Contact Info
Escanaba, MI 49829
- Phone 1:
- 906-786-4062
- Phone 2:
- 906-789-3337
Details
Additional Details:
North Country Trail (Munising) -Approximately 15.5 miles of the trail lie in the Munising Ranger District of the Hiawatha National Forest. The Munising segment lies on foot path, old road and gravel road and meanders through dense hardwood forests.
Summary of Trail Subsegment descriptions from the Wes Boyd guide (see NCTA site for more):
Follow FR2276 Road 3 miles to intersection with Rock River Road (H-01).
Turn South on Rock River Road (H-01). The route follows Rock River Rd. south for about 0.6 miles, passing the junction with USFS 2278, until reaching the trailhead for the trail leading east (left) in the Hiawatha National Forest.
You''re now at the Hiawatha National Forest Trailhead. Follow FR2278 for 2.3 miles between Rock River Road and M-28. CAMPING is permitted anywhere in the National Forest at least 50 feet off the trail. CR H-01 is also known as Rock River Rd. FR2278 is .4 miles north of this point, and will be to the north when taking crossing forest roads between here and the Ponds campsite. Trail follows grassy lane and old logging road. Next water is about 5 miles away. This segment 2.3 miles.
Cross FR 2483. FR2483 is also known as Slap Neck Rd. Trail continues east, then northeast, then east, making gradual to moderate climbs and descents through gently rolling hills before reaching paved Co. Rd. H-03. Segment about 2 miles.
Cross County Road H-03. Trail descends a ridge, and joins FR2276 to cross the wide, but shallow Au Train River. Trail continues along paved (in this area) FR2276. Segment about 0.6 miles.
Cross FR 2595. FR2595 goes north to AuTrain Campground, about 1.1 mile north. Fee, water, pit toilets, beach. About .1 mi east of this road, the trail turns gently into the woods to the south, and stays close to the (now gravel) FR2276 for a ways before angling more to the southeast. The trail crosses a ravine and tops a ridge before descending to the next waypoint, dirt FR2482. Segment about 0.8 miles.
Cross FR 2482. Just past this road, the trail crosses Buck Bay Creek on a log bridge. This stream supports a good population of wild brook trout as well as spring steelhead. Shortly past this creek, a side trail leads south to a hike-in campsite. The trail continues east, crosses an old logging road, makes a fairly steep climb, and reaches a side trail to a second campsite, this time to the northeast. About a quarter mile further on, yet another side trail leads northeast to a third campsite. These three campsites feature fire rings and minimal improvements. The trail then descends to the Bay de Noc-Grand Island Trail Junction. This segment about 0.8 miles.
Bay de Noc/Grand Island Trail Junction. The Bay de Noc - Grand Island Trail runs from Lake Michigan to Lake Superior. Among other things, is used for the U.P. 200, the Upper Peninsula''s best-known dogsled race. Just past the trail junction, the trail crosses tiny Buddy Creek, then crosses two ridges and valleys, follows a dry stream bed for a ways, crosses some deep ravines, and emerges at the site of the old Au Train C.C.C. Camp. Workers were here from 1935 to 1941, building roads, fighting fires, and planting trees. No structures are still standing, but the foundations are still present. The trail follows a one-lane gravel road a short distance to FR2274. This segment about 2.2 miles.
Cross FR 2274. The trail climbs up from FR2274, then is more or less level before reaching an old logging railroad grade for a ways, then an unused logging road, then makes a moderately steep climb using four switchbacks, follows the ridge for a ways, then descends again, makes more climbs and descents, then, near the end of the section, reaches the primitive Ponds campsite. Just past the ponds, the trail emerges onto FR2276. This segment about 2.3 miles.
Cross FR 2276. FR2276 has run more or less parallel to the trail to the north, at varying distances, all the way from Rock River Road. From here to M94, the road will be to the south. The trail crosses FR2276 and continues into the forest on the other side, more or less level for a ways, then making gradual climbs and descents until reaching M-94. This segment about 1.3 miles.
You''ll arrive at Valley Spur Trailhead. Valley Spur Trailhead is a large parking area used in the winter by cross-country skiers. The trail makes a long, gradual descent on an old logging railroad grade, crosses Valley Spur creek on a plank bridge, then ascends, still on the grade. After a ways, the trail jogs onto an old logging road for a short distance, leaves the road, crosses a valley, and shortly descends to cross the Soo Line railroad. The trail continues moderate climbs and descents, then makes a moderate descent to M-94. This segment about 2.6 miles.
Join M94 at Hiawatha NF Boundary. End of certified segment. The trail continues east along M-94 as a marked connector, using a sign similar to the NCNST trail marker, but with a hiker symbol, rather than the eight-pointed star. A separate treadway was once established along the south side of the road, but has reportedly been allowed to deteriorate, so this section may be a roadwalk. This segment about 2.1 miles.
From here, turn north on M-28 and walk about 1.2 miles into Munising, where you''ll find the USFS/NPS Visitor Center..
