White Pine Trail Gets New Bridge at Paris

White Pine bridge at Paris, MI (photo from Friends of the White Pine Trail)

from West Michigan Trails

Two skilled crane operators swung two multi-ton bridge pieces which were then connected to form a 90 ft. bridge over Buckhorn Creek in Paris. This is on the 92-mile White Pine multi-use trail, as it passes through the village of Paris, Michigan.

The Buckhorn Dam, a failing culvert and tons of dirt were removed prior to placing the bridge sections. It will be several more weeks before work is complete and the bridge will be open for use.

Several historic sites are nearby including a 125-year-old ice house and Michigan's second fish hatchery, built in 1884.

Interpretation will be completed next summer, and the town's replica of the Eiffel Tower has already been moved to a location adjacent to the trail. The tower was constructed from bed frames originally used by hatchery employees.

See Buckhorn Dam to Be Removed


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Hardy Dam Fate May Rest on Repairs to Spillway

Hardy Dam Spillway (photo by jhy)

from Croton Crawlers

The Hardy Dam on the Muskegon River (Michigan) creates the 4000-acre Hardy Dam Pond, the centerpiece of the recently completed 40-mile Dragon Trail. The identity of the trail is linked to the dragon-shaped impoundment, and Newaygo and Mecosta Counties have worked for 15 years and invested millions of dollars on this recreational destination.

But the fates of the 13 dams that Consumers Energy may sell to Confluence Hydro are all linked to the Hardy spillway. Consumers Energy has asked to delay repairs to the Hardy Dam spillway until 2028. Construction was supposed to begin in May 2026, but regulations allow for a time lapse for review and approval of the sale.

Regulators have still not decided if they will approve the plan to sell the dams to Confluence Hydro LLC, a subsidiary of a private equity firm, Hull Street Energy. Consumers will buy back all energy generated for at least 30 years.

However, the needed repairs to the 95-year-old Hardy Dam have raised concerns. Consumers Energy would continue to benefit from the power generation without having to do the necessary repairs.

Consumers says if the sale is denied their plan is to remove the dams. “If the sale is rejected, Consumers Energy likely will not proceed with the spillway project,” said Brian Wheeler the spokesperson for Consumers Energy. At utility hearings, CE testified, "We would then start decommissioning Hardy Dam and all of our dams.”

The spillway project is the largest single liability affecting the sale of the dams. According to federal standards, the dam is in satisfactory condition, but carries a "high hazard." This means that there would be probable loss of life in event of failure. Current regulations require dams to pass a safety test of the "probable maximum flood," and Hardy dam does not meet that standard. A new auxillary spillway for emergency overflow must be constructed.

Hardy Dam accounts for about one-third of all the hydro-energy generated by all 13 dams, but the income can not cover the cost of the spillway upgrade. In fact, this requirement was part of what initiated the plan to sell the dams.

Confluence Hydro has agreed to do the work, but the sale will not be approved until the responsible party is clearly identified and a timeline is laid out.

The Dragon Trail has received national recognition as a recreation success, and it is indeed a beautiful trail. It is open to non-motorized uses, and although the trail is completely open, supporting facilities such as campgrounds and additional access points are still in the works. Losing the reservoir would not destroy the trail, but much of the scenic beauty would be lost and water-based recreation would be drastically changed.

See Dam Removal Debates Continue


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Buckhorn Dam to be Removed in 2026

Events Calendar

Buckhorn Dam (photo from the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly)

compiled from several sources.

In Mecosta County, in the village of Paris, Michigan, the deteriorating Buckhorn Dam near the mouth of Buckhorn Creek will be removed in 2026. The Muskegon River Watershed Assembly (MRWA) has announced that funding for restoration of Buckhorn Creek has reached the goal of raising $2.26 million. This amount covers all aspects of the project from pre-planning to completion.

The White Pine multi-use trail passes over the dam, and this will be replaced with an 80-foot bridge. The bridge must be built to standards that will support heavy trail maintenance equipment and emergency vehicles.

Removal of the dam will reconnect the creek with the Muskegon River and restore fish passage up the creek. For years, the DNR has stocked brown and rainbow trout a short way downstream from this point on the Muskegon River. This will allow fish to find cool water refuge in summer months.

The White Pine Trail in that section will be detoured to streets during this process.

The project has taken five years to bring to fruition. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Mecosta County Park Commission, and the Friends of the White Pine Trail have collaborated. The dam was originally built to create a mill pond. MRWA director Paul Haan says the pond supplied ice to the nearby fish hatchery. Now the dam is badly deteriorated.

The 2.4 miles of Buckhorn Creek’s cold-water resources will be reconnected to the Muskegon River. The project is expected to be completed by November 2026.

See an article in the Lake County Star


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Portions of the Dragon Trail Groomed for Winter Use

map of groomed trails (from Mecosta County)

compiled from several sources

The 45-mile Dragon Trail around Hardy Dam Pond in Newaygo and Mecosta Counties, Michigan, has a total of 13 miles that are groomed for multi-use winter adventures. The trail remains open for hikers, bicyclists, skiers and snowshoes. As such, the grooming is not focused on one user group.

Bikes should have tires a minimum of 3.8" wide (fat tire bikes). Hikers should stay to the side of the trail. Showshoes and skis are welcome on the groomed trail.

Sections that are groomed are shown highlighted in green on the graphic, which includes the Brower Loop and Section 5 which runs between Mecosta County's Brower Park and Davis Bridge Park. Parking areas of each of these parks are plowed and will be maintained on weekdays throughout the winter. Vault Toilets are available at both locations, with a hand water pump available for use at Davis Bridge.

For parking at Newaygo and Mecosta County Parks, a permit is required. Each county has its own permit. One permit does NOT cover all parking along the loop. 2026 annual Vehicle Permits are now available! Standard vehicle permits are $35 each with regional passes available for $60 each. Stop by to purchase a permit in person at the Parks Administration office in Paris, MI, Mon-Fri 8:30-5:00, or call 231-832-3246 to purchase over the phone! Or drop your fee in the fee pipe at Brower or Davis Bridge Parks and your permit will be mailed out to you!


See the complete rules for Trail Etiquette


See the main website for The Dragon Trail

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