The North Country Trail (NCT, officially designated the North Country National Scenic Trail) is a long-distance

hiking trail A trail, also known as a path or track, is an unpaved lane or small road usually passing through a natural area. In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, a path or footpath is the preferred term for a pedestrian or hiking trail. The ...

in the

Midwestern The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of the United States. I ...

and

Northeastern The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each se ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. The trail extends roughly from

Lake Sakakawea State Park Lake Sakakawea State Park is a public recreation area occupying on the southern shore of Lake Sakakawea in Mercer County, North Dakota. The state park is located adjacent to the Garrison Dam, north of the community of Pick City. History The ...

North Dakota North Dakota () is a U.S. state in the Upper Midwest, named after the Native Americans in the United States, indigenous Dakota people, Dakota Sioux. North Dakota is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north a ...

to the

Appalachian Trail The Appalachian Trail (also called the A.T.), is a hiking trail in the Eastern United States, extending almost between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine, and passing through 14 states.Gailey, Chris (2006)"Appalachian Tr ...

Green Mountain National Forest Green Mountain National Forest is a United States National Forest, national forest located in Vermont, a temperate broadleaf and mixed forest typical of the New England/Acadian forests ecoregion. The forest supports a variety of wildlife, includi ...

Vermont Vermont () is a state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York to the west, and the Canadian province of Quebec to ...

, passing through eight states along its route. As of 2023, most of the trail is in place, though about one-third of the distance consists of road walking; those segments are frequently evaluated for transfer to off-road segments on nearby public or private lands. The trail was designated a

National Scenic Trail The National Trails System is a series of trails in the United States designated "to promote the preservation of, public access to, travel within, and enjoyment and appreciation of the open-air, outdoor areas and historic resources of the Nati ...

by the

United States Congress The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washing ...

in 1980, and became an official unit of the National Park System in 2023. The NCT is administered by the

National Park Service The National Park Service (NPS) is an agency of the United States federal government within the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages all national parks, most national monuments, and other natural, historical, and recreational propertie ...

, managed by federal, state, and local agencies, and built and maintained primarily by volunteers coordinated by the North Country Trail Association (NCTA) and affiliated local organizations. The North Country Trail is generally limited to

hiking Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...

, and some areas can support

snowshoeing Snowshoes are specialized outdoor gear for walking over snow. Their large footprint spreads the user's weight out and allows them to travel largely on top of rather than through snow. Adjustable bindings attach them to appropriate winter footwe ...

and

cross-country skiing Cross-country skiing is a form of skiing where skiers rely on their own locomotion to move across snow-covered terrain, rather than using ski lifts or other forms of assistance. Cross-country skiing is widely practiced as a sport and recreation ...

. Some particular segments allow additional non-motorized uses such as

bicycling Cycling, also, when on a two-wheeled bicycle, called bicycling or biking, is the use of cycles for transport, recreation, Physical exercise, exercise or sport. People engaged in cycling are referred to as "cyclists", "bicyclists", or "bike ...

and

horseback riding Equestrianism (from Latin , , , 'horseman', 'horse'), commonly known as horse riding (Commonwealth English) or horseback riding (American English), includes the disciplines of riding, driving, and vaulting. This broad description includes the ...

, but only in areas specifically designed and permitted to withstand such use. The distance of the NCT is estimated and often changes, as volunteers develop new footpath segments and other options to reduce road walking.

History

The North Country Trail was proposed on March 5, 1980 via an amendment to the

National Trails System Act The National Trails System is a series of trails in the United States designated "to promote the preservation of, public access to, travel within, and enjoyment and appreciation of the open-air, outdoor areas and historic resources of the Nati ...

. That year, a route was established that incorporated many preexisting trails along with plans for building new connecting segments or finding walkable routes on rural roads. In cooperation with local and state hiking organizations, the route of the NCT was superimposed on all of the

Superior Hiking Trail The Superior Hiking Trail, also known as the SHT, is a long hiking trail in northeastern Minnesota that follows the rocky ridges overlooking Lake Superior for most of its length. The trail travels through forests of birch, aspen, pine, fir, and ...

in Minnesota, about of the

Buckeye Trail The Buckeye Trail is a hiking trail and long-distance trail that loops around the state of Ohio. Part of it is on roads and part is on wooded trail. Road portions of the trail are gradually being relocated to separate trail. This trail p ...

in Ohio, and about of the

Finger Lakes Trail The Finger Lakes Trail consists of a network of trails in New York. The trail system is administered by thFinger Lakes Trail Conference(FLTC), a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, composed primarily of volunteers. Description The FLT is primaril ...

in New York State. The NCT route also incorporated portions of many other shorter hiking trails and

rail trails A rail trail is a shared-use path on railway right of way. Rail trails are typically constructed after a railway has been abandoned and the track has been removed, but may also share the right of way with active railways, light rail, or streetcar ...

. In most such cases, the hiker follows signs denoting both the North Country Trail and the original trail. Planning and construction of additional off-road segments continues to the present day. The original proposed route of the NCT was from central North Dakota to northeastern New York State; a long-held goal to extend the eastern end of the route to the Appalachian Trail in Vermont commenced in 2017. That extension was approved by Congress in 2019 as part of the omnibus

John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act The John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act of 2019 is an omnibus lands act that protected public lands and modified management provisions. The bill designated more than of wilderness area, expanded several national par ...

, and the extension was completed in 2021. In 2023, the National Park Service recognized the trail as a unit of the National Park System.

Route

The route of the North Country Trail is described here from west to east. Along its total distance, the NCT traverses more than 150 public land units, including parks, forests, scenic attractions, wildlife refuges, game areas, and historic sites. Included at the federal level are ten

National Forests A state forest or national forest is a forest that is administered or protected by some agency of a sovereign state, sovereign or federated state, or territory (country subdivision), territory. Background The precise application of the terms va ...

. four units of the

National Park A national park is a nature park, natural park in use for conservation (ethic), conservation purposes, created and protected by national governments. Often it is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state dec ...

system, and two

National Wildlife Refuges National Wildlife Refuge System 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 system of public lands and waters set aside to c ...

. The trail also visits dozens of state parks, forests, gamelands, and historic areas, and several local/county forests and parks.

North Dakota

The North Country Trail spends about in North Dakota. The trail begins at

in Mercer County and heads generally to the east, soon reaching

Audubon National Wildlife Refuge Audubon National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge in the U.S. state of North Dakota. The refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is the centerpiece of the Audubon National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which includes nu ...

. It walks alongside most of the McClusky Canal and traverses Lone Tree Wildlife Management Area (North Dakota's largest). The trail traverses

Sheyenne Lake National Wildlife Refuge Sheyenne Lake National Wildlife Refuge is an National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in the U.S. state of North Dakota. Sheyenne Lake NWR is an easement refuge and is on privately owned land, but the landowners and U.S. Government work cooperatively to pr ...

