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Itasca Moraine Chapter offering “thru hiking” opportunity on their trail section

“THRU-HIKING” OPPORTUNITY ON THE NORTH COUNTRY NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL

A “thru-hiker” is a person who has committed to hiking the entire length of a trail. Thru-hikers tend to catch the public’s fancy.  We have all heard of persons who have hiked the Appalachian Trail, the first National Scenic Trail established by Congress.  We have a National Scenic Trail right here in northern Minnesota. We have had thru-hikers, such as Nimblewill Nomad, pass through our area on the North Country Trail (NCT) even though the trail was not completely finished. Now we ALL have a chance to be “thru-hikers.”

Last fall, the Itasca Moraine Chapter completed the North Country Trail segment from the western border of the Chippewa National Forest to Itasca State Park.  To celebrate this effort, the Chapter is offering an opportunity for the public to “thru-hike” this portion of the trail. To make this 40-mile hike more “do-able” there will be 16 hikes including some warm-up hikes in the Chippewa National Forest.

The chapter will lead hikes starting deep in the heart of the Chippewa National Forest (4.9 miles east of MN State Hwy 371, southeast of Walker all the way to the South Entrance of Itasca State Park, a distance of 64 miles. This distance will be hiked in sixteen hikes on successive Saturday mornings, beginning on May 15^th. The individual hikes will vary in length from 2.6 miles to 6.4 miles. Hikers are encouraged to do all the hikes, some of the hikes, or even just one of the hikes. The point of this is to get some fresh air and exercise and begin to explore this wonderful hiking trail which is close to home, right in our backyard.

All hikes begin at 9:30 AM.  Hikers should arrive at the starting point 15 minutes before the starting time. Hikers will hike to the day’s ending point and will be driven back to the starting point. Hikers should wear long pants, comfortable shoes with socks long enough that they can tuck their pant-legs into the socks. Each hiker should bring water and a snack. Hikers may want to bring sunscreen and insect repellent. All hikes will proceed as scheduled unless it is raining (raining, not just sprinkling) at the starting time. Rained-out hikes will be rescheduled at the end of the summer.

The first scheduled hike, Saturday, May 15^th at 9:30 AM, begins where the North Country Trail crosses Chippewa National Forest RD 3790.  Hikers will hike east 2.6 miles.  Directions to the starting point from the “Y” intersection of HWY 200 and HWY 371 four miles southeast of Walker are as follows:

Drive south on HWY 371 for 4 miles; turn left (east) onto the Woodtick Trail and drive east for 4.9 miles to Chippewa National Forest RD 3790: turn left (north) and drive 1.3 miles to the NCT trailhead. There is space for parking at the trailhead.

The hike on May 22nd will begin at the same place, NCT Trailhead and Chippewa National Forest RD 3790.  Hikers will hike west 3.5 miles to a Woodtick Trail crossing.

The third and fourth hikes will start from Chippewa National Forest’s Lake Erin Picnic Area, located 2.6 miles south of the “Y” intersection on HWY 371. On May 29^th we will hike 4.0 miles east and on June 5^th we will hike 4.9 miles west of Lake Erin to the Cass Co. Hwy 50 bridge over the Shingobee River.

The sixteenth and final hike will start at the South Entrance of Itasca State Park on Saturday morning August 28^th at 9:30 AM. Events are scheduled in the park all day on the 28^th for the Fourth Annual North Country Hiking Fest. Later news articles will give the complete schedule for the 16 hikes.  Check the weekly calendar in the local newspapers or find the complete schedule with starting location of all 16 hikes at https://northcountrytrail.org/itm/thru.htm. You may also telephone Beth Trout at 218-675-5448.

If you are looking for some challenge or a new adventure for this summer, TAKE A HIKE, or better yet take 16 hikes all the way across the North Country Trail in North Central Minnesota.