Events

This hike is the fifth 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 East Porcupine Lake Road, GPS Coordinates 46.29628, -91.15904 at 9 am. This is the endpoint for the hike. The hikers will leave most of the vehicles at the East Porcupine Lake Road trailhead and shuttle hikers in the remaining cars about 4 miles to the beginning of the hike at Lake Owen Picnic Grounds (there is a $5 daily fee for parking at the picnic grounds). For those who wish to only do ½ of the hike, you will take your car to the trailhead at Lake Owen Drive (GPS coordinates 46.307457, -91.18955) and get a shuttle ride to Lake Owen Picnic Grounds (but meet at East Porcupine Lake Road trailhead first to check in).
The rain date for this hike will be Thursday, July 24 at 9:00 am.

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 7.3-mile hike (with option for a shorter hike) through the Porcupine Lake Wilderness area of the Chequamegon National Forest. The latter portion of this hike will traverse the Porcupine Lake Wilderness area and there will be no blue blazes to mark the trail, so pay attention. As we begin our hike from the Lake Owen Picnic Grounds, we will pass Melland Pond and then begin to have views of Lake Owen. We will pass four kiosks that explore the history of the large Native American village that existed along the shores of Lake Owen, and then enter the Lake Owen Hardwoods State Natural Area. After we pass the 18 Mile Springs Pond we will continue eastward to the NCNST access trail and back to our vehicles on East Porcupine Lake Road.

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. There are vault toilets at Lake Owen Picnic Grounds.

The rain date for this hike will be Thursday, July 24, at 9am.