, Fort Ransom State Park, and

Sheyenne National Grassland Sheyenne National Grassland is a National Grassland located in southeastern North Dakota in the United States, comprising of public land amid of privately owned land in a region of sandy soils in the vicinity of the Sheyenne River in Ransom and ...

. Near

Abercrombie Abercrombie may refer to: People * Abercrombie Lawson (1870–1927), botanist and professor * Abercrombie (surname) (list of people with the family name Abercrombie) Places Americas * Abercrombie, North Dakota, United States, city in Richland ...

, the NCT uses a state highway to cross the Red River into Minnesota.

Minnesota

The North Country Trail spends about in Minnesota; this includes in conjunction with the

. Much of the hike in the western part of the state is on rural roads, with an extended sojourn through

Fergus Falls Fergus Falls is a city in and the county seat of Otter Tail County, Minnesota, Otter Tail County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 14,119 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. History The falls from which the city gets par ...

. After that city, the NCT visits many small lakes and passes through

Maplewood State Park Maplewood State Park is a state park of Minnesota, United States, near Pelican Rapids. The park preserves a pre-contact habitation site that was occupied in two different periods (650–900 CE and 1450–1650 CE) in a forest/prairie transition zo ...

. Northeast of Frazee, the trail spends more than in a succession of mostly contiguous public lands that include a variety of state and federal parks, forests, and wildlife refuges. The NCT enjoys a lengthy walk through

Grand Rapids Grand Rapids is a city and county seat of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 198,917 which ranks it as the second most-populated city in the state after Detroit. Grand Rapids is the ...

, and also visits

Hibbing Hibbing is a city in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 16,214 at the 2020 census. The city was built on mining the rich iron ore of the Mesabi Iron Range and still relies on that industrial activity today. At th ...

and

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

in the northeastern part of the state, with a visit to

Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park The Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park is a Minnesota state park at the site of the Soudan Underground Mine, on the south shore of Lake Vermilion, in the Vermilion Range (Minnesota). The mine is known as Minnesota's oldest, deepes ...

. The trail later continues on extensive wilderness footpaths for about in Superior National Forest and various tracts of the

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW or BWCA) is a wilderness area within the Superior National Forest in the northeastern part of the US state of Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the Unit ...

, just south of the

Canadian border Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

, until reaching a junction with the

(SHT). The NCT joins the preexisting SHT for the next 310 miles, heading southwest through more of Superior National Forest and six Minnesota state parks on or near

Lake Superior Lake Superior in central North America is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface areaThe Caspian Sea is the largest lake, but is saline, not freshwater. and the third-largest by volume, holding 10% of the world's surface fresh wa ...

. The NCT/SHT walks for a considerable distance through

Duluth , settlement_type = City , nicknames = Twin Ports (with Superior), Zenith City , motto = , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top: urban Duluth skyline; Minnesota ...

and its suburban areas, followed by a walk through

Jay Cooke State Park Jay Cooke State Park is a state park of Minnesota, United States, protecting the lower reaches of the Saint Louis River. The park is located about southwest of Duluth and is one of the ten most visited state parks in Minnesota. The western ...

to the Wisconsin border.

Wisconsin

The North Country Trail spends about in Wisconsin. Shortly after exiting Minnesota, the NCT briefly winds back across the state line for about then remains in Wisconsin. The trail traverses several locally-protected wetland and forest districts, and passes through

Pattison State Park Pattison State Park is a Wisconsin state park south of Superior, Wisconsin. Situated on the Black River, the park contains both Big Manitou Falls, the highest waterfall in Wisconsin at , and Little Manitou Falls, which is . Pattison State Park w ...

followed by

Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway The Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway is a federally protected system of riverways located in eastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. It protects of river, including the St. Croix River (on the Wisconsin/Minnesota border), and the Na ...

. Later there is an extensive hike on wilderness footpaths through

Brule River State Forest Brule River State Forest is a state forest located in Douglas County, Wisconsin, U.S.A. that encompasses the Bois Brule River for most of its length from its headwaters to Lake Superior. It is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Natural ...

. The wilderness footpaths continue through

Chequamegon–Nicolet National Forest The Chequamegon–Nicolet National Forest (; the ''q'' is silent) is a U.S. National Forest in northern Wisconsin in the United States. Due to logging in the early part of the 20th century, very little old growth forest remains. Some of the tre ...

, including sojourns through

Rainbow Lake Wilderness The Rainbow Lake Wilderness is a wilderness area located within the Chequamegon unit of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The land is in northern Wisconsin and entirely in Bayfield County. The wilderness area is operated by the United St ...

and Porcupine Lake Wilderness. Near the Michigan border, the NCT briefly encounters the shore of

at Saxon Harbor County Park, then joins a rural road to a remote crossing of the Montreal River at the state line.

Michigan

The North Country Trail spends about in Michigan, and traverses both the Upper and Lower Peninsulas. After crossing the Montreal River out of Wisconsin, the NCT reaches

Ottawa National Forest The Ottawa National Forest is a national forest that covers 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 f ...

and continues on a lengthy hike along the Black River. The trail briefly encounters

at Black River Harbor Recreation Area, then returns to the lake near Manabeznho Falls. The trail turns inland through remote national forest lands for more than , passing Lake of the Clouds. After leaving the national forest, the NCT continues through various locally-protected forest areas and walks through the large and remote Craig Lake State Park. North Country Trail Manistee Forest

The NCT walks through Marquette for a considerable distance then reaches

Laughing Whitefish Falls State Park Laughing Whitefish Falls State Park is a public recreation area protecting along the Laughing Whitefish River in Onota Township and Rock River Township, in far western Alger County, Michigan. Its main scenic feature is Laughing Whitefish Falls ...

. It then hikes about through

Hiawatha National Forest Hiawatha 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 physica ...

, walks through

Munising Munising ( ') is a city in Alger County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,355 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Alger County. The city is partially surrounded by Munising Township, but the two are administered auton ...

, and then follows the shore of Lake Superior for more than through Pictured Rocks National Seashore. The trail then passes through Grand Marais and walks alongside Lake Superior for about another through local forest districts. The NCT reaches the large and remote

Tahquamenon Falls State Park The Tahquamenon Falls State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the second largest of Michigan's state parks. Bordering on Lake Superior, most of the park is located within Whitefish Township in Chippewa County, with the ...

, and then heads into another segment of

and some more waking along the lakeshore. The NCT is in the national forest for more than , heading south to a near-encounter with

Lake Michigan Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume () and the third-largest by surface area (), after Lake Superior and Lake Huron. To the east, its basin is conjoined with that o ...

and a long walk along

Brevoort Lake Brevoort Lake is a lake in Mackinac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Much of the lake's sandy shoreline is owned by the National Forest Service as part of Hiawatha National Forest Hiawatha National Forest is a National Forest in the Up ...

