Hardy Dam to Newaygo
West Michigan Kayaking Club
Wild Rivers. Rugged Trails. Real Adventure.
The Journey Continues
Our Muskegon River adventure continued on a beautiful July day in 2025.
After completing the first section of the river, Tim and I were back on the water for Paddle #2. We still had a long way to go, and we were excited to see what the next stretch would bring.
This time, we launched just below Hardy Dam and planned to take out at Weisner’s Canoe Rental in Newaygo.
We staged our kayaks, shuttled our vehicles to Newaygo, and had everything ready to go within about 30–40 minutes.
Then we hit the river.
Finding Our Rhythm
It didn’t take long to settle into our pace.
The weather was beautiful, the river was calm, and we averaged about 4–4½ mph. As with most of our trips, this wasn’t a leisurely float. We like to cover miles, maintain a steady pace, and experience as much of the river as possible.
For the most part, this section of the Muskegon was calm and easy to navigate.
We did have one portage around Croton Dam. The route was clearly marked and relatively easy to navigate. We also encountered a mild headwind while crossing the Croton backwaters.
Nothing too challenging.
The biggest challenge that day wasn’t the river.
It was the traffic.
A Busy Section of the Muskegon
This is one of the more heavily traveled sections of the Muskegon River, and it’s easy to see why.
Boaters, anglers, tubers, kayakers, and families come from across Michigan and beyond to enjoy this beautiful stretch of river.
On our trip, hundreds of tubers and plenty of kayakers were sharing the water with us, along with a steady amount of motorboat traffic. We had to stay alert, watch our surroundings, and give other boaters plenty of room.
Aside from the traffic and occasional headwind, the river was calm and approachable.
For paddlers who are properly prepared and comfortable sharing the river with other users, this section can be a relatively beginner-friendly introduction to the Muskegon.
We knew these lower sections would generally be easier paddles. The biggest challenges would be distance, weather, wind, traffic, and simply putting in the miles.
But we also knew the river would change as we continued farther north.
The easy miles wouldn’t last forever.
The Take-Out
After nearly 20 miles, we reached our take-out at Weisner’s Canoe Rental in Newaygo.
We took our boats out there and wrapped up another great day on the Muskegon.
For anyone planning their own trip through this section, there is also a public launch just below Weisner’s on the west side of the river. It provides easy access and convenient parking, making it a good option for paddlers looking for a public place to take out their boats.
As always, check current access conditions and applicable rules before launching or taking out.
Wildlife Along the Way
One of the best parts of traveling by kayak is experiencing the river at water level.
We saw plenty of wildlife throughout the day:
🐢 Turtles
🪶 Blue herons
🦆 Ducks
🪿 Geese
🐟 Fish
🪰 Dragonflies
The river was alive around us, constantly reminding us that there is much more to a river adventure than simply covering miles.
But on this trip, the people we met made the day just as memorable.
Eight Guys. One River.
This was our largest group yet—eight guys paddling the Muskegon River together.
At the time, we had no idea that Tim and I would eventually become the only two people in the group to complete the entire journey from the Muskegon’s headwaters to its connection with Lake Michigan.
Friends would join us for individual sections and then return home. Along the way, we would meet new people and make new friends.
And that was part of what made the adventure special.
Everyone who joined us became part of the story.
Meeting Gary
One of the highlights of this section was meeting Gary for the first time.
Gary had seen one of our posts in the West Michigan kayaking club Facebook group and decided he wanted to join the adventure.
There was just one problem.
He lived on the east side of Michigan and had to drive several hours to get to the river.
He came anyway.
That first paddle was the beginning of a friendship none of us could have predicted.
Today, Gary is a valued member of West Michigan kayaking club, and we’ve gone on to paddle hundreds of miles together.
That’s one of the things we love about kayaking.
Sometimes you launch with people you’ve known for years.
Sometimes you meet someone for the first time at the put-in.
And sometimes, that person becomes a lifelong paddling friend.
Brian Joins the Adventure
Our friend Brian was also along for this section.
Brian is an excellent kayaker, although given the choice, he’d probably be sitting in a short whitewater boat ripping through rapids.
Long boats and long stretches of flat water aren’t necessarily his first choice.
Fortunately, we can usually convince him to join us anyway.
We’re glad we do.
Good friends make the miles go by faster, and Brian brought plenty of personality to the group.
The Numbers
By the end of the day, we had covered:
Nearly 20 miles
5½ hours on the river
4–4½ mph average pace
1 portage at Croton Dam
1 lunch stop
8 paddlers
Not a bad day for our second section of the Muskegon.
The weather was beautiful.
The water was calm.
The wildlife was everywhere.
And the company couldn’t have been better.
Looking Ahead
We knew the river would become more challenging as we continued farther north.
The heavily traveled sections we were paddling at this point were relatively calm and accessible. The real challenges were distance, wind, weather, boat traffic, and putting in the miles.
But that was about to change.
Farther upstream, we would begin encountering more remote stretches, stronger current, obstacles, portages, and increasingly challenging sections of river.
And that was exactly what we were looking for.
We weren’t just trying to paddle the Muskegon River.
We wanted to experience it from beginning to end.
Every mile.
Every bend.
Every portage.
Every unexpected challenge.
And every great day on the water with friends.
The journey was underway—and there was still a long way to go.
We were just getting started.
Tim Postma on the Muskegon River.
🛶 Paddle With Us
If you enjoy river stories and outdoor adventures, we’d love to have you join us.
West Michigan kayaking club is built around river exploration, endurance paddling, hiking, camping, and creating opportunities for paddlers to experience Michigan’s incredible waterways together.
Whether you’re new to kayaking or an experienced paddler looking for your next adventure, there’s always another river to explore.
🌐 Visit the West Michigan kayaking club website:
https://www.westmichigankayakingclub.online
📘 Join the West Michigan kayaking club Facebook community:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/245452732238952/
Follow along as Brad and Tim continue their journey down the Muskegon River and discover what lies around the next bend.
West Michigan kayaking club
Wild Rivers. Rugged Trails. Real Adventure.
Brad De Young and Tim Postma
#westmichigankayakingclub #MuskegonRiver #MichiganKayaking #KayakingMichigan #GreatLakesPaddling #RiverKayaking #MichiganWaterTrails #Paddle90 #MyAdventureChallenge
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