WHAT CROTON DAM FLOAT TRIPS HAS TO OFFER YOU OUR VALUED CUSTOMER
Big & Little Muskegon River Canoe Trip Information
Raft and Tube Trip Information
Overnight and Weekend Canoe/Camping Trip Information
Camping Information
Guided River Trips and Lifeguard Information
Car Spotting Information
Group Discount Information
Fishing Information
Hunting Information
About the Newaygo Area
What Others Have To Say About Croton Dam Float Trips
Owners Home Page
What To Take On Wilderness Overnight Canoe Trips!!! Excellent Info here!!!
Hot Topics Page!~~~Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Local Weather Forecast for the Newaygo Area
Send Your Friends A Postcard From the Newaygo Area
Fresh Fish Recipes
Michigan Interactive ~~ Michigan Out of Doors
MEPPS Home Page ~~~ Best Lure for Trout on the Muskegon River
Welcome To Croton Dam Float Trips and a NEW MILLINEUM!!!
Time to join the computer generation here and bring our services to the internet world.
Croton Dam Float Trips, Inc. is located about 100 yards west of Beautiful Croton Dam on the Big Muskegon River. The Dam is one of a series of concrete and earthen dams build along the Muskegon River Watershed which begins in northern Michigan at Houghton Lake and extends southwestward where it eventually reaches Lake Michigan via Muskegon Lake at Muskegon, Michigan.
The Muskegon River is one of the cleanest rivers in the United States and is used primarily for water sport recreation. Mainly fishing and canoeing. The river is a Class 1 canoe river which means it is primarily scenic, and has no white water! It is a good river for the beginning canoer to learn the basics of canoeing, as it is generally slow and not very deep. This does not mean that the river is not powerful and presents its dangers as any water way does...however, this river is safe as far as rivers go.
Wildlife abounds on her shores, over her head, and of course below her surface! Along her shores you will perhaps be fortunate enough to see deer, red fox, a bobcat, squirrels, or lazy turtles sunning themselves on the logfalls and rocks along her banks. Over head watch for ducks, geese, great blue herons, song birds, and the pride of the nation, the bald eagle our National Bird. Below her surface you will find fish of many kinds as well as clams and crayfish.
At Croton Dam Float Trips, Inc. we are proud to promote this river to the general public. Please enjoy and respect the river so that its uses will be around for our grandchildren and great grandchildren!
We offer basically three types of canoe trips for the visitor to enjoy. (1) Little Muskegon River Trips which are offered by reservation only. These trips begin about 10 miles east of Croton Dam on a small branch of the Muskegon River. The trips are wild in some places as there are a lot of trees and brush occasionally blocking the river. At the end of your trip you have to canoe across the backwaters of Croton Dam which is a large body of water. In the afternoon this deep pond is very windy as the winds tend to pick up as the day progresses. We do not recommend this trip to those with young children or the beginner canoer. For prices and other information please go to the link about canoe trip information, below.
(2) Our second type of canoe trips are our most popular. They are on the Big Muskegon River and begin just below Croton Dam. Our most popular canoe trip is 8 miles long and takes about two hours. We put you in with your equipment (we furnish paddles, cushions, and life jackets for your use with the rental price) just below Croton Dam and you are on your merry way! We pick you up at the end of your journey via van or bus and bring you back to your car which you have left in our parking lot! Our next most popular trip begins the same place and ends 16 miles down river. It takes about 4 hours to canoe this trip. It is most popular with our larger canoe groups who make a day of this stopping for lunch on the river. Our next canoe trip is 32 miles and takes a little over 8 hours to canoe. This trip is popular to fisherman who rent the canoe for the day and we pick them up at an appointed time with their gear and hopefully some trout or walleye.
(3) Our third type of river trip is for adults and families who really enjoy the out of doors. It is either a 32 or a 40 mile overnight or weekend canoe/camping trip along the river. There are several options and prices to this trip depending upon length and wildreness camping abilities. Please feel free to call any week day to discuss some of these options with the owners or staff on hand!
