SWAN CREEK POND and SWAN CREEK, ALLEGAN COUNTY

Swan Creek Pond is an impoundment of Swan Creek. The dam is on the north side of the lake. 118th Avenue sits on top of the dam. The spillway is under the 118th Avenue bridge. The lake is surrounded by Allegan State Game Area, formerly known as Allegan State Forest. Back in the day, there was a state forest campground, Pine Point, on the lake. It became a Allegan County park. Now, all that is left of the park is the primitive boat launch. The entrance to the landing is on the west side of 44th Street, between 118th Avenue and 117th Avenue.

After some research in January of 2022, I found that the dam was slated for removal. Details were unavailable because the removal was still in the planning stages. I was told by a MDNR representative that removal could begin in 2023. I checked again in 2025 and the removal is still in the planning stages. I don’t know how this will effect kayaking on this scenic waterway. I advise paddling it soon, before it is gone forever.

I haven’t visited Swan Creek Pond in several years so I decided to give it a try in July of 2020. You can imagine my surprise when I found the lake covered with duckweed, algae, and other aquatic vegetation!

I thought about going to the nearby Lake Allegan instead. After consideration, I decided to stay with Swan Creek Pond. I was glad that I did. The vegetation did not cover the whole lake. Although the water surface on parts of the lake was not very scenic, the beautiful heavily wooded hillsides surrounding the lake made up for it.

The mostly hardwood forest is interspersed with huge pine trees.

The lake is shaped like a T. The top of the T is parallel to the the dam and 118th Avenue.

The boat launch is at the east end of the top of the T. The west end of the top of the T is a long cove with a unnamed creek channel flowing through it.

I headed west in the top of the T, up the unnamed creek channel. The channel is easy to follow and is covered with floating slop.

The slop gradually gives way to a clear creek channel.

There is a beaver lodge just off the channel, on the north side. My progress ended at the beaver dam.

I next headed south along the stem of the T, following the Swan Creek channel.

Small waterways branch off the main creek channel and are fun to explore.

I followed one shoreline waterway for a long distance.

I returned to the Swan Creek channel and continued south. Swan Creek gradually emerges from the pond.

Some parts of the creek are wide and shallow with a sand bottom.

You will have to walk your kayak through some of these shallow spots. After the shallows, the creek gets narrow and will require some maneuvering.

Soon, downed trees will block your way. I did not try to go any farther. It looked futile.

I headed back downstream toward the landing.

The scenic beauty of this waterway is unsurpassed.