There is so much to do in the area when it comes to outdoor activities! It’s one of the reasons we wanted to create a base camp in the area because it really is an outdoor lovers paradise in all 4 seasons! Below are some of the great activities you can do!
Cycling
One of our favorite activities. There are multiple ways and trails to explore Newaygo, Croton, Hardy Dam area by bike! The most popular trail is the Dragon Trail! A 40+ mile multi-use, single track trail around Hardy Pond! This trail is best explored by mountain bike and has some really great flow sections and scenery. We also have some single and double track trail on our property with a fun MTB skills area being developed! There are also miles and miles of pristine gravel roads for the gravel enthusiast! Come back in winter for fat biking on the Dragon Trail too!
Paddle Sports
Where there’s a dam, there’s water! Kayaking, paddleboarding, and canoeing are all really popular in the area too! You can paddle around Hardy Dam Pond, Croton Dam, and the Muskegon River! It’s a beautiful area to explore by water with bald eagle sightings, lots of forests, and great fishing too! You won’t regret spending a few hours chilling on the water!
Hiking
There are tons of trails in the area that are great for hiking! Some of the top trails include The Dragon Trail, North Country Trail, and Hungerford Lake Trails. We even have some trails onsite for a quick loop!
Boating
Hardy Dam Pond is well-known for boating as an all-sports “lake.” There’s lots of space for ripping around and tubing, skiing, wakeboarding, or whatever you want to do. There are multiple boat launches within minutes of Base Camp. Some of the popular ones include Hardy Dam Marina, Big Bend Park, and Sandy Beach.
Off-Roading
Between seasonal scenic roads and two-tracks, there are hundreds of miles of trails to experience in the area. Head deep into the woods for some fun and stop at some fantastic
restaurants while out and about for a full day of adventure. Permits are required. Newaygo county allows SXS and UTVs on roads with a speed limit of 25MPH and DNR trail stickers.
For more information, see the DNR website. You can see some of our favorite routes here.
20 Minutes from Base Camp
They rent:
Canoes
Kayaks
Tubes
Rafts
Fishing Boats
Shuttle services, 3 different trip lengths and sections of the Muskegon River.
15 Minutes from Base Camp
They rent:
Canoes
Kayaks
Tubes
Fishing Boats
Shuttle services, 1 trip length/section, and midnight kayak rides.
Dragon Adventures Base Camp 