Events

This hike is the fourth in a series of nine that will traverse most of the section of the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCNST) maintained by the North Country Trail Association’s Chequamegon Chapter. The trail here was built by U.S. Forest Service personnel and Job Corps employees in 1967 and 1968; it is the original “North Country Trail.”

Meet up with the Chequamegon Chapter at FR378/Wisco Road trailhead, GPS Coordinates 46.30674, -91.034912 at 9 am. This is the endpoint for the hike. The hikers will leave most of the vehicles at the FR378/Wisco Road trailhead and shuttle hikers in the remaining cars about 10 miles to the beginning of the hike at East Porcupine Lake Road. For those who wish to only do ½ of the hike, you will take your car to the trailhead at County Road D and get a shuttle ride to East Porcupine Lake Road (but meet at FR378/Wisco Road trailhead first to check in).

Please register for any hike you plan to attend by sending the hike number(s), your name, and email address to che@northcountrytrail.org. There is no fee for his hike.

This will be a moderately strenuous 8.2-mile hike (with option for a shorter hike) through the Porcupine Lake Wilderness area of the Chequamegon National Forest. W will be in a designated Wilderness Area for the latter portion of our hike; there will not be blue blazes on trees so hikers will need to pay close attention to the trail. Shortly after we begin our hike we will cross Porcupine Creek and pass by Porcupine Lake. As we continue east, we will skirt a large beaver pond and West Davis Lake. After crossing Hwy D and towards the end of our hike we will come to the decommissioned Long Mile Lookout fire tower.

Expect mosquitos, blackflies, and ticks. A brimmed hat, long-sleeved shirt, and long pants treated with insect repellent are recommended. Bring plenty of water and your own snacks & lunch. We will take a short break every hour and take a 30 minute break for lunch. The hiking speed will be moderate (about 2 miles per hour) depending on the terrain, and the hike will be on dirt tread over roots and rocks and is not accessible for people with mobility impairments. Cell phone coverage will be spotty. No restrooms will be available for this hike.

The rain date for this hike will be Sunday, July 13, at 9am.