. The trail walks though

St. Ignace St. Ignace is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Mackinac County. The city had a population of 2,452 at the 2010 census. St. Ignace Township is located just to the north of the city, but the two are administered auto ...

and then Straits State Park. The hiker then climbs onto the

Mackinac Bridge The Mackinac Bridge ( ) is a suspension bridge spanning the Straits of Mackinac, connecting the Upper and Lower peninsulas of the U.S. state of Michigan. Opened in 1957, the bridge (familiarly known as "Big Mac" and "Mighty Mac") is the worl ...

(

I-75 Interstate 75 (I-75) is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. As with most Interstates that end in 5, it is a major cross-country, north–south route, traveling from St ...

) for the crossing of the

Straits of Mackinac The Straits of Mackinac ( ; french: Détroit de Mackinac) are the short waterways between the U.S. state of Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas, traversed by the Mackinac Bridge. The main strait is wide with a maximum depth of , and connects ...

to Michigan's Lower Peninsula. This crossing for pedestrians and hikers is only permitted during special "bridge walk" events. After the bridge, the NCT walks through

Mackinaw City Mackinaw City ( ) is a village in Emmet and Cheboygan counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 846 at the 2010 census, the population increases during summertime, including an influx of tourists and seasonal workers who serve ...

and continues through

Wilderness State Park Wilderness State Park is a public recreation area bordering Lake Michigan, five miles southwest of Mackinaw City, Michigan, Mackinaw City in Emmet County, Michigan, Emmet County in Northern Michigan. The state park's include of shoreline, d ...

and various locally-protected forest districts. The trail encounters Lake Michigan at

Petoskey State Park Petoskey State Park is a public recreation area covering on Lake Michigan in Bear Creek Township, Emmet County, Michigan Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwe ...

and then walks through the city of Petoskey. The trail continues south through more protected forests and walks through Kalkaska. The NCT next begins a sojourn of about through the Manistee sector of the Huron-Manistee National Forests and reaches the town of Cedar Springs, where it joins the

White Pine Trail Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park is a long linear state park in the U.S. state of Michigan. The trail extends from northern Grand Rapids to Cadillac, and it lies on the path graded for the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad (later absorbed ...

for about to Rockford. The trail then walks through Lowell and Middleville, where it joins the Paul Henry Trail for about . The NCT continues through Yankee Springs State Recreation Area, followed by Augusta and Fort Custer State Recreation Area, and then heads east through the city of

Battle Creek Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which encom ...

, where it follows parklands along the

Kalamazoo River The Kalamazoo River is a river in the U.S. state of Michigan. The river is long from the junction of its North and South branches to its mouth at Lake Michigan, with a total length extending to when one includes the South Branch.U.S. Geologica ...

for more than . The trail proceeds through several small towns in

Hillsdale County Hillsdale County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 45,746. The county seat is Hillsdale. Hillsdale County is the only county in Michigan to border both Indiana and Ohio. Due to an a ...

, briefly follows the state line via a farm road just south of Waldron, and then crosses the border into Ohio.

Ohio

The North Country Trail spends about in Ohio, and about 90% of that distance is via the preexisting

, which forms a large loop throughout the state. After entering Ohio, the NCT passes through

Albion Albion is an alternative name for Great Britain. The oldest attestation of the toponym comes from the Greek language. It is sometimes used poetically and generally to refer to the island, but is less common than 'Britain' today. The name for Scot ...

and West Unity, then temporarily joins multiple segments of the

Wabash Cannonball Trail The Wabash Cannonball Trail is a rail to trail conversion in northwestern Ohio, U.S. It is long. The North Fork of the Wabash Cannonball Trail is part of the North Coast Inland Trail, which plans to fully connect Indiana to Pennsylvania, and po ...

through

Wauseon Wauseon ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Fulton County, Ohio, approximately 31 mi (51 km) west of Toledo. The population was 7,332 at the time of the 2010 census. History Wauseon was platted 1853 when the Michigan Southern Air ...

Whitehouse Whitehouse may refer to: People * Charles S. Whitehouse (1921-2001), American diplomat * Cornelius Whitehouse (1796–1883), English engineer and inventor * E. Sheldon Whitehouse (1883-1965), American diplomat * Elliott Whitehouse (born 1993), ...

, and Waterville. At the latter town, the NCT joins the route of the Buckeye Trail, and the two trails share the same path for more than ahead. In this area, the combined trail loosely follows the

Maumee River The Maumee River (pronounced ) ( sjw, Hotaawathiipi; mia, Taawaawa siipiiwi) is a river running in the United States Midwest from northeastern Indiana into northwestern Ohio and Lake Erie. It is formed at the confluence of the St. Joseph and ...

and passes through

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

and

Defiance Defiance may refer to: Film, television and theatre * ''Defiance'' (1952 film), a Swedish drama film directed by Gustaf Molander * ''Defiance'' (1980 film), an American crime drama starring Jan-Michael Vincent * ''Defiance'' (2002 film), a ...

. The trail continues to the south to Delphos, where it joins the Miami-Erie Canal Walkway to Spencerville in Allen County. Still heading south, the trail walks through St. Marys, follows a long stretch of the former

Miami and Erie Canal The Miami and Erie Canal was a canal that ran from Cincinnati to Toledo, Ohio, creating a water route between the Ohio River and Lake Erie. Construction on the canal began in 1825 and was completed in 1845 at a cost to the state government of $ ...

, and passes through

Lake Loramie State Park Lake Loramie State Park is a public recreation area located on the northeast side of Fort Loramie, Ohio. It occupies on Lake Loramie and is operated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) ...

. The trail walks through Piqua and then follows parklands alongside the

Great Miami River The Great Miami River (also called the Miami River) (Shawnee: ''Msimiyamithiipi'') is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map , accesse ...

, with walks through several small towns. The hiker then proceeds through extensive urban areas in

Dayton Dayton () is the sixth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County. A small part of the city extends into Greene County. The 2020 U.S. census estimate put the city population at 137,644, while Greater Da ...

, the biggest city to be found on the North Country Trail. The trail then walks through Yellow Springs and Xenia, after which it joins the paved

Little Miami Scenic Trail The Little Miami Scenic Trail is the fourth longest paved trail in the United States, running through five southwestern counties in the state of Ohio. The multi-use rail trail sees heavy recreational use by hikers and bicyclists, as well as the ...

for several dozen miles into the northeastern suburbs of the Cincinnati metro area. At

Milford Milford may refer to: Place names Canada * Milford (Annapolis), Nova Scotia * Milford (Halifax), Nova Scotia * Milford, Ontario England * Milford, Derbyshire * Milford, Devon, a place in Devon * Milford on Sea, Hampshire * Milford, Shro ...

