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Chris Loudenslager Selected as Superintendent of North Country National Scenic Trail

Date: August 5, 2019

Contact: Alexandra Picavet, Midwest Region Chief of Communications Phone: 402-661-1840

Email: apicavet@nps.gov

Omaha, Neb. — National Park Service (NPS) Acting Midwest Regional Director Patricia Trap announced the selection of Chris Loudenslager as superintendent of North Country National Scenic Trail (North Country) in Michigan. Loudenslager is currently the Trail Manager at North Country. He will assume his new role immediately.

“Chris has extensive experience in outdoor recreation and trail management,” said Trap. “He will be a strong partner to the communities along the expanding trail, and he will work with the outstanding park service staff at the trail to continue providing meaningful and impactful experiences to trail users.”

“I am honored to be selected for this important leadership position,” says Loudenslager. “As the longest national scenic trail in the United States, the North Country National Scenic Trail is an amazing resource linking a diversity of landscapes and experiences across eight states. The trail is also about people: the history and cultures along the trail; the dedicated volunteers who build and maintain the trail, and the variety of people the trail serves. I am passionate about providing a world-class trail experience, building and maintaining the relationships, and supporting our partners and staff to ensure the trail is welcoming and available to all who visit.”

With over 15-years of experience with the federal land management agencies including the National Park Service and the US Forest Service, Loudenslager has held numerous leadership positions. He joined the staff at North Country in 2014, after working for the NPS at Isle Royale National Park and the US Forest Service at Superior and Huron-Manistee national forests in Minnesota and Michigan respectively. Prior to his civilian service, Loudenslager served in the US Army for nine years.

Loudenslager has a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry from Michigan Technological University and a Master of Science degree in Park, Recreation, and Tourism Resources from Michigan State University. An avid outdoors person who is fascinated by the beauty and science of nature, Loudenslager loves the opportunity to continue to call northwest Michigan his home.

The Midwest Region encompasses 61 park areas in 13 states (Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Arkansas, and North and South Dakota), and has been headquartered in Omaha since the mid-1930s.