North Country Trail
Encyclopedia
The North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT), which stretches approximately 4600 miles (7,403 km) from Crown Point
in eastern New York
to Lake Sakakawea
in central North Dakota
in the United States
, is the longest of the eleven National Scenic Trail
s authorized by Congress
. Like its sister trails, it was designed to provide peaceful recreational opportunities in some of the America's outstanding landscapes. As of 2010, over 2,100 miles have been certified.
The NCT is administered by the National Park Service
, managed by federal, state, and local agencies, and built and maintained primarily by the volunteers of the North Country Trail Association (NCTA) and its partners. The 28 chapters of the NCTA, its 3,200+ members and each affiliate organization have assumed responsibility for trail construction and maintenance of a specific section of the NCT.
, Pennsylvania
, Ohio
, Michigan
(where it traverses the Lower Peninsula from the Ohio
border to Mackinaw City
and the Upper Peninsula from St. Ignace
to Ironwood
), Wisconsin
, Minnesota
and North Dakota
, the NCT connects more than 160 public land units, including parks, forests, scenic attractions, wildlife refuges, game areas, and historic sites. The list includes:
Other federal facilities along the NCT include:
The NCT also threads its way through 57 state parks and state historic areas, 47 state forests, 22 state game areas, seven state water conservation districts and at least ten county forests and parks. Several hundred miles of trail eventually will also cross private land thanks to owners who have granted easements across their property.
The center point of the trail is located near the NCTA headquarters in Lowell, Michigan
.
(New York), Baker
(Pennsylvania), and Buckeye
(Ohio) Trails. Their sponsoring organizations became affiliates of the North Country Trail Association and agreed to maintain those portions of their trails to be used by the North Country National Scenic Trail. The Northwestern Ohio Rails-to-Trails Association joined later to help create a link between the Buckeye Trail in Ohio and newly-constructed trail in Michigan; the Superior Hiking Trail Association and the Kekekabic Trail Club joined when it was proposed that the North Country National Scenic Trail route through Minnesota be changed to include an already-completed section of the Superior Hiking Trail
along Lake Superior
, and the Kekekabic
and Border Route Trail
s along the Canadian border in Minnesota's arrowhead region
.
, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing
. Other non-motorized uses, such as bicycling and horseback riding are generally limited to areas specifically designed to withstand such use.
About 10,000 people are involved with the NCT in one way or another, either through membership in the North Country Trail Association or membership in one of eight organizations affiliated with the NCTA: the Finger Lakes Trail Conference, the Buckeye Trail Association, the Superior Hiking Trail Association, the Kekekabic Trail Club, the Northwestern Ohio Rails-to-Trails Association, the Butler Outdoor Club, the Rachael Carson Trails Conservancy and the Friends of the Jordan River National Fish Hatchery.
1. Carolyn Hoffman was the first person to attempt to follow the trail. In 1978, before it was actually authorized, she hiked and bicycled the approximate route
2. Peter Wolfe was the first hiker, completing it in sections from 1974–1980
3. Chet Fromm hiked the trail in sections from 1992–1995
4. Ed Talone completed the first thru-hike in 1994
5. Andrew Skurka
did the second thru-hike, notably in the winter, 2004–2005
6. Don Beattie- section hikes from 1980–2005
7. Allen Shoup- section hikes from 1995–2005
8. Bart Smith- section hikes completed in 2007
9. Eb Eberhard (Nimblewill Nomad)- thru-hike in 2009 (he has written Trekking The North Country Trail documenting his trek)
10. Joan H. Young (the first woman to hike the entire trail) - section hikes 1991-2010 (she has written North Country Cache highlighting 2300 miles of her hike. North Country Quest is scheduled as a sequel)
11. Judy Geisler - hiking and biking of the route completed 2011
Crown Point, New York
Crown Point is a town in Essex County, New York, USA. The population was 2,119 at the 2000 census. The name of the town is a direct translation of the original French name, "Point au Chevalure."...
