1. Newaygo State Park offers a 935-acre lake for swimming.
2. There are no designated swim areas, so visitors can enjoy the water anywhere they like.
3. The park does not provide lifeguards; swimmers should exercise caution and safety measures.
4. Swimming is permitted during regular state park hours from 8 am to 10 pm daily.
5. Visitors often combine their swimming with boating or fishing activities on Hardy Dam Pond's waters.
The park's protected harbor and easy access to the Hardy Dam Pond attract many recreational boaters, water skiers and anglers each year. Water levels on the reservoir can be maintained at a high level in contrast to the declining water levels of the Great Lakes. The access site parking lot holds about 65 vehicle/ trailer combinations and alleviates traffic congestion on the park roads.
The primary game fish are walleye, largemouth and smallmouth bass. A wide variety of panfish are also available in the Muskegon River.