, the NCT switches to suburban streets and rural roads though various undeveloped districts, reaching

East Fork State Park East Fork State Park is public recreation area located around the East Fork of the Little Miami River in Clermont County, southeast of central Cincinnati, Ohio, in the United States. It maintains the 33-mile "Steve Newman World-Walker" perimet ...

. Now heading east through southern Ohio, the trail follows a variety of rural roads interspersed with extended hikes through Shawnee State Park, two sectors of

Wayne National Forest The Wayne National Forest is located in the south-eastern part of the US 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 ...

, and

Wolf Run State Park Wolf Run State Park is a public recreation area located three miles north of the village of Caldwell, Ohio, in the United States. The state park features hiking on trails that include a section of the Buckeye Trail The Buckeye Trail is a h ...

. Now trending to the north, the NCT walks alongside

Senecaville Lake Senecaville Lake is a reservoir in Guernsey and Noble Counties, Ohio. It is located approximately southeast of Cambridge near the village of Senecaville, Ohio. The lake is popular among recreation and fishing enthusiasts. It is often referred t ...

and then enjoys a lengthy hike through Salt Fork State Park. This is followed by rural road walking with visits to several lakes and reservoirs in east-central Ohio. At Zoar in

Tuscarawas County Tuscarawas County ( ) is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 93,263. Its county seat is New Philadelphia. Its name is a Delaware Indian word variously translated as "ol ...

, the North County Trail and

finally separate after more than 900 miles together. The NCT uses rural roads through Waynesburg,

Malvern Malvern or Malverne may refer to: Places Australia * Malvern, South Australia, a suburb of Adelaide * Malvern, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne * City of Malvern, a former local government area near Melbourne * Electoral district of Malvern, an e ...

, and Hanoverton. utilizing occasional local parklands and wilderness preserves. The NCT then reaches the Pennsylvania state line via a rural road to the north of Ohioville.

Pennsylvania

The North Country Trail spends about in Pennsylvania. After exiting Ohio, the NCT follows footpaths through state game lands and then walks through

Darlington Darlington is a market town in the Borough of Darlington, County Durham, England. The River Skerne flows through the town; it is a tributary of the River Tees. The Tees itself flows south of the town. In the 19th century, Darlington underwen ...

and

Wampum Wampum is a traditional shell bead of the Eastern Woodlands tribes of Native Americans. It includes white shell beads hand-fashioned from the North Atlantic channeled whelk shell and white and purple beads made from the quahog or Western Nort ...

. Next is

McConnells Mill State Park McConnells Mill State Park is a List of Pennsylvania state parks, Pennsylvania state park in Perry Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, Perry and Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, Slippery Rock Townships, Lawrence County, ...

, where the NCT joins the preexisting

Slippery Rock Gorge Trail The Slippery Rock Gorge Trail is a Trail, hiking trail in western Pennsylvania, which follows Slippery Rock Creek and then Hell Run (Slippery Rock Creek tributary), Hell Run within McConnells Mill State Park. Part of the route is within Slippery R ...

, followed by

Moraine State Park Moraine State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on in Brady, Clay, Franklin, Muddy Creek, and Worth townships in Butler County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The park's main feature is its man-made lake, Lake Arthur, formed by impoundi ...

, where it joins the preexisting Glacier Ridge Trail for about the next to

Jennings Environmental Education Center Jennings Environmental Education Center is a Pennsylvania state park in Brady Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania in the United States. It is north of Butler at the intersection of Pennsylvania Route 8 and Pennsylvania Route 528. The cente ...

. Following rural roads, the NCT next walks through

Parker Parker may refer to: Persons * Parker (given name) * Parker (surname) Places Place names in the United States *Parker, Arizona *Parker, Colorado * Parker, Florida * Parker, Idaho * Parker, Kansas * Parker, Missouri * Parker, North Carolina *Park ...

and then joins the Allegheny River Trail to follow that

river A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of wate ...

to the north for about the next , traversing Foxburg, Emlenton, and three former railroad tunnels. The NCT then switches to an intersecting rail trail, the Sandy Creek Trail, followed by the Clarion Highlands Trail. After hiking through some more state game lands, the trail reaches Clear Creek State Forest where extended footpaths loosely follow the

Clarion River The Clarion River is a tributary of the Allegheny River, approximately 110 mi (177 km) long, in west central Pennsylvania in the United States. It drains a rugged area of the Allegheny Plateau in the Ohio River watershed, flowing throu ...

. The NCT then reaches a junction with the preexisting

Baker Trail The Baker Trail is a hiking trail in western Pennsylvania in the United States. The trail's southern terminus is across the Allegheny River from the borough of Freeport in Armstrong County. Its northern terminus is in State Game Lands No. 24, ...

, and the two trails follow the same path for about the next . The NCT continues north through

Cook Forest State Park Cook Forest State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Farmington Township, Clarion County, Barnett Township, Forest County and Barnett Township, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania in the United States. Located just south of the Allegheny Na ...

, followed by additional state forest and game land districts. The trail crosses into

Allegheny National Forest The Allegheny National Forest is a National Forest in Northwestern Pennsylvania, about 100 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. The forest covers of land. Within the forest is Kinzua Dam, which impounds the Allegheny River to form Allegheny Reservoir ...

, through which it will hike for about the next about the next . Along the way, it briefly follows the same path as the popular Minister Creek Trail,. and crosses the southeastern arm of the

Allegheny Reservoir The Allegheny Reservoir (also known as Kinzua Lake and unofficially as Lake Perfidy) 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. Lake P ...

on a road bridge at Red Bridge Recreation Area. Near the New York Border, the NCT enters the northern segment of

Allegheny National Recreation Area The Allegheny National Recreation Area is a national recreation area of the United States, located on the Allegheny Plateau in northwestern Pennsylvania. It is administered by the United States Forest Service as part of the Allegheny National Fore ...

and uses a portion of the Tracy Ridge Hiking Trail System to walk alongside the reservoir for an extended distance.. The NCT then reaches the New York border and continues as a footpath into

Allegany State Park Allegany State Park is a state park in western New York State, located in Cattaraugus County just north of the Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania. The park is divided into two sections: The Red House Area and the Quaker Run Area. It lie ...

New York

The North Country Trail spends about in New York State. Upon leaving Pennsylvania and entering

, the NCT joins the preexisting

, and the two trails follow the same path for about the next . North of the state park, the trail utilizes a combination of rural roads and footpaths through undeveloped areas in southwestern New York, and uses a drainage tunnel under

I-86 Interstate 86 may refer to any of three unconnected Interstate Highways in the United States: * Interstate 86 (Pennsylvania–New York) * Interstate 86 (Idaho) * Interstate 84 (Pennsylvania–Massachusetts), section east of East Hartford, Connect ...

near Almond Lake. The NCT continues in like fashion into the region south of the

Finger Lakes The Finger Lakes are a group of eleven long, narrow, roughly north–south lakes located south of Lake Ontario in an area called the ''Finger Lakes region'' in New York, in the United States. This region straddles the northern and transitional ...

