Planning a 4-day shake-down hike in the Lower Peninsula (MI) in May—how bad will the bugs be? 😬

I live in Chicago and looking for reccomendations for a scenic 15-20 stretch that’s within 3 hr drive if possible, ideally with the most of it going through forest areas. If anyone has a recommendation would be appreciated!

Hello! I'm planning a quick 3 day hike in a few weeks. I live in Central New York (in Ithaca) and could drive up to 5 hours or so. I have a trail-acclimated dog and a 15 year old. Any recommendations near me? Thank you in advance!

Hi all. Just stopping by to share a great experience with local chapters. I’m planning a 7 day section hike in the UP (MI) from Muskallonge Lake State Park to Marquette for this summer. I did the park to park hike several years ago and decided to continue it this year. The section is a bit tricky because it goes through Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore as well as through several towns (Grand Marais, Munising, and Marquette). I was early enough to grab appropriate sites in Pictured Rocks but after that I wasn’t entirely sure what camping options were. I went online and found the Marquette Chapter as well as the Superior Shoreline Chapters. Messaged them on Facebook Sunday morning and within hours I had responses from both chapters giving me all the information I needed for dispersed camping and even section guide documents from the Marquette Chapter. Everyone was super responsive and super helpful and very kind. I’m sure your experience may vary by chapter but just a reminder that these volunteers are amazing and a great resource.

I’m looking at knocking out as much as I can of the lower peninsula this spring, summer, and fall over the weekends. Is it pretty difficult to find places to camp? Or should I be able to find places to set up camp pretty easily?

I'd like people's thoughts here on what most consider the hardest section hike of the NCT? When Googling it, the top result is the Trap Hills section in Michigan. Is that the generally agreed upon hardest section or are there others?

Ohio seems like a challenge for throughhikers, it has a lot of farm roads and urban areas. Does anyone have experience backpacking between west unity and waterville?

My wife and I are wanting to do a thru hike in late August/early September of this year. I am wanting to get the most bang for our buck with regard to scenic trails and remoteness. Can you give me some recommendations of trails or sections that we should look in to?

Does anyone have a check list of section hikes? Even better if it's separated by state. I'm having trouble keeping track lol

Anyone know what these are?…Hundreds of white posts in a fenced off area just north of the 76th St Trailhead near Baldwin, MI.

Hey I’m hiking from Grand Marais to Munising in early November, any idea of the trail conditions and the weather this time of year?

Let me first clarify some specifics/desires of my trip:

I agree that the 3 triple crown loops (Manistee River, Jordan River, and Fife Lake) are arguably the 3 best sections to backpack in the lower peninsula, but I’ve done each at least 5-10x and I’m looking for a new section.

Also, I’m just looking for the best overnight section in or near the Manistee National forest, so nothing longer than 25miles tops.

And I realize you can pretty much camp anywhere along the trail but I’d prefer not to stay at any established “car camping” areas or campgrounds that are right off the trail. I’d prefer areas where I can backcountry camp off trail not in an actual campground.

What are some of your favorite sections? I just hiked around Bowman lake last weekend and that was really nice, but I’m not sold on their 4 campsites due to them all being taken even in cold rain. So I don’t want to chance not having a spot.

A couple buddies and I have finally accumulated gear for our first trip in a couple weeks. We are having a hard time finding information on this trail, and have some general backpacking questions. We plan on taking it easy for our first trip, just doing 1 night and 2 days on the lower Michigan part. I’ve called the number on the website and left a VM and no one has called back, so I’m wondering if someone here can answer a couple questions for me.

1.) We plan on driving up ourselves, parking somewhere then hopping on the trail. Are there designated parking spots around the trail? If so is there a map?

2.) Do we need any permits/licenses to be on this trail?

Thanks!

I am interested in trying to hike the entire NCT and looking for any advice/thoughts/comments.

The general idea would be to hike for a relatively short period (2-3 days) with plans to stop into towns along the way so that I can replenish supplies, access Wi-Fi for minor work things, etc.

Some questions that come to mind:

• Any resources from/about folks who have done this before and their approach?
• I have not paid for any trail apps before but would consider it for this trek. Which do you think is best (assuming premium)? Any special considerations for the NCT wrt to this?
• Any recommendations on which end to start on? I have a slight preference to end on the east coast bc I have friends/family out there but curious what should be considered, if anything.
• How long should I expect this to take?
• If you don’t think it is feasible, why?
• Other important considerations?
• Other recommended resources?

Thanks!

Hello! I have decided to begin planning a trip across Michigan’s UP along the trail for the summer after I graduate university. I’m having a hard time finding good information on the Internet as per how long it would take to do. The current plan would be to have someone drop me off in ironwood and then have someone else meet me at the mackinac bridge. My hope here is that one of you lovely individuals may have done this hike and would have any tips for me! I know that this is a really long hike and I need to train for a few years before I can have a decent shot but I figured I’d get a jump start on the little details!

Any input is greatly appreciated!!

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https://preview.redd.it/7lixwl7rslcb1.jpg?width=1160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8e112687405941a870eddb5a2dec7919642383a3

Note the presence on the map key of explosives, exhaust vents, sewage lagoons, all in the vicinity of the NCT. The Tailings Disposal Dam will hold 50+ million tons of waste rock, tilted towards Lake Superior.