in eastern New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to Lake Sakakawea
Lake Sakakawea
Lake Sakakawea is a reservoir in the Missouri River basin in central North Dakota. Named for the Shoshone-Hidatsa woman Sakakawea, it is the third largest man-made lake in the United States, after Lake Mead and Lake Powell. The lake lies in parts of six counties in western North Dakota: Dunn,...
in central North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, is the longest of the eleven National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail is a designation for protected areas in the United States that consist of trails of particular natural beauty.National Scenic Trails were authorized under the National Trails System Act of 1968 along with National Historic Trails and National Recreation Trails...
s authorized by Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. Like its sister trails, it was designed to provide peaceful recreational opportunities in some of the America's outstanding landscapes. As of 2010, over 2,100 miles have been certified.
The NCT is administered by the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
, managed by federal, state, and local agencies, and built and maintained primarily by the volunteers of the North Country Trail Association (NCTA) and its partners. The 28 chapters of the NCTA, its 3,200+ members and each affiliate organization have assumed responsibility for trail construction and maintenance of a specific section of the NCT.
Route
Passing through the seven states of New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
(where it traverses the Lower Peninsula from the Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
border to Mackinaw City
Mackinaw City, Michigan
Mackinaw City is a village in Emmet and Cheboygan counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2000 census the population was 859. The name "Mackinaw City" is a bit of a misnomer as it is actually a village...
and the Upper Peninsula from St. Ignace
St. Ignace, Michigan
Saint Ignace, usually written as St. Ignace, is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 2,678. It is the county seat of Mackinac County. From the Lower Peninsula, St. Ignace is the gateway to the Upper Peninsula.St...
to Ironwood
Ironwood, Michigan
Ironwood is a city in Gogebic County in the U.S. state of Michigan, about south of Lake Superior. The population was 6,293 at the 2000 census. The city is on US 2 and is situated opposite the Montreal River from Hurley, Wisconsin. It is the westernmost city in Michigan, situated on the same line...
), Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
and North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, the NCT connects more than 160 public land units, including parks, forests, scenic attractions, wildlife refuges, game areas, and historic sites. The list includes:
- Ten National ForestUnited States National ForestNational Forest is a classification of federal lands in the United States.National Forests are largely forest and woodland areas owned by the federal government and managed by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. Land management of these areas...
areas (Finger LakesFinger Lakes National ForestThe Finger Lakes National Forest encompasses 16,032 acres of Seneca and Schuyler counties, nestled between Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State in the United States of America...
in New York, AlleghenyAllegheny National ForestThe Allegheny National Forest is a National Forest located in northwestern Pennsylvania. The forest covers of land. Within the forest is Kinzua Dam, which impounds the Allegheny River to form Allegheny Reservoir. The administrative headquarters for the Allegheny National Forest is located in Warren...
in Pennsylvania, WayneWayne National ForestThe Wayne National Forest is located in the south-eastern part of the U.S. state of Ohio, in the Unglaciated Allegheny Plateau. It is the only national forest in Ohio. Forest headquarters are located between The Plains and Nelsonville, Ohio, on US Route 33, overlooking the Hocking River.The forest...
in Ohio, Manistee, HiawathaHiawatha National ForestHiawatha National Forest is a National Forest in the Upper Peninsula of the state of Michigan in the United States. Commercial logging is conducted in some areas. The United States Forest Service administers this National Forest; it is physically divided into two subunits, commonly called the...
, and OttawaOttawa National ForestThe Ottawa National Forest is a 1.0 million acre national forest in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It includes much of Gogebic and Ontonagon counties, as well as slices of Iron, Houghton, Baraga, and Marquette counties. The forest is under the jurisdiction of the U.S...
in Michigan, Chequamegon in Wisconsin, SuperiorSuperior National ForestSuperior National Forest, part of the United States National Forest system, is located in the Arrowhead Region of the state of Minnesota between the Canada – United States border and the north shore of Lake Superior...
and ChippewaChippewa National ForestChippewa National Forest is a National Forest located in northcentral Minnesota, United States, in the counties of Itasca, Cass, and Beltrami. Forest headquarters are located in Cass Lake, Minnesota. There are local ranger district offices in Blackduck, Deer River, and Walker.-History and...
in Minnesota and Sheyenne National Grassland in North Dakota) - Four areas of the National Park Service (Michigan's Pictured Rocks National LakeshorePictured Rocks National LakeshorePictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a U.S. National Lakeshore on the shore of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, United States. It extends for 42 miles along the shore and covers...
