Dragon Trail Flooding Damage

damage to Dragon Trail (photo from Michigan's Dragon at Hardy Dam)

from Michigan's Dragon at Hardy Dam

Dragon Trail Update 4/28/26: The Good, the Bad, and The Ugly!

The Good: 37 miles of the Dragon are rideable! Yea!

The Bad: There are a few areas, mostly drains and a few water saturated areas in that 37 miles. Expect to get dirty.

The Ugly: Section #7 is closed to users until catastrophic failures on the trail caused by the massive rainfall in early Aprilare repaired. There are side hills sliding downhill, washouts and tree root balls in the trail. There also are mudslides from uphill that cover the trail with MUD. The cycling group is working with the trail builder on corrective measures but they need time. Time to plan, time to dry out, time to organize. The best thing you can do now is be patient and stay out of section #7's closed area. Please don't be that person who ignores the trail closed sign and adds to the problems!

Volunteer trail days will be scheduled as soon as the plan is in place. Thanks!

See more pictures and detour around Section 7


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Use Caution and Common Sense in Flooded Areas

flooded road (photo by jhy)

from a news release of the Michigan DNR

As a record volume of water driven by snowmelt and spring rain brings water levels in Michigan to unusually high levels, many oads and trails throughout the western part of the state are flooded, some closed.

The situation is approaching critical at the Cheboygan Dam with emergency measures being taken to try to divert water around the dam, but even more rain is expected this week, and people in the danger zone are being told to prepare to evacuate if water overtops the dam, as failure may be possible. However, the Cheboygan County Sheriffs Department urges residents to rely on official sources of information.

What are good safety practices with this high water?

Resist the urge to fish, explore or put a watercraft in floodwaters or swollen rivers.

“Higher waters can cause fast-flowing currents, deeper and colder water, unpredictable conditions and more debris floating under the water’s surface, especially on rivers,” said Jen Wolf, acting assistant chief of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Law Enforcement Division.

Throughout the season, any boat, regardless of size, must be equipped with a personal flotation device for each person on board.

Here are additional tips from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for dealing with standing or flowing spring floodwaters:
• Do not walk, wade or try to swim in floodwaters. Floodwaters may be contaminated with bacteria, hazardous waste or chemicals.
• Floodwaters may cover live, downed electrical lines which could cause a fatal shock.
• Stay away from lakes and rivers when water is high. With soft ground, you can lose your footing and slip into water.
• If you are driving and water is over the road, turn around. Six inches of water is enough to lose control of your vehicle.

Additional tips for hikers-
• be extremely cautious at water crossings that must be forded
• consider what might have washed into normally clean water sources- you may need to prefilter water, and agricultural runoff can pollute streams with nitrates which many filters will not remove
• if roads to trailheads are under water, change your plans.
• remember that hypothermia can set in faster if you are wet

The Cheboygan, AuSable and Manistee Rivers are all under flood watch conditions.

See more safety info from the Michigan DNR


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See Get Off The Couch