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https://preview.redd.it/ex6zmoytslcb1.png?width=1167&format=png&auto=webp&s=24d5233eafcdbe7c7f243597bbc0438fd7b3ccc1

Additionally, the mine will be the closest metallic sulfide mine to Lake Superior in history, and has plans to drill beneath the Presque Isle River to extract minerals from beneath Porcupine Mountains State Park, the largest SP in Michigan and largest mixed old growth forest remaining in the Midwest. The NCT would pass directly through this mined area as well.

Summer site preparation has just begun at Copperwood Mine-- we have seen the improvement of their entrance road, the presence of a "trucks hauling" sign and a steamroller parked on site. There is still no mine to speak of-- they are in the preparatory stages, however they have most of the required permits. They do not yet have the permits for the tailings disposal facility.

Until now there has been no public opposition because there has been no one trying to raise awareness. We are moving forward on this front as fast as we can, but with limited resources.

For more information, www.ProtectThePorkies.com

Please sign the petition: www.change.org/ProtectThePorkies

You may also join our subreddit: r/CancelCopperwood

Thanks

The last couple of summers I have been based in Vermont and have been day-section hiking the Vermont section of the North Country Trail as of 2023.

There is scant information about this 70-mile section online, since it was only appended to the NCT in 2019. Here is what you need to know:

The eastern trail terminus starts at Maine Junction north of Highway 4 near Rutland, Vermont. At this junction the AT shoots east while the Long Trail (and the NCT) shoot north.

The NCT follows the Long Trail 24 miles north, over mostly mellow terrain, with Cape Lookoff Mountain the highest peak (. Shelters are abundant, well blazed.

At MM 24.5 the NCT heads east off the Long Trail into the Moosalamoo Recreation area, for a thirteen miles of USFS maintained trail through a large trail network. Consistent blazing and signage (although the NCT is not labeled on the map linked above). Stealthing is possible and allowed, or there are sites at the USFS Mooslamoo Campground.

The NCT exits Moosalamoo at the Oak Ridge Trailhead. There is a very new section of trail which is marginally blazed/built to connect you to East Middlebury. Right now this new section is denoted on the ESRI map on the NCT website but not denoted on Farout. It looks like they're actively developing this trail, which avoids a steep curvy dangerous road section. There is a lovely swimming hole right below the bridge over the Middlebury River.

There is a short 4-mile road section (little to no blazing) through the town of east Middlebury (with a convenience store) and then through industrial/ag areas, before the trail meets up with the "Trail around Middlebury".

The Trail around Middlebury (or TAM) is maintained by The Middlebury Area Land Trust as a partner organization to the NCTA. It's about nine miles in length and covers a wide variety of landscapes in 9 miles including Chapman Hill and streets through Middlebury. There is a grocery store/donut shop a couple of blocks off the trail and lodging, but no camping available.

The NCT departs the TAM northwest of Middlebury for about four miles of narrow trail through an agricultural area. It passes right near Monument Farms Dairy if you are there on a weekday afternoon (1 to 5 pm) for the best chocolate milk you'll ever have. There is also a small waterfall at Bittersweet Falls.

The rest of the trail is on road through agricultural scenery, starting with a five mile section over Snake Mountain before dropping into the valley for a 7 mile linear shot west along Town Line Road. It then meets Highway 125 for a couple of miles or busy roadwalk before meeting the bridge across Lake Champaign to Crown Point in New York.

Hope this helps and enjoy the Trail!

I just looked at FarOut (Guthook) a few days ago, but when I looked again today, there was the NCT! I wasn’t expecting this, so I’m pretty excited.

Many people are familiar with FarOut, but for those who aren’t, and wondering why this would be different than any other online map, this allows for comments from users with each icon on the map. This is especially useful for water in dry/drought conditions. I had many miles in Michigan last year where all the creek crossings and ponds were bone dry. It is helpful to be able to share that info for the next people that come along. Confusing turns, interesting camp spots, good resupply spots/hiker friendly businesses in trail towns, or warnings of car break-ins at parking spots are all the kinds of things where you can write or read notes.

It is also nice because the trail association can make immediate warnings of trail closures or reroutes because of fire/natural disaster/etc.

It currently is $75 for the whole bundle. Pretty pricy, but you can pay for only one area (usually a state) in a drop down menu.

It doesn’t have trail towns in it (hopefully those will end up included) and Minnesota doesn’t include the Superior Hiking Trail.

Has anyone ever hiked the Chippewa section? It seems that no one has ever posted about it here which is a little concerning. Planning on backpacking a portion as an overnighter in a couple weeks. Am I in for an absolute slog through the undergrowth or what?

Hikers! I’m currently working on an infographic compiling data on the top 25 longest thru-hikes in America. Much more difficult feat. than I expected it to be. As a graphics major I’ve been testing my geography/mapping skills and still can’t seem to figure out the point of highest elevation on the entire NCT. If anyone has a clue to this answer please help! Would hate to have this hole in my project since I am a Yooper myself :,)

Hi all, looking for a little help here. I'm looking at taking my 8 year old on his first backpacking trip this spring/early summer and I'm hoping to do a fairly short mileage overnighter on the NCT near the Newaygo-White Cloud area. I know that a lot of the section is in the Manistee National Forest so LNT appropriate stealth camping should be ok, but I was wondering if anyone had good spots they've used within say 5 miles of a trailhead/road crossing etc.

I have section hiked/biked and skied from Baldwin to Brevort and at times wound up having to bike on sections where bikes were not allowed. Now that I'm driving two hours to get to new trail it would be nice to plan ahead.
Is there a map somewhere that designates which sections do not allow bikes?