, Wisconsin's St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, New York's Fort Stanwix National MonumentFort Stanwix National MonumentFort Stanwix National Monument is a United States National Historic Site in Rome, New York managed by the National Park Service . The current fort is a reconstruction of the historic Fort Stanwix occupying approximately sixteen acres of downtown Rome...
, and Ohio's Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical ParkDayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Parkthumb|left|200 px|The Wright Flyer III, now in Carillon Historical Park, shown being flown by Orville Wright on October 4, 1905, over [[Huffman Prairie]] near Dayton...
)
Other federal facilities along the NCT include:
- Two National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge is a designation for certain protected areas of the United States managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The National Wildlife Refuge System is the world's premiere system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife and plants...
s (Minnesota's TamaracTamarac National Wildlife RefugeTamarac National Wildlife Refuge covers and lies in the glacial lake country of northwestern Minnesota in Becker County, northeast of Detroit Lakes. It was established in 1938 as a refuge breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife....
and North Dakota's AudubonAudubon National Wildlife RefugeThe Audubon National Wildlife Refuge is located in the U.S. state of North Dakota and consists of 14,735 acres . The refuge is managed with by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is the centerpiece of the Audubon National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which includes numerous other refuges in the...
) - Two Bureau of Reclamation projects (North Dakota's Garrison Diversion Unit's New Rockford and McCluskey Canals) and,
- Six Army Corps of Engineers impoundments (Baldhill Dam at Lake Ashtabula, North Dakota, Tom Jenkins Dam and Burr Oak Lake, William H. Harsha Lake [also known as East Fork Lake], Ohio, Tionesta Lake, the Kinzua DamKinzua DamThe Kinzua Dam, in the Allegheny National Forest in Warren County, Pennsylvania, is one of the largest dams in the United States east of the Mississippi River....
, and Allegheny ReservoirAllegheny ReservoirThe Allegheny Reservoir is a reservoir along the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania and New York, USA. It was created in 1965 by the construction of the Kinzua Dam along the river.-History:...
, Pennsylvania)
The NCT also threads its way through 57 state parks and state historic areas, 47 state forests, 22 state game areas, seven state water conservation districts and at least ten county forests and parks. Several hundred miles of trail eventually will also cross private land thanks to owners who have granted easements across their property.
The center point of the trail is located near the NCTA headquarters in Lowell, Michigan
Lowell, Michigan
Lowell is a city in Kent County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 4,013. The city is in the northern portion of Lowell Township, but is politically independent...
.
History
When the Trail was established in 1980, portions of it were designed to follow the already existing Finger LakesFinger Lakes Trail
The Finger Lakes Trail System consists of a network of trails in New York. The trail system is administered by the , a non-profit, volunteer organization....
(New York), Baker
Baker Trail
The Baker Trail is a hiking trail in Pennsylvania in the United States. The trail's southern terminus is in Allegheny Township, across the Allegheny River from the borough of Freeport. On its northern end, Baker Trail terminates inside of the Allegheny National Forest in Northwestern...
(Pennsylvania), and Buckeye
Buckeye Trail
The Buckeye Trail is a 1,444 miles long-distance trail that loops around the state of Ohio. Part of it is on roads and part is on wooded trail...
