Year Round Activities

Summer means fun on the water whether you are in a canoe, kayak or drift boat fishing for smallmouth bass and northern pike on the Muskegon River. Grab your binoculars and head out to a number of great bird watching sites to observe many species along the water’s edge or in the areas northern forests. A resident population of bald eagles and ospeys call the Muskegon River their home water and habitat. Large mayfly hatches bring out cedar waxwings which hover over the river as they feed. During the spring and summer, a variety of warblers invade the area. A lucky visitor may also encounter a scarlet tanager or an indigo bunting.

The lower part of the Muskegon River has some very good birding areas, including the Muskegon state game area and the Muskegon Lake Nature perserve. The Muskegon Wastewater System, which is part of the Muskegon River watershed, is quite famous for birding and draws birders from all over to the area and is within 40 minutes of Newaygo.  Visit the Muskegon County bird watching site for a  “hotspot map” of recent bird sitings by species and specific locations along the Muskegon River.

Fall is a great reason to visit Newaygo County and see the autumn colors on an afternoon hike.  Newaygo County is home to more than 114 miles of hiking trails as well as numerous nature areas that allow you to create an adventure that is perfect for your friends and family

Winter time brings out the cross country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling enthusiasts. If you haven’t tried snowshoeing, the smaller, lightweight “shoes” allow you to venture where cross country skis would not and open up so many more trails to explore.