North Country
National Scenic Trail
North Country
National Scenic Trail
From the grandeur of the Adirondack Mountains in New York, the trail meanders westward
through the hardwood forests of Pennsylvania, through the countryside of Ohio and southern
Michigan, along the shores of the Great Lakes, and through the glacial-carved forests, lakes,
and streams of northern Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. The trail ends in the vast plains of
North Dakota. The diversity of landscapes, and scenic and historic features along the trail is
perhaps its most appealing quality.
Return to North Country Trail Index The North Country NST is administered by the National Park Service in cooperation with other Federal, State, and local agencies, private organizations, and landowners who host, develop, or maintain portions of the trail. When Congress authorized the North Country NST it was anticipated that it would be approximately 3,200 miles long. As work progresses to complete the trail, it appears as though it will be closer to 4,200 miles long. The long-term
goal for the North Country NST is to establish a continuous trail that meets the federal
legislative intent. It is to be developed and managed as a premier hiking trail, nationally
significant in its scenic and recreational qualities and closed to motorized use. Segments which
meet this intent and other criteria can be certified by the National Park Service as part of the
North Country NST.
Since 1980 the National Park Service has certified 1,496 miles as official segments of the trail. Another 600-800 miles of the trail is located and constructed but not yet certified. Long (100-300 miles) completed segments of the trail exist in New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan , and North Dakota. Each of the other states have moderate length (40-100 miles) completed segments. In many cases, the certified segments are separated by only a short distance. Long-distance hikes are currently feasible by following a combination of certified trail segments, existing trail segments, and nearby multi-use trails or roads.
The North Country NST exists as much for the enjoyment of the casual walker as it does for the
challenge of hikers who travel its entire length. Whether used for an afternoon of walking, a day
of cross country skiing, or a week or month(s) of backpacking, adventure is found along
forested pathways, marshes and bogs, waterfalls, sand dunes, tallgrass prairies, old logging
railroad grades, lighthouses, Revolutionary War forts, and small rural communities. From the
Missouri River in North Dakota to the shore of Lake Champlain in New York, diverse features
along the trail communicate how the land was formed, how it has been settled, and how it has
been used and altered by mankind. You can help establish, promote, and protect the North Country NST by joining or supporting
the efforts of these organizations or local groups working on the trail. Membership and other
information can be obtained by viewing their homepage on the WWW or writing to them at the
addresses shown below. Landowners along the trail can make a significant contribution by
giving permission for the trail to cross their lands or by donating lands or easements for the trail.
Financial contributions can help support the activities associated with establishing and
maintaining the trail. Donations of money, land, and easements may qualify as tax-deductible
gifts. For more information contact the National Park Service or the cooperating organizations.
New York - In New York, the route of the North Country NST coincides with the route of the Finger Lakes Trail for much of the distance across the state. Currently, the only segments of the North Country Trail that are certified in New York are various segments along the Finger Lakes Trail. The Finger Lakes Trail Conference (FLTC), P.O. Box 18048, Rochester, NY 14618-0048 serves as the local trail manager. The main Finger Lakes Trail is over 540 miles long, of which 158 are currently certified North Country NST. Eventually, the North Country NST will follow the Finger Lakes Trail for about 390 miles. This entire length is already a continuously marked route but not all is certified due to the fact that there are some on-road stretches and in some cases landowners have not applied for certification status. FLTC operates a trail shop and publishes a complete set of maps for their entire trail system.. Pennsylvania - In Pennsylvania there are several short segments of trail within various state parks, and an 87-mile segment within the Allegheny National Forest. The Cook Forest State Park/Clear Creek State Forest segment joins with the Allegheny National Forest segment for a total of about 97 miles of certified trail. All of these join with the North Country/Finger Lakes Trail in New York. Elsewhere, the longest segment is in the McConnells Mill SP--Moraine SP--Jennings ELC area. When writing to the Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks, the corrected address is P.O. Box 8551, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8551, attention Ed Deaton. Ask for the maps of North Country NST in Cook Forest, Moraine, and McConnells Mill State Parks. Ignoring certification status, a total of almost 450 miles of continuous foot trail is in place
straddling the New York-Pennsylvania border--from where the North Country NST first joins the
