North Country National Scenic Trail

Mountain Biking

Mountain Biking Sections -

Marilla Trailhead to Dillng Rd.(Tippy Dam/Sawdust Hole Area)-

• Bicycles Allowed?: Yes
• Miles: 21

Dilling Rd. (Tippy Dam/Sawdust Hole Area) to Udell Trailhead -

• Bicycles Allowed?: No
• Miles: 10

Udell Trailhead to M-55 -

• Bicycles Allowed?: No
• Miles: 10

M-55 to Bowman Lake Trailhead -

• Bicycles Allowed?: Yes
• Miles: 41

Bowman Lake Trailhead to Nichols Lake North Trailhead -

• Bicycles Allowed?: No
• Miles: 17

Nichols Lake North Trailhead to M-20 Trailhead -

• Bicycles Allowed?: Yes
• Miles: 18

M-20 Trailhead to Croton Dam -

• Bicycles Allowed?: No
• Miles: 19

Areas for Mountain Biking at North Country National Scenic Trail

• Bowman Lake Trailhead
• Freesoil Trailhead
• Marilla Trailhead

Campground Camping

Dispersed camping is allowed along the trail.  Visit the webpage on Dispersed Camping for more information.

The campgrounds listed below either have connector trails to them from the North Country Trail or are within walking distance of the trail.

Marilla Trailhead

• Seaton Creek Campground

Upper River Road Trailhead

• Red Bridge River Access

Udell Trailhead

• Blacksmith Bayou

Freesoil Trailhead

• Bear Track Campground

Timber Creek Trailhead

• Timber Creek Campground

Bowman Lake Trailhead

• Bowman Lake Campground
• Timber Creek Campground
• Sulak

76th St. Trailhead

• Highbank Lake Campground

Nichols Lake North Trailhead

•  Nichols Lake South Campground

M-20 Trailhead

• None within walking distance

40th St. Trailhead

• Twinwood Lake Campground

RV Camping

The following campgrounds have RV camping and have connector trails to the North Country Trail or are a short driving distance from the trail.

Marilla Trailhead

• Seaton Creek Campground

Upper River Road Trailhead

• None

Udell Trailhead

• None

Freesoil Trailhead

• None

Timber Creek Trailhead

• Timber Creek Campground

Bowman Lake Trailhead

• Bowman Lake Campground
• Timber Creek Campground
• Sulak

76th St. Trailhead

• Highbank Lake Campground

Nichols Lake North Trailhead

•  Nichols Lake South Campground

M-20 Trailhead

• None

40th St. Trailhead

• None

Lake and Pond Fishing

The Manistee, Little Manistee, Pere Marquette and Muskegon Rivers all run along the trail at various points.  There are also several trailheads that provide fishing opportunities, along with several of the campgrounds connected to or near the trail. 

Day Hiking

All sections of the trail can be done as day hikes going from trailhead to trailhead. 

The portion of the trail between Blacksmith Bayou and High Bridge, along the Manistee River, is a signed interpretive trail and is maintained in partnership with trail volunteers.

A 23-mile loop trail is formed with the Manistee River Trail along the Manistee River.  The loop trail can be accessed from the Marilla and Upper Branch Trailheads for the North Country National Scenic Trail and the Red Bridge and Seaton Creek accesses for the Manistee River Trail.

North of White Cloud the North Country National Scenic Trail forms a 9 mile loop trail with Birch Grove Trail and Loda Lake National Wildflower Sanctuary. 

Mileage chart for the

North Country National Scenic Trail

Areas for Day Hiking at North Country National Scenic Trail

• 40th St. Trailhead
• 76th St. Trailhead
• Bowman Lake Trailhead
• Freesoil Trailhead
• Marilla Trailhead
• Udell Trailhead

Backpacking

Marilla Trailhead is the northen most access to the trail on the Huron-Manistee National Forests.  Information is provided north to south.

From Marilla to Upper River the trail follows the ridge high above the Manistee River, offering hikers scenic views of the river valley. The only water source is at Eddington Creek Crossing, 1.5 miles south of Marilla Trailhead.

From Upper River Road to Udell, particularly in the Dilling Rd. area, visitors will traverse many hills.  After crossing Coates Highway, visitors will climb up a hill to a flat, forested area. 

From Udell to Freesoil  the trail traverses the Udell Hills.  After the trail crosses the Little Manistee River the terrain changes form mixed hardwoods to wetlands.  The trail heading south was formerly a narrow gauge railroad that was elevated above the wetlands in the early 1900's by lumberjacks.  The trail winds through the wetlands and swamp in this section.  However, about 3.5 miles north of the trailhead a boardwalk has been put in through the wetland areas. 