, with a walk through downtown Watkins Glen and around the southern end of Seneca Lake. The trail continues through numerous state forest and wildlife management districts in the region south of

Ithaca Ithaca most commonly refers to: *Homer's Ithaca, an island featured in Homer's ''Odyssey'' *Ithaca (island), an island in Greece, possibly Homer's Ithaca *Ithaca, New York, a city, and home of Cornell University and Ithaca College Ithaca, Ithaka ...

. At Tioughnioga Wildlife Management Area in Madison County, the NCT and the Finger Lakes Trail finally separate, with the NCT continuing north via rural roads though Cazenovia and

Canastota Canastota is a village located inside the Town of Lenox in Madison County, New York, United States. The population was 4,804 at the 2010 census. The village of Canastota is in the southern part of the Town of Lenox. Canastota High School is loca ...

. Now trending to the east, the trail utilizes towpaths associated with the

Erie Canal The Erie Canal is a historic canal in upstate New York that runs east-west between the Hudson River and Lake Erie. Completed in 1825, the canal was the first navigable waterway connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes, vastly reducing t ...

for several miles and then walks through

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

, with a visit to

Fort Stanwix National Monument Fort Stanwix was a colonial fort whose construction commenced on August 26, 1758, under the direction of British General John Stanwix, at the location of present-day Rome, New York, but was not completed until about 1762. The bastion fort was built ...

. After an extended distance on rural roads to

Herkimer County Herkimer County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 60,139. Its county seat is Herkimer. The county was created in 1791 north of the Mohawk River out of part of Montgomery County. It is named af ...

, the trail enters

Adirondack Park The Adirondack Park is a part of New York's Forest Preserve in northeastern New York, United States. The park was established in 1892 for “the free use of all the people for their health and pleasure”, and for watershed protection. The park ...

. The NCT spends about the next in Adirondack Park, largely via wilderness footpaths in the western districts of the park and then remote forest roads in the eastern districts. In this region, the North Country Trail Association plans to build footpaths through nearby wilderness areas. The NCT reaches the shore of

Lake Champlain , native_name_lang = , image = Champlainmap.svg , caption = Lake Champlain-River Richelieu watershed , image_bathymetry = , caption_bathymetry = , location = New York/Vermont in the United States; and Quebec in Canada , coords = , type = , ...

and then walks through Crown Point State Historic Park. The trail joins NY 185 for a half-mile-long bridge over the lake and into Vermont.

Vermont

The North Country Trail spends about miles in Vermont. After the bridge over

, the NCT briefly follows VT 17 and VT 125 through Chimney Point State Park and two wildlife management areas. The trail uses a series of rural roads to the east, walking through Middlebury and East Middlebury. The trail then enters Mooselamoo National Recreation Area and

, following wilderness footpaths to the south and southeast. In the national forest, the NCT joins the preexisting

Long Trail The Long Trail is a hiking trail located in Vermont, running the length of the state. It is the oldest long-distance trail in the United States, constructed between 1910 and 1930 by the Green Mountain Club. The club remains the primary organiza ...

and the two trails follow the same path for the next 23 miles. At Blue Ridge Mountain in eastern

Rutland County Rutland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of the 2020 census, the population was 60,572, making it the second-most populous county in Vermont. Its county seat and most populous municipality is the city of Rutland. H ...

, the North Country Trail ends at the Maine Junction intersection with the

Trail towns

The North Country Trail Association coordinates a number of "trail towns" along the route of the NCT, in which local merchants and officials are encouraged to provide services to long-distance hikers. From west to east, these towns include: *

Lisbon, North Dakota Lisbon is a city in and the county seat of Ransom County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 2,204 at the 2020 census. History Lisbon was founded in 1880 by Joseph L. Colton, who named the new city after Lisbon, New York, his wif ...

Abercrombie, North Dakota Abercrombie is a city in Richland County, North Dakota, Richland County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 244 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Abercrombie was founded in 1884. History Abercrombie was founded in 1884. ...

Fergus Falls, Minnesota Fergus Falls is a city in and the county seat of Otter Tail County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 14,119 at the 2020 census. History The falls from which the city gets part of its name were discovered by Joe Whitford (a Scotti ...

Frazee, Minnesota Frazee ( ) is a city in Becker County, Minnesota, United States. It is the second-most-populous city in Becker County. The population was 1,335 at the 2020 census. History The community was originally named Detroit and later Third Crossing be ...

Walker, Minnesota Walker is a city in Cass County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 941 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Cass County. Walker is part of the Brainerd Micropolitan Statistical Area. Minnesota State Highways 34, 200, an ...

Solon Springs, Wisconsin Solon Springs is a village in Douglas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 600 at the 2010 census. The village is located within the Town of Solon Springs. History Solon Springs was first called White Birch, from a grove of whit ...

Mellen, Wisconsin Mellen is a city in Ashland County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 698 at the 2020 census. Attractions *Copper Falls State Park is located just north of Mellen. Government Mellen has a mayor-council form of government. ...

Marquette, Michigan Marquette ( ) is a city in Marquette County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 20,629 at the 2020 United States Census, which makes it the largest city in the Upper Peninsula. Marquette serves as the seat of government of Marquett ...

Grand Marais, Michigan Grand Marais ( ) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Alger County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located within Burt Township on the shores of Lake Superior, and the community is the eastern gateway to the ...

St. Ignace, Michigan St. Ignace is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Mackinac County. The city had a population of 2,452 at the 2010 census. St. Ignace Township is located just to the north of the city, but the two are administered autono ...

Mackinaw City, Michigan Mackinaw City ( ) is a village in Emmet and Cheboygan counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 846 at the 2010 census, the population increases during summertime, including an influx of tourists and seasonal workers who serve ...

Petoskey, Michigan Petoskey ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat and largest city in Emmet County. Part of Northern Michigan, Petoskey is a popular Midwestern resort town, as it sits on the shore of Little Traverse Bay, a bay of La ...

Kalkaska, Michigan Kalkaska ( ) is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan. Kalkaska is the county seat and only incorporated community of Kalkaska County, and is considered part of Northern Michigan. The population was 2,132 at the 2020 census, an increase from 2, ...

Fife Lake, Michigan Fife Lake ( ) is a village in southeastern Grand Traverse County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Its population was 456 at the 2020 census, up from 443 at the 2010 census. The village is part of the Traverse City micropolitan area, and lies upon ...

White Cloud, Michigan White Cloud is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, a small town on the bank of the White River. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 1,479. It is the county seat of Newaygo County. Being designated a trail town, the outdoors are a ...

