Dragon Trail at Hardy Dam

The Hardy Pond, located in Newaygo and Mecosta Counties is a 4,000-acre reservoir on the Muskegon River.  This hydroelectric source of energy was built in 1931 by Consumers Energy and is a recreation paradise with public parks, campsites, boat launches and docking facilities along the miles of undeveloped shoreline. Spicer Group was hired by the counties to assist with grant administration and oversee the construction of the Dragon Trail which covers over 40 miles along the Hardy Pond. The natural shape of the pond closely resembles that of a Chinese Dragon and is a planned multi-use trail that encircles the reservoir connecting parks and existing recreational infrastructure around the pond. 

Newaygo and Mecosta Counties both received grant funding from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant in 2020 for the project which was completed in 2022. The first year the trail was open, vehicle parking at the Hardy Dam County Marina went up over 750 percent and it is estimated that on weekends, up to 200 people per day use the trail.