Finger Lakes Trail, near Cazenovia, NY to the west edge of Cook Forest State Park, PA. Ohio - There are 293 miles of trail in Ohio which are certified segments of the North Country NST. Most of these miles are in short, often disconnected segments but the Little Miami Scenic Park and the Miami and Erie Canal Trail (certified segments of the North Country NST) are each 40-50 miles in length. However, these are developed as multi-use trails where bicycles are permitted. Most of the Little Miami and portions of the Miami and Erie are paved and thus wider than a typical hiking trail. Still, they are quite wooded and offer a feeling of seclusion--especially the southern portion of the Little Miami. Completed segments in the Wayne National Forest, Shawnee State Forest, and other large public lands offer moderate lengths of more typical hiking trail. In Ohio, much of the route of the North Country Trail follows the route of the Buckeye Trail. The Buckeye Trail Association
(BTA), P.O. Box 254, Worthington, Ohio 43085 serves as the local trail manager for much of the distance. BTA operates a trail shop and publishes a complete set of maps for the entire route in Ohio. Michigan - There are 581 miles of trail in Michigan which are certified--more than in any other state. In the Upper Peninsula, the best long distance hikes can be found in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, Ottawa and Hiawatha National Forests, and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (NL). Additional segments in Lake Superior State Forest provide continuous trail for most of the way from Pictured Rocks to the Mackinaw Bridge. Portions of the state forest segment are not in the best of repair but a 1998 trail crew worked between the Two Hearted and Blind Sucker Rivers. They now report this segment to be in good shape and a very beautiful area. A short, but pretty, 7.5-mile segment is located in Craig Lake State Park. Some feel that the segment within Pictured Rocks NL may be the most scenic of the entire trail. This 43-mile segment parallels the shore of Lake Superior, sometimes at beach level and sometimes on top of the high, colorful, sandstone cliffs offering spectacular views across and down into the clear waters of Lake Superior. More people may be encountered along this segment, because it is within an already popular destination park and because it is so convenient to hikers due to the shuttle service provided. In the Lower Peninsula, the longest completed segment is in the Manistee National Forest. The sandy floor of the Manistee provides a very nice walking experience for about 125 miles, through the open woodlands, rolling hills, and along several beautiful rivers. During the summer of 1994, two people hiked the entire trail--from New York to North Dakota. They thought the Manistee segment was one of the best. Other completed segments are found in Wilderness State Park (just south of the Straits of Mackinaw), Mackinaw State Forest, Rogue River State Game Area, Yankee Springs State Recreation Area, and on mostly private land in Kalamazoo County. Wisconsin - There are four certified segments, totaling 79.3 miles, in Wisconsin--discussed from east to west. In Iron County, a 5.1-mile segment of the Uller Ski Trail system is certified. This segment begins about 2-miles north of the community of Iron Belt and ends just opposite the entrance to Weber Lake County Park. It passes through rugged terrain in the Gogebic Iron Range where a couple of short spur trails lead to very nice vistas. A dozen miles to the west, the 4.4-mile segment of trail through Copper Falls State Park follows well maintained park trails and offers close views of a number of spectacular waterfalls. For a map of the Copper Falls segment, contact Kent Goeckerman, Superintendent, Copper Falls State Park, Rt. 1-Box 17AA, Mellen, WI 54546 (715-274-5123). The Copper Falls segment connects with 2.2 miles of trail that is managed by the City of Mellen. This segment takes you to the west side of town where it is then less than a two-mile road walk to the third certified segment--in the Chequamegon National Forest. The Chequamegon segment begins two miles west of Mellen and ends at Bayfield County Highway A--south of Iron River, Wisconsin. At 60 miles, this very pretty segment is the longest continuous segment in the State. It passes through two small Wilderness Areas and offers one the opportunity to fish along the way in numerous small lakes and streams. While the Chequamegon segment is often remote and offers some challenges, it is still a moderately easy trail due to the fact that there are no large elevation changes such as one would experience in a more mountainous area. Considered together, beginning at the north side of Copper Falls State Park, one could plan a very nice 68-mile hike (with only a two-mile road walk) that ended on County A.
Farther west in the state, the fourth certified segment is located in Brule River State Forest--near Solon Springs. Beginning at Douglas County Highway S, about 1-mile south of the Brule River, the trail progresses southwesterly for 7-miles to Douglas County Highway A. The last 2.1 miles is along a historic portage that has been used for hundreds of years. Along this portion eight commemorative stones name the early explorers, traders, and others who passed through the area. The address for Brule River State Forest is Box 125, Brule, WI 54820.