Lowell, Michigan Lowell is a city in Kent County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,783 at the 2010 census. Lowell is part of the Grand Rapids metropolitan area and is about east of the city of Grand Rapids. The city is mostly surrounded by ...

Middleville, Michigan Middleville is a village in Thornapple Township, Barry County, in the U.S. state of Michigan and part of the Grand Rapids metropolitan area. The population was 4,295 at the 2020 census. History The first white settler to own land in the vil ...

Augusta, Michigan Augusta is a village in Kalamazoo County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 885 at the 2010 census. The village is mostly within Ross Township, though a small portion extends south into Charleston Township. Augusta is situated ...

Battle Creek, Michigan Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, Michigan, Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo River, Kalamazoo and Battle Creek River, Battle Creek rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle C ...

Marshall, Michigan Marshall is a U.S. city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Calhoun County. The population was 7,088 at the 2010 census. Marshall is best known for its cross-section of 19th- and early 20th-century architecture. It has been referred to by t ...

Albion, Michigan Albion is a city in Calhoun County in the south central region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 8,616 at the 2010 census and is part of the Battle Creek Metropolitan Statistical Area. The earliest English-s ...

Litchfield, Michigan Litchfield is a city in Hillsdale County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,399 at the 2020 census. The city is surrounded by Litchfield Township, but the two are administered autonomously. History The area was first settled b ...

Dayton, Ohio Dayton () is the sixth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County. A small part of the city extends into Greene County. The 2020 U.S. census estimate put the city population at 137,644, while Greater Day ...

Zoar, Ohio Zoar is a village in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, United States. The population was 169 at the 2010 census. The community was founded in 1817 by Radical Pietists as a utopian Christian community, which survived until 1898. Much of the village's e ...

Lisbon, Ohio Lisbon is a village (United States)#Ohio, village in and the county seat of Columbiana County, Ohio, United States, along the Little Beaver Creek. The population was 2,597 at the United States Census 2020, 2020 census. It is a part of the Micropo ...

Darlington, Pennsylvania Darlington is a borough in northwestern Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 248 at the 2020 census. It is a part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. History Darlington was settled in 1804 and incorporated on 28 March ...

Wampum, Pennsylvania Wampum is a borough in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. The population was 557 at the 2020 census. It is part of the New Castle micropolitan area. Geography Wampum is located at (40.888657, -80.339650). According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the ...

Parker, Pennsylvania Parker is a city located in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is in the extreme northwestern portion of the county. The population was 840 at the 2010 census. The city was named for Judge John Parker, a lead surveyor of Lawrence ...

Canastota, New York Canastota is a village located inside the Town of Lenox in Madison County, New York, United States. The population was 4,804 at the 2010 census. The village of Canastota is in the southern part of the Town of Lenox. Canastota High School is loca ...

Johnsburg, New York Johnsburg is a town in the northwestern corner of Warren County, New York, United States. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town population was 2,450 at the 2000 census. The town is named after John Thurman, an early ...

Along the lengthy segment of the NCT that shares a path with the

in Ohio, the Buckeye Trail Association manages several additional trail towns in which services are available to hikers.

and Zoar are coordinated by both organizations. From west to east, the additional Buckeye Trail towns include: *

Napoleon, Ohio Napoleon is a city in and the county seat of Henry County, Ohio, United States, along the Maumee River 44 miles southwest of Toledo. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 8,749. History The area around the town was once k ...

Defiance, Ohio Defiance is a city in and the county seat of Defiance County, Ohio, United States, about southwest of Toledo, Ohio, Toledo and northeast of Fort Wayne, Indiana, in Ohio's northwestern corner. The population was 16,494 at the 2010 United State ...

Delphos, Ohio Delphos is a city in Allen and Van Wert counties in the U.S. state of Ohio approximately 14 mi (23 km) northwest of Lima and 13 mi (21 km) east of Van Wert. The population was 7,101 at the 2010 census. The Allen County po ...

St. Marys, Ohio St. Marys is a city in Auglaize County, Ohio, United States. Located in western Ohio, it is west of Wapakoneta and east of the Ohio/Indiana border. The city is located on a portage between the St. Marys and Auglaize river systems, which was a ...

Fort Loramie, Ohio Fort Loramie is a village in Shelby County, Ohio, United States, along Loramie Creek, a tributary of the Great Miami River in southwestern Ohio. It is 42 mi. northnorthwest of Dayton and 20 mi. east of the Ohio/Indiana border. The po ...

Piqua, Ohio Piqua ( ) is a city in Miami County, southwest Ohio, United States, 27 miles north of Dayton. The population was 20,522 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was founded as the village of Washington in ...

Troy, Ohio Troy is a city in and the county seat of Miami County, Ohio, Miami County, Ohio, United States, located north of Dayton, Ohio, Dayton. The population was 26,305 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the largest city in Miami Cou ...

Yellow Springs, Ohio Yellow Springs is a village in Greene County, Ohio, United States. The population was 3,697 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is home to Antioch College. History The area of the village had long b ...

Xenia, Ohio Xenia ( ) is a city in southwestern Ohio and the county seat of Greene County, Ohio, United States. It is east of Dayton and is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area, as well as the Miami Valley region. The name comes from the Greek l ...

Spring Valley, Ohio Spring Valley is a village in Greene County, Ohio, United States. The population was 415 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area. History Spring Valley had its start in the early 1840s by the building of the L ...

Loveland, Ohio Loveland is a city in Hamilton, Clermont, and Warren counties in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. Considered part of the Greater Cincinnati area, Loveland is located near exit 52 off Interstate 275, about northeast of the Cinc ...

Milford, Ohio Milford is a city in Clermont and Hamilton counties founded in 1796, in the U.S. state of Ohio, along the Little Miami River and its East Fork in the southwestern part of the state. It is a part of the Greater Cincinnati metropolitan area. The po ...

* Shawnee, Ohio *

Deersville, Ohio Deersville is a village in Harrison County, Ohio, United States. The population was 69 at the 2020 census. The Deersville Historic District is located along Main Street. History Deersville was platted in 1815. A post office called Deersville ha ...

Major intersections

Western terminus:

North Dakota * US 83

US 83 U.S. Route 83 (US 83) is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway that extends in the central United States. Only four other north–south routes are longer: US 1, US 41, US 59, and US 87, while US ...

in Coleharbor * US 52

US 52 U.S. Route 52 (US 52) is a major United States highway in the central United States that extends from the northern to southeastern region of the United States. Contrary to most other even-numbered U.S. Highways, US 52 primarily follows ...

near

Harvey Harvey, Harveys or Harvey's may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Harvey'' (play), a 1944 play by Mary Chase about a man befriended by an invisible anthropomorphic rabbit * Harvey Awards ("Harveys"), one of the most important awards ...

