North Country National Scenic Trail
Did you know that the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCNST) passes through three National Parks, eight National Forests, and one National Grassland?
The North Country National Scenic Trail is being constructed across federal, state, county and private land. Upon completion the trail will extend from Crown Point, New York to Lake Sakakawea, North Dakota. It will be the longest, continuous hiking trail in the United States.
The 128.8-mile portion of the NCNST that goes through the Manistee portion of the National forests has 15 spur trails to other forest hiking and interpretive trails.
The NCNST is marked with blue rectangle-shaped blazes. Connector trails are marked with white rectangle blazes on trees. For information on the NCNST visit the National Park Service www.nps.gov/noco/index.htm.
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General Information
Location - Manistee National Forest
Nearby Recreation Areas -
Marilla Trailhead
Upper River Road Trailhead
Udell Trailhead
Freesoil Trailhead
- None
Timber Creek Trailhead
- Ward Hills Snowmobile Trail
- Timber Creek Campground
- Pere Marquette National Scenic River
- Upper Branch Bridge River Access
Bowman Lake Trailhead
- Bowman Lake Campground
- Timber Creek Campground
- Pere Marquette National Scenic River
- Upper Branch Bridge River Access
- Sulak
76th St. Trailhead
Nichols Lake North Trailhead
M-20 Trailhead
40th St. Trailhead
County - Newaygo, Lake, Mason, Manistee
April 1 - November 30
Recreation Enhancement Act Fee - Day Use fee required at the following trailheads-
- Marilla Trailhead
- Udell Trailhead
- Timber Creek Trailhead
- Nichols Lake North
- M-20 Trailhead
Recreation Enhancement Act Fee - Day Use -
- Day: $5.00
- Week: $15.00
Special Use Permit -
- No special use permit is required for individuals or small groups (74 people or less).
- Permits are required for commercial, event or large groups (75 people or more).
Visit the Passes and Permits section for more information on obtaining a special use permit.
Udell, Timber Creek
Allowed -
- Nonmotorized nonmechanized and snow use
- Llamas
- Bicycles - some segments
- Pets on leash
- Dispersed Camping
Prohibited -
- Motorized and over-snow vehicles
- Pack and saddle animals
As a visitor to the National Forest, you are asked to follow certain rules designed to protect the Forest, natural resources and to provide for public safety of visitors. These rules are available to you on-line or at any office of the Huron-Manistee National Forests. General Topic orders apply across the Forests. Applicable Orders -
- Motorized Vehicle Use of Roads, Trails and Off-road Areas
- Occupancy and Use
- North Country National Scenic Trail
Getting There
Parking
10 trailheads that hold 6 or more vehicles
Directions
Marilla Trailhead is the northen most access to the trail on the Huron-Manistee National Forests. Information is provided north to south.
From Marilla
From Mesick -
- Travel west on M-115 for 2 miles.
- Turn left and travel west on Hodenpyl Dam Rd. for 5.5 miles.
- The site is on the left after a steep hill.
GPS Coordinates: X: -85.840131 Y: 44.373778
From Upper River Road
From Manistee -
- Travel east on M-55 for 15 miles.
- Turn left and travel north on High Bridge Rd. for 6 miles.
- Turn right and travel east on Coates Hwy. for 7.5 miles.
- Turn left and travel north on Upper River Rd.
- The site is located on your left.
GPS Coordinates: X: -85.871607 Y: 44.289659
From Udell Trailhead
From Manistee -
- Travel east on M-55 for 12.5 miles.
- Turn right and travel north on Fire Tower Rd. to the site.
GPS Coordinates: X: -86.076318 Y: 44.232566
From Freesoil Trailhead
From Manistee -
- Travel south on US-31 for 9 miles.
- Turn left and travel east on Freesoil Rd. for 13 miles.
- The site is located at the corner of Elk Hwy. and Freesoil Rd.
GPS Coordinates: X: -86.027804 Y: 44.105138
From Timber Creek Trailhead
From Baldwin -
- Travel north on M-37 for 3 miles.
- Turn left and travel west on US-10 for 7.5 miles.
- The site is located on the right, in the campground.
GPS Coordinates: X: -85.995641 Y: 43.94861
From Bowman Lake Trailhead
From Baldwin -
- Travel west on 56th St. for 7 miles.
- The site is located on the right.
GPS Coordinates: X: -85.967406 Y: 43.696371
From 76th Street Trailhead
From Baldwin -
- Travel south on M-37 for 3 miles.
- Turn right and travel west on 76th St. for 2.5 miles.
- The site is located on the right (north) of the road.
GPS Coordinates: X: -85.901593 Y: 43.850781
From Nichols Lake North
From Baldwin -
- Travel south on M-37 for 10 miles.
- Turn right and travel west on 14 Mile Rd. for 1 mile.
- Turn left and travel south on Bingham Rd. for 1 mile.
- Turn right and travel west on Cleveland Dr. for 2.25 miles.
- The site is located on the left.
GPS Coordinates: X: -85.910396 Y: 43.731613
From M-20 Trailhead
From White Cloud -
- Travel north on M-37 for 1 mile.
- Turn left and travel west on M-20 for 2.75 miles.
- The site is located on the left.
GPS Coordinates: X: -85.826439 Y: 43.568028
From 40th Street Trailhead
From White Cloud -
- Travel south on M-37 for 5 miles.
- Turn right and travel west on 40th St. for .75 miles.
- The site is located on the left (south) of the road.
GPS Coordinates: X: -85.781176 Y: 43.480777
