are located at Big Bend Township Park and Hardy Dam County Marina. For more information on winter use and current trail conditions, check out The Dragon Trail Website.
Snowshoeing and Cross Country Skiing
Looking for the perfect trail for your winter trek? Newaygo County is home to 114+ miles of trails for your snowshoeing and cross-country skiing adventure. Bring your own gear or even rent snowshoes from 37-North in Newaygo. To learn more about winter trail hiking in our region, click here, or read a story about the winter trail hiking experience in our area by clicking here, or click here to read about snowshoeing The Dragon.
Treat Yourself
Plan a mid-week escape, a fun weekend with the girls, or a romantic retreat complete with a visit to The Skincare Center & Spa at Tamarac. The spa offers an array of therapeutic services including relaxing massage, skin rejuvenation, and refreshing facials. Next, stroll the streets of our quaint small towns, then choose a local spot to enjoy a delicious meal. The perfect way to spend a winter getaway. Click Here for more a map of the retailers and restaurants in Newaygo County.
Winter River Paddling
The open waters of the Muskegon River or the White River welcome paddlers to experience Newaygo County waterways in all 4 seasons of the year. Winter paddling offers a serene backdrop for experiencing nature up close in the winter months as wildlife make their way to the open water. Although as enjoyable as warm weather paddling, winter can present some challenges. Be sure to watch for ice accumulating at the river’s edge that could tip your watercraft, dress appropriately for the temperature, layer the bottom of your boat or kayak with a wool blanket to stay warmer longer, and bring a dry bag with extra clothing in case you get wet.
Ice Fishing
If ice fishing is your go to winter activity, Newaygo County is your perfect destination for winter fishing. With more than 480 acres of inland lakes, from Fremont Lake to Croton Pond, you will find numerous lakes dotted with fishing shanties as soon as the lakes freeze over. For more information on ice fishing in Newaygo County, check here, contact Parsley’s or Hesperia Sport Shop for an ice report, or check out the DNR’s Fishing Report here.
Winterize Your Exploring Challenge
Experience the winter destinations of our region with the Exploring Challenge. With over 120 activities such as snowshoeing at Loda Lake, seeing a show at the Dogwood Center, or building a snow sculpture at a county park. Where will your challenge begin? Start planning on the Challenge page: https://newaygocountyexploring.com/challenge/
Snowmobiling
Ready for some wide-open winter adventure? The DNR designated LP3 Trail runs from the staging area located just north of the City of Newaygo across from the Newaygo County Welcome Center to the very Northern end of Newaygo County, continuing on through Lake, Oceana, Mecosta counties and beyond. Turn your ride into a weekend excursion & stay at any of the lodging facilities in Newaygo County, able to offer the perfect retreat for you and your snowmobiling buddies.
Downhill Sledding
When the first snow falls, the hills at Branstrom Park in Fremont and The Welcome Center in Newaygo offer the best destinations for downhill sledding in the region! Load up the kiddos and their sleds and head to Newaygo County for a family friendly winter weekend getaway.
Explore the Arts
Ready to get out of the house for some creative exploration? Try NewayGo County’s public art installations on the NewayGo County Art Trail. This self-guided tour will lead you to 25+ public art installations along a simple to navigate route. Enjoy original artist’s works from murals to sculpture while exploring the quaint towns of our region.
GET OUT AND EXPLORE MORE WINTER IN NEWAYGO COUNTY
With so many trails, lakes, and regional connections for winter sports, Newaygo County has no shortage of things to do when the snow flies.
Snowmobiling
Snowmobiling routes are abundant throughout the county and connected trails offering more than 100 miles of continuous riding on trails with amenities geared toward a great day on your sled.
Ice Fishing
Fat Tire Biking
XC Skiing & Snowshoeing
Take a scenic glide through the wintery wonderland of Newaygo County. Grab your snowshoes or cross-country skies and take to more than 75 miles of trails and almost 5,000 acres of natural areas ready for winter exploration.
Stories from the Trails
Early Winter Getaway
With the busy holiday season behind us, who isn’t ready for some “me time”? Maybe a quiet walk in the woods, casting a line along a rapidly flowing riverbank, or pedaling through the pines can provide the renewal you seek. Newaygo County welcomes all seekers to come...
Trail Time & Hot Toddies
Instead of toiling the winter days away, cooped up indoors, why not venture out for some trail time and toddies? Newaygo County is the perfect destination for such an adventure, and we are going to tell you right where to start! Gear up! First….are you going to...
Fremont Gets Ready to Jingle!
The Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce invites the public to the Jingle Mingle Arts & Crafts Fair on Saturday, November 12th from 9 am to 3 pm at the Fremont Middle School at 500 Woodrow Street. Organizers say that attendees will find many unique handmade gifts and...
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...
A Dazzling Light Display at Croton Township Campground!
There is something magical about Christmas light displays that bring out the child in all of us. Memories of car rides to see the neighborhood lights, with noses pressed to the window, are rekindled. These memories can be relived, and new ones created, in Newaygo...
Winter Hiking – Questions From a Newbie
Excited to throw 2020 behind me & crush all the goals in 2021, I signed up for the North Country Trail Hike 100 Challenge. Ambitious, as I’ve only hiked a handful of times in my life, but why not make 2021 my year? I embarked on my first hike in the first few...
What do a mousie, a sucker, a spike, and a shiner have in common?
Most people are racking their brains to put these common words together. However, a few winter sportsmen are chomping at the bait to answer this simple question. In our household, these words trigger excitement and remind us of good times with friends throughout the...
Snowshoe Adventure On The Dragon
Being an avid runner from a young age and now a personal trainer, I have spent a lot of time running and hiking over the years. In more recent years, due to my work schedule, I found myself stuck to the convenience of the gym equipment. During the 2020 Quarantine...