US 281 U.S. Route 281 (US 281) is a north–south United States Numbered Highway. At it is the longest continuous three-digit U.S. Route. The highway's northern terminus is at the International Peace Garden, north of Dunseith, North Dakota, at t ...

in New Rockford * I-94

I-94/

in Valley City * I-29

I-29 Interstate 29 (I-29) is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern United States. I-29 runs from Kansas City, Missouri, at a junction with I-35 and I-70, to the Canada–US border near Pembina, North Dakota, where it connects with Manitoba P ...

US 81 U.S. Route 81 or U.S. Highway 81 (US 81) is a major north–south U.S. highway that extends for in the central United States and is one of the original United States Numbered Highways established in 1926 by the American Association of Stat ...

near

Minnesota * US 75

US 75 U.S. Route 75 is a major north–south U.S. Highway that extends in the central United States. The highway's northern terminus is in Noyes, Minnesota, at the Canadian border, where it once continued as Manitoba Highway 75 on the other side o ...

Kent Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...

I-94/

US 59 U.S. Route 59 (US 59) is a north–south United States highway (though it was signed east–west in parts of Texas). A latecomer to the U.S. numbered route system, US 59 is now a border-to-border route, part of the NAFTA Corridor Highway Sy ...

near

Elizabeth Elizabeth or Elisabeth may refer to: People * Elizabeth (given name), a female given name (including people with that name) * Elizabeth (biblical figure), mother of John the Baptist Ships * HMS ''Elizabeth'', several ships * ''Elisabeth'' (sch ...

US 10 The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

near Frazee * US 71

US 71 U.S. Route 71 or U.S. Highway 71 (US 71) is a major north–south United States highway that extends for over 1500 miles (2500 km) in the central United States. This original 1926 route has remained largely unchanged by encroaching Interstat ...

Itasca State Park Itasca State Park (pronounced eye-ta-ska) is a state park of Minnesota, United States, and contains the headwaters of the Mississippi River. The park spans of northern Minnesota, and is located about north of Park Rapids, Minnesota and from Ba ...

US 2 U.S. Route 2 or U.S. Highway 2 (US 2) is an east–west U.S. Highway spanning across the northern continental United States. US 2 consists of two segments connected by various roadways in southern Canada. Unlike some routes, whi ...

US 169 U.S. Route 169 (US 169) is a north-south U.S highway that currently runs for 966 miles (1,555 km) from the city of Virginia, Minnesota to Tulsa, Oklahoma at Memorial Drive. Route description Oklahoma US 169 is a major north–south ...

multiple times northeast of Grand Rapids * US 53

US 53 U.S. Route 53, or U.S. Highway 53 (U.S. 53), is a north–south U.S. highway that runs for 404 miles (650 km) from La Crosse, Wisconsin to International Falls, Minnesota. It is the primary north–south route in northwestern Wisconsin, s ...

Duluth , settlement_type = City , nicknames = Twin Ports (with Superior), Zenith City , motto = , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top: urban Duluth skyline; Minnesota ...

I-35 Interstate 35 (I-35) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates that end in a five, it is a major cross-country, north–south route. It stretches from Laredo, Texas, near the Mexican border ...

in Duluth Wisconsin * US 53

in Solon Springs * US 2

Iron County Iron County is the name of four counties in the United States: *Iron County, Michigan *Iron County, Missouri *Iron County, Utah *Iron County, Wisconsin Iron County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, t ...

Michigan * US 41

US 41 U.S. Route 41, also U.S. Highway 41 (US 41), is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway that runs from Miami, Florida, to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Until 1949, the part in southern Florida, from Naples to Miami, ...

Baraga County Baraga County ( ) is a county in the Upper Peninsula in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 8,158, making it Michigan's fifth-least populous county. The county seat is L'Anse. The county is named after Bishop ...

at the

in Petoskey * US 131

US 131 near Fife Lake * US 131

US 131 in Wexford County * US 10

in Lake County * US 131

near Cedar Springs * I-96

I-96 Interstate 96 (I-96) is an east–west Interstate Highway that runs for approximately entirely within the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. The western terminus is at an interchange with US Highway 31 (US 31) and Bus ...

in Kent County * I-94

I-94 near

in Jonesville Ohio * US 20

US 20 U.S. Route 20 or U.S. Highway 20 (US 20) is an east–west United States Numbered Highway that stretches from the Pacific Northwest east to New England. The "0" in its route number indicates that US 20 is a major coast-to-coast route. S ...

in Williams County * I-80

I-80 Interstate 80 (I-80) is an east–west transcontinental freeway that crosses the United States from downtown San Francisco, California, to Teaneck, New Jersey, in the New York metropolitan area. The highway was designated in 1956 as one o ...

I-90 Interstate 90 (I-90) is an east–west transcontinental freeway and the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It begins in Seattle, Washington, and travels through the Pacific Northwest, Mountain West, Great Plains, Midwest, and ...

(

Ohio Turnpike The Ohio Turnpike, officially the James W. Shocknessy Ohio Turnpike, is a limited-access toll highway in the U.S. state of Ohio, serving as a primary corridor between Chicago and Pittsburgh. The road runs east–west in the northern section of ...

) in Williams County * US 127

US 127 U.S. Route 127 (US 127) is a north–south U.S. Highway in the eastern half of the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at US 27 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The northern terminus is at Interstate 75 (I-75) near Gr ...

in West Unity * US 24

US 24 U.S. Route 24 (US 24) is one of the original United States highways of 1926. It originally ran from Pontiac, Michigan, in the east to Kansas City, Missouri, in the west. Today, the highway's eastern terminus is in Independence Township, Mic ...

near Waterville * US 6

US 6 U.S. Route 6 (US 6), also called the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, honoring the American Civil War veterans association, is a main route of the U.S. Highway system. While it currently runs east-northeast from Bishop, California, to ...

near

US 224 U.S. Route 224 (US 224) is a spur of US 24 that runs through the states of Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania. It currently runs for from US 24 in Huntington, Indiana, east to US 422 Business (US 422 Bus.) and Pennsylvani ...

Ottoville Ottoville is a village in Putnam County, Ohio, in the United States. The population was 976 at the 2010 census. History The first plat at Ottoville was made in 1845 for John Otto Bredeick. The effort at first proved unsuccessful, and the town ...

