Environment

Newaygo County has over 100,000 acres of forest that offer everything from hunting and fishing to hiking, cross country skiing, sight seeing, snowmobiling, and nature trails. The Loda Lake Wildflower Sanctuary has marked over 150 different species of plants, wildflowers, and trees along a 1.5 mile trail and the Newaygo Prairies, which are remnants of naturally occurring prairie from pre-settlement days. This area is home to endangered species such as the Karner Blue butterfly.

The Hardy Dam is the third largest earthen-filled dam in the world whose backwaters form Michigan’s largest inland lake with over 50 miles of shoreline. The Croton Dam has been in continuous operation since 1907 and is the site of the great salmon migration. The fish ladder at the Hesperia Dam provides hours of family entertainment and unlimited fishing potential.