Minnesota - There are currently 87 miles of trail certified in Minnesota. A 3.1-mile segment in Jay Cooke State Park allows hikers to observe the rugged, water eroded gorge of the St. Louis River. Farther west, the longest segment in the State, is the 68-mile segment in the Chippewa National Forest. This very beautiful segment passes through a variety of terrain and vegetative types offering views of wetlands, lakes, and streams as it skirts south of Leech Lake--the third largest lake in the state. A relatively short distance to the west of the Chippewa is Itasca State Park--the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi. A 13-mile segment, which passes many small but beautiful lakes (some with walk-in campsites) is completed in the park. Continuing from the west boundary of Itasca State Park, recently certified trail on Clearwater County Forest lands extends another 2.9 miles to the west-ending at Gardiner Lake. Trail volunteers are working to extend the trail west of Gardiner Lake, and also to complete the missing link east of Itasca, through Paul Bunyan State Forest to the Chippewa National Forest. North Dakota - Visitors to sections of the trail in North Dakota will experience the vastness of the northern prairies. There are two rather long segments of certified trail --a 25-mile segment crossing the Sheyenne National Grassland (NG) near Lisbon, and a 147-mile segment following the New Rockford and McCluskey Canal corridors. This long segment begins 1-mile east of Highway 281 (near New Rockford) and ends at the eastern shore of Lake Audubon--crossing the Lonetree Wildlife Management Area near Harvey. Along either of these segments, one can see native grasses and forbs and sight great flocks of geese, ducks and sandhill cranes as they migrate through the area. Grazing is a legitimate use in the Sheyenne NG so cattle will probably be encountered in this area. The trail through Lonetree will probably be the area where one is most likely to feel that they are experiencing the prairie as it was when the pioneers passed through--cattle grazing is not allowed. As much as 70 percent of the 30,000-acre area may eventually be restored to native prairie. The trail passes near booming grounds for prairie chicken and sharptail grouse so the trail user may have a unique opportunity to observe or hear these birds. However, one should use extra caution to not disturb them during mating season. For information on appropriate behavior and other information about this segment of the trail, contact the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, Lonetree Wildlife Management Area, RR2 - Box 32, Harvey, ND, 58341.
General Description
On October 2, 1968, President Lyndon Johnson signed into law the National Trails System Act. This
law set in motion a process to create a network of national scenic and national historic trails.
The act established two national scenic trails--the Appalachian NST and the
Pacific Crest NST --and directed Federal agencies to conduct studies of 14 other routes, including the North
Country Trail route. The North Country NST was authorized and added to the National Trails
System on March 5, 1980. Today, there are eight national scenic trails in various stages of
development.
Return to North Country Trail IndexPermitted Uses
The North Country NST is intended to be primarily a hiking trail. The Appalachian NST
generally serves as a model or pattern for the concept of a national scenic trail. The AT's strong
image as a footpath through primarily wooded areas sets a tone for others--the simple footpath
and outstanding scenery are considered unifying elements. All segments of the North Country
NST are open for travel by foot for walking, hiking, and backpacking. Other non-motorized
activities such as cross country skiing and snowshoeing are permitted in most locations. Some
isolated segments permit bicycle and horse use but these uses are generally accommodated on
rail-trail segments, other short sections of hardened surface, or on those segments that are
parts of previously established multiple use trails that have been incorporated into the North
Country Trail route.
Return to North Country Trail IndexCreating and Completing the Trail - How Can You Help?
The story of the North Country Trail has only begun to be written by dedicated citizen
volunteers, public officials, and private landowners captivated by the vision of the trail and the
many experiences it will offer to those who follow it in quest of the North Country's scenic
treasures. You can help write that story by becoming involved as a volunteer, and by joining in the
effort to build, promote, and maintain sections of the trail. Several major trail organizations
assist the National Park Service and other public land management agencies in developing,
protecting and maintaining the North Country NST. The
North Country Trail Association was formed in 1981 to coordinate the massive volunteer
effort necessary to establish and maintain segments across private lands, as well as assist public agencies establish segments on their
lands. The association works closely with the National Park Service in promoting development
and use of the trail. The National Park Service and the association work closely with two major
State-level organizations dedicated to building and maintaining the North Country Trail in their
States: the Buckeye Trail Association in Ohio
and the Finger Lakes Trail Conference
in New York.
Return to North Country Trail IndexBrief State by State Description
There are some premier sections of completed trail in each of the seven trail states. The
following information is constantly evolving and will provide only a taste of what is available.
Trail in Hocking Hills State Park-Ohio is closed--Spring rains in southeastern Ohio have caused extensive damage to the trail In Hocking Hills State Park. Until further notice, the section of the North Country/Buckeye Trail between the Upper Falls and Cedar Falls is closed due to safety considerations. Many bridges have been washed out and others are unsafe. Do not enter the area. At this time, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources does not know how long the trail will remain closed. In the meantime, it is suggested that hikers follow the Horseman's Bypass. For updated information, call the Hocking Hills State Park, 740-385-6841.
Newly certified trail--Total certified mileage is now 1,496.2 miles.
Updates to Brief State by State Descriptions-Extensive updates have been incorporated into the descriptions for Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota.
Return to North Country Trail IndexAdditional Information about the North Country Trail
North Country Trail Association-- North Country Trail Association is a nonprofit organization with a national membership dedicated to promoting, establishing and maintaining the trail. They publish a newsletter five times per year and operate a trail shop selling a variety of trail items including maps, books, t-shirts, trail patches, mugs, etc. For an NCTA brochure and information about activities, membership, annual meetings, local chapter activities, volunteer projects and trail shop items contact the North Country Trail Association, 49 Monroe Center NW, Suite 200B, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503, (616)454-5506. EMail is NCTAssoc@AOL.com.
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