(Ohio) Trails. Their sponsoring organizations became affiliates of the North Country Trail Association and agreed to maintain those portions of their trails to be used by the North Country National Scenic Trail. The Northwestern Ohio Rails-to-Trails Association joined later to help create a link between the Buckeye Trail in Ohio and newly-constructed trail in Michigan; the Superior Hiking Trail Association and the Kekekabic Trail Club joined when it was proposed that the North Country National Scenic Trail route through Minnesota be changed to include an already-completed section of the Superior Hiking Trail
Superior Hiking Trail
The Superior Hiking Trail, also known as The “SHT,” is a 275-mile long footpath in Northeastern Minnesota, which for most of its length follows the ridgeline overlooking Lake Superior. The path is 18-inches wide and is set in the middle of a 4 foot clearing. The footpath travels through forests of...
along Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
, and the Kekekabic
Kekekabic Trail
The Kekekabic Trail, commonly referred to as 'The Kek', is a hiking trail that runs about 41 miles from Snowbank Road near Ely, Minnesota to the western terminus of the Gunflint Trail in northwestern Cook County. The Gunflint then proceeds southeastward, with its terminus at Grand Marais, Minnesota...
and Border Route Trail
Border Route Trail
The Border Route Trail is a long hiking trail that crosses the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in the far northeast corner of Minnesota and follows the international border between Minnesota and Ontario, Canada. It connects with the Superior Hiking Trail on its eastern terminus and with...
s along the Canadian border in Minnesota's arrowhead region
Arrowhead Region
The Arrowhead Region is located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota, so called because of its pointed shape. The predominantly rural region encompasses of land area and comprises Carlton, Cook, Lake and St. Louis Counties. Its population at the 2000 census was 248,425 residents...
.
Use
Existing and new sections of the NCT are generally limited to foot travel, including hikingHiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
. Other non-motorized uses, such as bicycling and horseback riding are generally limited to areas specifically designed to withstand such use.
About 10,000 people are involved with the NCT in one way or another, either through membership in the North Country Trail Association or membership in one of eight organizations affiliated with the NCTA: the Finger Lakes Trail Conference, the Buckeye Trail Association, the Superior Hiking Trail Association, the Kekekabic Trail Club, the Northwestern Ohio Rails-to-Trails Association, the Butler Outdoor Club, the Rachael Carson Trails Conservancy and the Friends of the Jordan River National Fish Hatchery.
End-to-Enders
Persons who have followed the entire route of the trail include:1. Carolyn Hoffman was the first person to attempt to follow the trail. In 1978, before it was actually authorized, she hiked and bicycled the approximate route
2. Peter Wolfe was the first hiker, completing it in sections from 1974–1980
3. Chet Fromm hiked the trail in sections from 1992–1995
4. Ed Talone completed the first thru-hike in 1994
5. Andrew Skurka
Andrew Skurka
Andrew Skurka is a professional backpacker who is best known for his two long-distance hiking firsts—the 6,875-mile Great Western Loop and the 7,778-mile Sea-to-Sea Route...
did the second thru-hike, notably in the winter, 2004–2005
6. Don Beattie- section hikes from 1980–2005
7. Allen Shoup- section hikes from 1995–2005
8. Bart Smith- section hikes completed in 2007
9. Eb Eberhard (Nimblewill Nomad)- thru-hike in 2009 (he has written Trekking The North Country Trail documenting his trek)
10. Joan H. Young (the first woman to hike the entire trail) - section hikes 1991-2010 (she has written North Country Cache highlighting 2300 miles of her hike. North Country Quest is scheduled as a sequel)
11. Judy Geisler - hiking and biking of the route completed 2011
External links
See also
- Michigan Shore-to-Shore TrailMichigan Shore-to-Shore TrailThe Michigan Shore-to-Shore Trail is a long trail that runs between Empire on Lake Michigan and Oscoda on Lake Huron across the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. It is open to horseback riders and hikers but not bicycles.The trail's western end is located within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National...
- List of hiking trails in Wisconsin
- Ohio River TrailOhio River TrailThe Ohio River Trail is a proposed route that would interconnect existing trails in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. The proposal is spearheaded by the Ohio River Trail Council , a volunteer-led, non-profit organization...