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2023 Map of Big Bend

Name: 2023 Topographic Map of Big Bend
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2023
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2023

About this map

The Muskegon River meanders through the heart of this landscape, its course widened by the waters of Hardy Dam Pond. This reach of the river, located at the junction of Newaygo and Mecosta Counties, defines a region of dense woodlands within the Manistee National Forest and a high concentration of inland kettle lakes. The settlement of Big Bend sits on the western shore of the reservoir, serving as a focal point for the surrounding rural road network that includes Old State Rd and Newcosta Ave.

Local history is preserved in numerous rural burying grounds, including Fairview Cem, Zions Cem, and the Goodwell Township Cem to the northwest. To the south, Oxbow Park occupies a significant bend in the river, while smaller water bodies like Pearson Lake, Mast Lake, and Lee Lake are scattered across the glacial terrain, often fed by tributary streams such as Bennett Creek and South Mitchell Creek.