From Freesoil to Timber Creek  the trail  passes through Ward Hills, past McCarthy Lake and through very steeply hilled terrain. 

From Timber Creek to Bowman Lake visitors will travel along the Pere Marquette National Scenic River near Sulak and Upper Branch Bridge River Access after crossing US-10.  Before reaching the Bowman Lake Trailhead the trail travels through the Bowman Lake Semi-Primitive Nonmotorized Area.

From Bowman Lake to 76th Street, hikers will travel toward and along the Pere Marquette National Scenic River.  As hikers travel south, away from Bowman Lake, the terrain will get progressively less hilly.  Glacial depressions are found in this area and provide homes for many species of wildlife

From 76th Street to Nichols Lake North, visitors will find themselves in a heavily wooded red pine area with several stream crossings.  Hikers will travel through Sterling Marsh, several boardwalks raise the trail above water level.  The trail also passes through Stiles Swamp and towards Nichols Lake North.

From Nichols Lake North and/or Nichols Lake South to M-20, visitors will cross Bear Creek before heading through a marshy area that gradually shifts to hills.  There are several road crossings along this portion of trail.  As the trail travels south the marshy areas will give way to hills.  As visitors get closer to M-20 they will cross Cole Creek.

From M-20 to 40th Street visitors will find themselves in a heavily wooded red pine area with several stream crossings. A steel girder bridge will take hikers across the White River.

From 40th Street to Croton Dam, hikers will cross Bigelow Creek.  The trail provides access to Coolbough Nature Preserve. A spur trail will take visitors to Twinwood Campground.  40th St. is the last trailhead on the North Country National Scenic Trail operated by the Huron-Manistee National Forests. 

Backpacking trips can be done between several of the trailheads or by hiking longer sections of the trail.  For information on hiking the full 4,200-miles of trail or longer sections that are not part of the Huron-Manistee National Forests visit the National Park Service website Trip Planning page.

Areas for Backpacking at North Country National Scenic Trail

• 40th St. Trailhead
• 76th St. Trailhead
• Bowman Lake Trailhead
• Freesoil Trailhead
• Marilla Trailhead
• Udell Trailhead

Picnicking

Picnicking is a popular activity that is permitted anywhere on the National Forests.  The sites listed below have picnic areas with tables or shelters that are available for visitors to use.  Some sites have pedestal grills, beaches or other amenities.

Trailheads with picnic tables/areas available are: Marilla, Udell and Bowman Lake.

The campgrounds and day use areas listed below either have connector trails to them from the North Country Trail or are within walking distance of the trail and have picnic tables/areas.

Marilla Trailhead

• Seaton Creek Campground

Upper River Road Trailhead

• Red Bridge River Access

Udell Trailhead

• Blacksmith Bayou

Freesoil Trailhead

• Bear Track Campground

Timber Creek Trailhead

• Timber Creek Campground
• Upper Branch Bridge River Access

Bowman Lake Trailhead

• Bowman Lake Campground
• Timber Creek Campground
• Sulak
• Upper Branch Bridge River Access

76th St. Trailhead

• Highbank Lake Campground

Nichols Lake North Trailhead

• Nichols Lake North
• Nichols Lake South Campground

M-20 Trailhead

• None within walking distance

40th St. Trailhead

• Twinwood Lake Campground

Areas for Picnicking at North Country National Scenic Trail

• Bowman Lake Trailhead
• Marilla Trailhead
• Udell Trailhead

XC Skiing/Snowshoeing

This trail is not groomed in the winter, and none of the trailheads are plowed.  There are no services or amenities at trailheads from Sept./Oct. to the beginning of May. 

General Info:

Plan Ahead and Prepare

• Pets must be on a leash.
• Make sure to bring a map and compass/GPS with you. A free map is available on the maps and publications page: http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/hmnf/maps-pubs, or through the North Country Trail Association: http://northcountrytrail.org/.
•  Bring water or a filtration system.
• Use existing sites when possible.  

Camp on Durable Surfaces

• There is no camping within 200 feet of any body of water, except at designated sites.

Dispose of Waste Properly

• “Pack It Out” or dig a hole, at least 200 feet from water, camps or trails and 6 inches deep, to bury biodegradable waste.

Minimize Campfire Impacts

• Use water to put out fires.  Make sure fires are cold to the touch before leaving. 

Respect Wildlife

• Stay out of closed areas. 

Be Considerate of Other Visitors and Landowners

• Remove trash when you leave.
• Keep noise to a minimum.
• Respect private property owners by not trespassing.

Areas for XC Skiing/Snowshoeing at North Country National Scenic Trail

• 40th St. Trailhead
• 76th St. Trailhead
• Bowman Lake Trailhead
• Freesoil Trailhead
• Marilla Trailhead
• Udell Trailhead