Michigan Roadside Attractions: Fish Heads at Riverfront Park, Newaygo
Michigan Roadside Attractions is a periodic feature on Travel the Mitten that will explore the many interesting things that can be found on the highways, byways and back roads of Michigan, ranging from the interesting to unusual.
Newaygo is well-known for its outdoor recreation opportunities on and near the Muskegon River. The river has history dating back centuries, as it was prominent in fur trading and later in lumbering. Currently, it is a popular destination for tubing, kayaking, fishing, and more. Riverfront Park (which is split into two phases) has beautiful space on the river, a playground for kids, and a hiking trail that connects its two parts. Riverfront Park Phase 2 is also home to Trout Garden, a set of fish heads sculptures made of Ferro concrete by sculptor Lori Hough.
Riverfront Park Phase 2 is located right by Wisner Canoes, your home for canoe, kayak, and tube rentals for Muskegon River exploration. There’s easy access to the river for water recreation or fishing, a large wooden overlook platform, and picnic tables. The fish heads sculptures are located near the southwest corner of the parking lot.
This part of Riverfront Park connects to Phase 1 via a paved walking trail. At the other end there is another playground, picnic tables and a covered pavilion, charcoal grills, and more overlook platforms on the river. The walking path is between a quarter mile and half mile depending on starting and ending points, and it is smooth the entire way. Bicycling, running, and rollerblading are a few other activities people enjoy here.
We recently visited this park in the fall, and the colorful trees along the river were popping with red and orange colors. The old train bridge over the river is a great backdrop for photos. If you find yourself passing through Newaygo, make the quick stop at Riverfront Park and check out the fish heads sculptures!
Other Michigan Roadside Attractions with a fish theme include:
National Trout Memorial in Kalkaska
World’s Largest Brown Trout Sculpture in Baldwin