US 30 U.S. Route 30 or U.S. Highway 30 (US 30) is an east–west main route in the system of the United States Numbered Highways, with the highway traveling across the northern tier of the country. With a length of , it is the third longest ...

in Delphos * US 33

US 33 U.S. Route 33 (US 33) is a United States Numbered Highway that runs northwest–southeast for from northern Indiana to Richmond, Virginia, passing through Ohio and West Virginia en route. Although most odd-numbered U.S. routes are north–s ...

in St. Marys * I-75

near Piqua * I-70

I-70 Interstate 70 (I-70) is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from I-15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a park and ride lot just east of I-695 in Baltimore, Maryland, and is the fifth-longest Interstate in the co ...

in Vandalia * I-75

twice in

US 68 U.S. Route 68 (US 68) is a United States highway that runs for from northwest Ohio to Western Kentucky. The highway's western terminus is at US 62 in Reidland, Kentucky. Its present northern terminus is at Interstate 75 in Findlay, Ohio, though ...

in Yellow Springs * US 35

US 35 U.S. Route 35 (US 35) is a United States Highway that runs southeast-northwest for approximately from the western suburbs of Charleston, West Virginia to northern Indiana. Although the highway is physically southeast-northwest, it is nomin ...

in Xenia * US 42

US 42 U.S. Route 42 (US 42) is an east–west United States highway that runs southwest–northeast for from Louisville, Kentucky to Cleveland, Ohio. The route has several names including Pearl Road from Cleveland to Medina in Northeast Ohio, Readi ...

in Spring Valley * I-71

I-71 Interstate 71 (I-71) is a north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes/Midwestern and Southeastern region of the United States. Its southern terminus is at an interchange with I-64 and I-65 (the Kennedy Interchange) in Louisville, ...

near

Fort Ancient Fort Ancient is a name for a Native American culture that flourished from Ca. 1000-1750 CE and predominantly inhabited land near the Ohio River valley in the areas of modern-day southern Ohio, northern Kentucky, southeastern Indiana and western ...

I-275 Interstate 275 (I-275) may refer to: *Interstate 275 (Florida), a loop through Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Bradenton in Florida *Interstate 275 (Michigan), a western bypass of Detroit, Michigan *Interstate 275 (Ohio–Indiana–Kentucky), a full belt ...

near Branch Hill * US 50

US 50 U.S. Route 50 or U.S. Highway 50 (US 50) is a major east–west route of the U.S. Highway system, stretching from Interstate 80 (I-80) in West Sacramento, California, to Maryland Route 528 (MD 528) in Ocean City, Maryland, on the Atlantic ...

near South Milford * I-77

I-77 Interstate 77 (I-77) is a north–south Interstate Highway in the eastern United States. It traverses diverse terrain, from the mountainous state of West Virginia to the rolling farmlands of North Carolina and Ohio. It largely supplants the ...

in Macksburg * I-70

near Old Washington * US 22

US 22 U.S. Route 22 (US 22) is a west–east route and is one of the original United States highways of 1926, running from Cincinnati, Ohio, at U.S. Route 27, US 27, U.S. Route 42, US 42, U.S. Route 127, US 127, and U.S. Route 52, US 52 to Newark, New ...

in Salt Fork State Park * US 22

twice near Piedmont Reservoir * US 30

multiple times in

Columbiana County Columbiana County is a County (United States), county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the population was 101,877. The county seat is Lisbon, Ohio, Lisbon and its largest city is Salem, Ohio, ...

Pennsylvania * I-76

I-76 Interstate 76 may refer to: Interstate Highways in the United States * Interstate 76 (Colorado–Nebraska) * Interstate 76 (Ohio–New Jersey), running through Pennsylvania Video gaming * ''Interstate '76 ''Interstate '76'' is a vehicular c ...

(

Pennsylvania Turnpike The Pennsylvania Turnpike (Penna Turnpike or PA Turnpike) is a toll highway operated by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. A controlled-access highway, it runs for across the state. The turnpike's we ...

) in Lawrence County * I-376

I-376 Interstate 376 (I-376) is a major auxiliary route of the Interstate Highway System in the US state of Pennsylvania, located within the Allegheny Plateau. It runs from I-80 near Sharon south and east to a junction with the Pennsylvania Tur ...

in Lawrence County * US 19

US 19 U.S. Route 19 (US 19) is a north–south U.S. Highway in the Eastern United States. Despite encroaching Interstate Highways, the route has remained a long-haul road, connecting the Gulf of Mexico with Lake Erie. The highway's southern ...

in Butler County * I-79

I-79 Interstate 79 (I-79) is an Interstate Highway in the eastern United States, designated from I-77 in Charleston, West Virginia, north to Pennsylvania Route 5 (PA 5) and PA 290 in Erie, Pennsylvania. It is a primary thoroughfare ...

in Butler County * US 422

US 422 U.S. Route 422 (US 422) is a long spur route of US 22 split into two segments in the U.S. states of Ohio and Pennsylvania. The western segment of US 422 runs from downtown Cleveland, Ohio, east to Ebensburg, Pennsylvania. ...

in Emlenton * US 322

US 322 U.S. Route 322 (US 322) is a long, east–west United States Highway, traversing Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. The road is a spur of U.S. Route 22 and one of the original highways from 1926. A portion of it at one time was concurrent with ...

multiple times in

Clarion County Clarion County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 37,241. Its county seat is Clarion. The county was formed on March 11, 1839, from parts of Venango and Armstrong counties. Clarion Cou ...

near

Ludlow Ludlow () is a market town in Shropshire, England. The town is significant in the history of the Welsh Marches and in relation to Wales. It is located south of Shrewsbury and north of Hereford, on the A49 road which bypasses the town. The t ...

New York * I-86

in Shongo * I-86

near Almond Lake * I-81

I-81 Interstate 81 (I-81) is a north–south (physically northeast–southwest) Interstate Highway in the eastern part of the United States. Its southern terminus is at I-40 in Dandridge, Tennessee; its northern terminus is on Wellesley Island ...

near Messengervile * US 20

in Cazenovia * I-90

(

New York State Thruway {{Infobox road , state = NY , type = NYST , alternate_name = Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway , maint = NYSTA , map = {{maplink, frame=yes, plain=yes, frame-align=center, frame-width=290, type=line, stroke-width=2, type2=line, from2=New Yor ...

) near

Oneida Oneida may refer to: Native American/First Nations * Oneida people, a Native American/First Nations people and one of the five founding nations of the Iroquois Confederacy * Oneida language * Oneida Indian Nation, based in New York * Oneida Na ...

I-87 Interstate 87 may refer to either of two unconnected Interstate Highways in the United States: * Interstate 87 (New York), a highway running from New York City north to the Canadian border in Champlain, New York. * Interstate 87 (North Carolina) ...

near Schroon Lake Vermont * US 7

US 7 U.S. Route 7 (US 7) is a north–south United States highway in western New England that runs for through the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont. The highway's southern terminus is at Interstate 95 (I-95) exit 15 ...

multiple times in Middlebury Eastern terminus: ANST-Triangle-Logo 1

at Maine Junction,

References

External links

North Country Trail AssociationThe North Country Trail
on th
National Park Service's websiteJournals from the North Country TrailNorth Country Trail
Video produced by

Wisconsin Public Television PBS Wisconsin (formerly Wisconsin Public Television or WPT) is a state network of non-commercial educational television stations operated primarily by the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin–Madison. It c ...