North Country Trail
My North Country Trail Hike
I hope to hike the North Country Trail before I'm too old. We'll see.
North Country Trail Statistics
| States | North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York |
| Distance | 4600 miles - much of the trail is not yet complete and trail reroutes happen so this is an estimate of the trail length. When I complete the trail, I'll let you know how many steps it took me since I'll wear a pedometer the distance. |
| Total Elevation | unknown since the trail is not complete |
| Terminus | West: Lake Sakakawea State Park in ND East: Crown Point State Park in NY |
| Highest Point | |
| Lowest Point | |
| Map |  Click for Large Map |
| Terrain | Most of the trail traverses northeastern forest with very little elevation. The western portion opens up to the great plains. The trail is well-used in few sections, with about 40% of it still unrouted which requires road walking. |
| History | designated as a National Scenic Trail in 1980. |
| Challenges | Humidity, heat, and insects during the summer months. Completing before winter. |
| Time Window | As early as you can handle the snow and cold. February or March. A flip-flop hike starting around Cincinnati heading east starts and ends at the most southern part of the trail, hopefully resulting in milder weather early and late in the hike. Otherwise, an eastbound hike tends to have wind at your back most of the time. |
| Time to Hike | There is no typical time since so few have attempted it and so much of the trail is incomplete. But, 4600 miles at about 20mpd would require 7 to 9 months. |
| Permits | |
| Thru-hiker Tally | less than 10, no award or recognition for thru-hiking or section hiking. Ed Talone (1994), Andrew Skurka (2005), Eb Eberhard (2009) are three known thru-hikes, Ed Talone being recognized as the first. |
Trail Links | |
| Full Maps | NPS map |
| Agencies | North Country Trail Association |
Land Managers and Partners of the North Country Trail
| National Park Service |
| Forest Service |
Hike On: My Hikes
All Comments:
May 02, 2018 - Cody
My friend Jake and I are leaving in mid June from the Manistee National Forest and hiking the NCT toward North Dakota!
Aug 31, 2020 - Suzanne Riley
So did you make it? How far did you get? I'm looking for some
inspiration and realism. Wishing you the best. Thank you!
Aug 31, 2020 - Hiking Dude
@Suzanne - I haven't started this one yet. I have hiked about 300
miles of it in MN, but that's all.
Jan 05, 2021 - JERRY FRICK
In the late 70's early 80's a girl stopped at the post office in
Walkerville, Michigan (a mail stop) looking for a place to camp
for the night. She camped in our backyard. She was writing a
book about the trail for a small town news paper. She said it
had never been hiked all the way before. A friend of hers got
hurt on a bike in Ohio and was joining her at the Straits. She
started with a group with snow on the ground and a lot of them
quit. She sent us a card that they made it to the end in
October. We lost track of her name. Would like to know who she
was.
Jan 05, 2021 - Hiking Dude
@Jerry - The list of people known to have completed the NCT can be
found here.
Jan 12, 2022 - Barbara Hairston
is the trail marked? I have walked the Dayton Ohio area and
not seen any signs
Jan 19, 2022 - Hiking Dude
@Barbara - On such a long trail as the NCT, different sections are
more advanced in development than others. Some sections are very
well blazed while others are blazeless. Having a detailed map,
paper or digital, is super helpful.
Feb 05, 2022 - john
This is a awesome article and very well laid out. What
section do you recommend in Michigan for a beginner?
Feb 05, 2022 - Hiking Dude
@John - I've not hiked it in MI yet, so I can't say. Plus, it
depends on how far you want to hike and how many days. On the NCT
in MI, there are urban walks, wilderness forests, parks, and road
walks. Typically, MI forests and climate are better for hiking in
the fall due to bugs, humidity, and heat in summer.
You can find out about the NCT sections in MI Here.
You can find out about the NCT sections in MI Here.
Mar 30, 2022 - Jim
What month would you suggest or heard if some one wanting to
attempt a westbound hike of the NCT? I guess probably try to get
to ND by September or October? Before the snow
Mar 30, 2022 - Hikin
@Jim - As soon as the eastern terminus is hikable. The historic
average low on April 15 at the eastern terminus is 32F. Starting
April 1 would give you 7 months to finish by Halloween at 22mpd.
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