North Country Trail Association

North Country Trail Association Nonprofit partner of the National Park Service in building, maintaining, protecting, and promoting the longest National Scenic Trail in America.

When the Butler County Chapter volunteers requested guidance on trail maintenance, NCTA Regional Trail Coordinator Laure...
06/20/2026

When the Butler County Chapter volunteers requested guidance on trail maintenance, NCTA Regional Trail Coordinator Lauren Kennedy-Little stepped up. She offered them a training at Pennsylvania's Moraine State Park, focused on managing water issues on the trail, as well as tread maintenance. They began with a classroom discussion then took a hike to discuss the on-the-ground issues. In the image, Lauren (left) demonstrates using a clinometer to measure trail steepness. Two of the volunteers are continuing their education by pursuing chainsaw certification later this year.

The NCTA and Chapter extend many thanks to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for the use of their meeting space!

📸 Lindsey Hartle | Butler County Pa Chapter North Country Trail Association

📣 Breaking news! The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee ADVANCES the America the Beautiful Act! Now, we need ...
06/18/2026

📣 Breaking news! The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee ADVANCES the America the Beautiful Act! Now, we need you to urge your Senators and Representatives to get this on the President's desk and signed into law by July 4.

"The original Great American Outdoors Act has been a massive success, generating $4.5 billion in economic impact and restoring 1,500 critical projects. The America the Beautiful Act will expand on that victory - upgrading visitor recreation experiences, funding projects in every corner of the country, and driving economic growth in communities nationwide. There is no better way to celebrate our nation's 250th anniversary this year than by investing in the public lands that unite us all." (Tyler Ray, American Hiking Society)

📸 Barbara Cook

The bridge spanning the Carp Lake River, just east of Michigan's Wilderness State Park, is complete. This project began ...
06/18/2026

The bridge spanning the Carp Lake River, just east of Michigan's Wilderness State Park, is complete. This project began in 2018, and while the bridge itself has technically been open since November 2025, the finishing touches are now done and both the engineering firm and Michigan Department of Natural Resources have signed off. Most importantly, the raised aggregate trail now extends west from the bridge all the way to Cecil Bay Road, providing a high and dry route for trail users. The NCTA Harbor Springs Chapter created a short reroute to further improve the route. Stay tuned for news of a new parking area here, too. In the meantime, join us in thanking our volunteers and partners!

📸 Walton Contracting

Mike completed our Hike 100 Challenge during the pandemic by hiking 5+ miles per day for 20 days on trails local to him....
06/15/2026

Mike completed our Hike 100 Challenge during the pandemic by hiking 5+ miles per day for 20 days on trails local to him. (When travel was limited to all Americans, the NCTA allowed Hike 100 miles to be off the NCT.) He has since completed the entire Vermont segment of the North Country Trail and crossed the Mackinac Bridge on foot.

"I thought it would be great to hike the longest trail in the U.S. but I would settle for New York. The trail then got extended into Vermont, so I thought that would be an easy state to pick up. I have hiked a considerable amount in New York and Pennsylvania, and will work on those in the future. I am also considering Ohio and the upper peninsula of Michigan."

Read more at northcountrytrail.org/blog and learn about this long distance hiker recognition at explorenct.info/NoCoLo/index.htm.

📸 Jill Wilson

Registration for Buckeye TrailFest is now open 🎉 The Buckeye Trail Association is excited to host its 13th annual gather...
06/13/2026

Registration for Buckeye TrailFest is now open 🎉 The Buckeye Trail Association is excited to host its 13th annual gathering of trail enthusiasts, hikers, volunteers, and partners. At TrailFest, you can network, hike, socialize, and attend workshops, presentations, and programs related to trails. Join us September 11-13 at Salt Fork, Ohio's largest state park.

The NCTA will be there, will you? See the full schedule and register today at buckeyetrail.org/trailfest.

📸 Chris Sherman | Ohio Department of Natural Resources Baileys Trail System

Earlier this year, the NCTA secured a trail license from Tim Steiger across his commercial forest land in Michigan's Wes...
06/11/2026

Earlier this year, the NCTA secured a trail license from Tim Steiger across his commercial forest land in Michigan's Western Upper Peninsula. This license - along with another agreement with Sage Timber - allows the NCTA to reroute a trail segment onto these private lands, drastically reducing the current 19-mile roadwalk to less than 5 miles. This spring, NCTA Ni-Miikanaake Chapter volunteers scouted the proposed route on these private logging roads through the woods of Gogebic County. Please join us in thanking Tim for his willingness to collaborate on our efforts to improve your North Country Trail experience. This builds on the relationship between the NCTA and the many generous timber companies who continue to recognize just how compatible commercial forestry and traditional recreational use are in the Great Lakes region.

📸 Ni-Miikanaake (Western U.P. North Country Trail Chapter)

🌈 If you're in West Michigan this Sunday, June 14, you're invited to a Pride Hike at Fallasburg Park in Lowell. Voluntee...
06/11/2026

🌈 If you're in West Michigan this Sunday, June 14, you're invited to a Pride Hike at Fallasburg Park in Lowell. Volunteers from the NCTA Western Michigan Chapter will lead a group hike through the park, and event participants are encouraged to explore more of the NCT on their own afterwards - we'll even supply you with free maps. It's a family-friendly event; base camp will be near multiple playgrounds, a bathroom facility, and water source. All are welcome to join us in celebrating our incredible community!

Western Michigan Chapter of the North Country Trail Association Kent County Parks Department

The NCTA Central Flyway Chapter recently hosted their annual hike during the Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery’s Fun D...
06/09/2026

The NCTA Central Flyway Chapter recently hosted their annual hike during the Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery’s Fun Day, and they had an amazing turnout: almost 180 hikers! As the sun rose that morning, an impressive fog rolled over the earthen dam down to the lowlands. Chapter President Mark Zimmerman led two different groups on respective strolls down the North Country Trail to a hatchery pond. We thank the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for their ongoing, supportive partnership to host the North Country Trail here!

📸 Laura Wohl

This May, the NCTA partnered with The Buckeye Trail Association (BTA) to host the annual Blue Blaze Academy trail skills...
06/07/2026

This May, the NCTA partnered with The Buckeye Trail Association (BTA) to host the annual Blue Blaze Academy trail skills training at Ohio's Caesar Creek State Park. Nearly two dozen participants received training from BTA and NCTA staff in trail sustainability and planning, field design and layout, and developing "trail eyes." The group then installed rock armoring in a large drain, and they de-bermed (flattened and smoothed) trail tread. A guest environmental educator from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources presented on fireflies, and the group enjoyed a home-cooked meal by generous volunteers. Find more training opportunities like this at northcountrytrail.org/events.

📸 provided by Lauren Kennedy-Little

Today is National Trails Day! 🎉🥾🌲⚒ Will you head out on the North Country Trail to celebrate? Walk, hike, run, wander, s...
06/06/2026

Today is National Trails Day! 🎉🥾🌲⚒ Will you head out on the North Country Trail to celebrate? Walk, hike, run, wander, saunter, or backpack; volunteer with a Chapter today; renew your membership or make a gift showing your love for the NCT!

💙 northcountrytrail.org/events
💙 northcountrytrail.org/gift
💙 northcountrytrail.org/renew

📸 Vogel Family | American Hiking Society

Address

229 E. Main Street
Lowell, MI
49331

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm

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+18664453628

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