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.
Special Thanks to the Croton Township Campground for sponsoring our Winter Top 10!
Fat Tire Biking on the Dragon Trail
Don’t let winter keep you from the trails. 13+ miles of wooded 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.
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.
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 2022 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/
Winter Camping
Campers flock to our region in the warm summer months to escape from the noise and rush of the city, but have you experience everything you love about camping when the ground is blanketed with snow? Exploring the winter trails and waterways by day and warming up by a crackling fire by night, this is winter camping in NewayGo County. Oxbow Park & Big Bend Park, both located near the Hardy Dam, offer year-round camping with access to trails, the popular Dragon Trail and waterways for fishing and paddling.
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.
NewayGo’s Winter Top 10 sponsored by:
Croton Township Campground
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
Stories from the Trails
Church’s Tree Farm
Finding the right tree!Snow fell, and we said goodbye to fall as if it were a thing that never existed. There were never leaves of red, yellow, or orange decorating the skyline. There were no greying trees of exposed branches and bark. There is only this place, this...
Time to Fish? Always in Newaygo County..
Having grown up in Newaygo County I never really thought about how blessed we are with all the rivers, lakes and streams we have around us for fun, and recreation. After moving to Indiana I was shocked and missed this great natural treasure of Newaygo County. ...
Michigan-Made Syrup
Tapping and Boiling: A (Mostly!) Spring Guide to Michigan-Made Syrup The Tap I’ll never be one to complain about the coming of spring. Every year I look forward to the snow being replaced by morning frost, warming throughout the day. I look forward to the budding of...
Success at Dam to Dam 2018
by Carmen Faulkner At sunrise, the serious contenders went out. They walked or snowshoed or rode snowmobiles. Some carried ice shanties, others stuck true to what I would consider to be the ‘old school, torturous’ tradition of sitting on buckets in the wind and cold....
Acquiring and Operating Snowmobiles
By Samantha Breza There are no places to rent a snowmobile at in Newaygo County at this time. Snowmobilers have to own a snowmobile already or purchase one at David Allen Racing Motorsports on Maple Island Road. Winter clothes and goggles can be purchased at Dunham...
Dam to Dam Ice Fishing Tournament
by Carmen Faulkner All right everyone, the winter thaw is over! The few days of warm weather and the reminders from green grass poking up from under the usual January snow was wonderful, but wintery conditions have made their way back into the forecast for the...
A Beginner’s Guide to Snowshoeing Apparel
By Samantha Breza What supplies are needed on a snowshoeing trip depends on where the snowshoer is going and how long they’re going to be there. Snowshoers hiking on mountain trails during the winter need hydration systems, avalanche transceivers, signaling mirrors,...
A Beginner’s Guide to Snowshoes and How to Use Them
By Samantha Breza Want to do something new this winter? Try snowshoeing! Snowshoeing is an easy sport to get into. The equipment is relatively cheap, snowshoers don’t have to register the equipment, or pay annual fees for it. Snowshoers don’t need to take classes or...
A Magical Outdoor Wonderland
The forests and rivers of Newaygo County are a magical outdoor wonderland where nature is on display year-round. The dense Huron Manistee National Forest, the rivers, lakes and streams -- all spring fed, produce some of the most amazing trout, steelhead, and salmon...
Sub 32 Degrees
One might imagine that in an area where the pursuit of outdoor activities consumes its citizenry throughout spring, summer and fall, folks might pull back in a bit in winter. A little hibernation might be I order once the snow rolls in and the waters turn to ice....