At Croton Dam Float Trips Inc. We also offer 4 person raft trips for families. These are lazy lay back trips which are also very popular with large family groups. We offer three basic raft trips for the river rafter. Our first and most popular is a 3 hour trip which goes 8 miles down the river. Our second trip is for the person who really wants to relax and is a 6 hour trip which goes 16 miles down river. We also will rent a raft out on occasion to take onto Croton Pond...depending upon how busy the day is. This is a hour rental fee.
During the hot days of summer, our most popular and refreshing trip is of course our tubes. We use Sevelour Orange double chambered tubes with handles for river floating. We also have old-fashioned black tubes available to rent for putting your cooler in to float along behind you at a lower rate. This is the way to go if it is a hot day and you are looking for a reasonable priced outing to take your families on. Again, as with all our trips...transportation back to your vehicles is provided. Our tube trips take about 4 hours and go 8 miles down river. We do offer a longer tube trip which goes 16 miles but will take almost 8 hours to complete.
Camping at Croton Dam Float Trips is primative. 10 of our sites have electricity. There is a hand pump for water. And regretfully, outhouses for toilet facilities. In the peak summer months a porta-john is also available. Each site is provided with a picnic table and a firering for those late night campfires. The sites are all wooded and very cool in the summer. There is a playground for the children off to one end where new equipment is added yearly. Ice is available. Firewood can also be purchased by the giant wheelbarrow load...1 load will usually last almost two nights...and the price is cheap...$5.00...
Due to the popularity of this campground we recommend you call for reservations early for holiday and mid summer weekends. Last summer we were booked full every weekend from fathers day until almost Labor Day! Families have a good time here and return year after year!
SPECIAL EVENTS AT THE CAMPGROUND FOR THE 2000 CAMPING SEASON!!!!
CAMPGROUND GARAGE SALE WEEKEND!!!!!
JUNE 10 & June 11 ***normal camping costs for this weekend.
Will be publicized in local papers and signs out front.
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED!
CHRISTMAS IN JULY!!!
Weekend of July 21
Normal Camping fees for this weekend.
Decorate your campsite as if it was Christmas!!! Prizes given to the most seasonal campsite!
Reservatioons required.
END OF SUMMER BASH!!!
Weekend of August 18
Camp for 1/2 price this weekend and relax in the
fast fading heat of summer.
Canoes, rafts, and tubes available to campers upon
reservation for major discounts.
Camp pot-luck on saturday evening with hot dogs and brats provided by the owners of float trips.
Plan on bringing a dish to pass...renew camp friendships
and make new ones.
Talent show around a large group campfire on saturday night...with lovely prizes of course!!!
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED.
FALL GARAGE SALE!!!
Weekend of September 8
Camp for 1/2 price.
Bring your garage sale treasures and try to sell them
before the long winter sets in!
Reservations required.
We offer car spotting services for fishermen on the river as well as canoers who bring their own canoes. Please call and inquire if you would like these services.
Other services provided upon request are guided river trips and lifeguards during the early season for scout groups and the like.
Please follow our links here for information and pricing for all our services. Each area has useful information for you to help have an enjoyable day in the Northern Michigan Wilderness.
Hope to see you this summer. Our business offers the largest number of various river trips on the Muskegon River. We have the lowest rates for the trip which you are getting. And out riverrats who work for us are friendly and courteous! Service is our number one goal!
Our Address is:
5355 S. Croton Road
Newaygo, Michigan
49337
Our Phone Numbers are:
1-231-652-6037
1-231-652-6041
1-231-834-9403
1-616-834-9416
On line reservations are available.
E-mail
crotondamfloattrips@yahoo.com.
Just request the date you would like equipment...the amount of equipment you would like...the time you plan to arrive...and of course the trip you are interested in receiving. Then either leave an e-mail address where you can be written back or a phone number where you can be reached.
Thank you for visiting the Home Page of CROTON DAM FLOAT TRIPS, INC. We hope that you come here often, as updates will be forthcoming.
Thank You,
Sue A. Rup ~~~ Owner ~ Croton Dam Float Trips, Inc.
Roger D. Hosbach ~~~ Business Manager ~ Croton Dam Float Trips, Inc.
John Erard ~~~ Caretaker ~ Croton Dam Float Trips, Inc.
Click on any of the information links above to find out the information you are seeking.
