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Itasca Moraine Chapter offers “mid week resort hikes” this summer!

The North Country National Scenic Trail passes through northern Minnesota.  It is the longest continuous hiking trail in the United States, spanning more than 4600 miles.  Designed as a premier hiking trail similar to the Appalachian Trail, it links scenic, natural, recreation, historic and cultural areas through New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota.  The trail is still under construction in some areas, but completed in this part of northern Minnesota. Your adventure starts nearby!

Four mid-week “Resort Hikes” have been scheduled for July and August, specifically designed to accommodate vacationers at our great resorts and campgrounds as well as those who prefer to hike mid-week rather than on the weekends. These short hikes are designed to introduce people to the NCT.  Please bring water, snacks and insect repellent.  Children with adults and dogs are welcome.  At the conclusion of the hike, all will be given rides back to the starting point.

• The first hike is scheduled for Thursday, July 12 at 10:00 AM.  The starting point is at the Lake Erin Picnic Area, located on the east side of  HWY 371, 2.6 miles south of the “Y”, the intersection of HWY 200 and HWY 371 four miles southeast of Walker.  This is a hike of 2.2 miles in the Chippewa National Forest from Lake Erin east to the Woodtick Trail (a forest road).  The hike passes through mixed hardwood and conifer forests and features a classic ancient beaver dam.
• The second hike is scheduled for Thursday, July 19 at 10:00AM.  The starting point is at the North Country Trail kiosk at the intersection of HWY 4 and Halverson Trail, approximately 2.5 miles south of Lake George.  The 2.5 mile hike within Hubbard County land passes through aspen with some hardwoods and then enters a magnificient spruce and balsam forest as it winds down to the historic Schoolcraft River Valley.  The valley is marked by a massive wetlands teaming with wildlife.  The hike ends at the bridge over the Schoolcraft River.
• The third hike is scheduled for Thursday, August 9 at 10:00 AM.  The starting point is at the public access on Waboose Lake.  Reach the public access by taking HWY 2 north out of Nevis to Inner Forest RD and progress north to the entrance to the public access.  From the north, the public access can be reached by taking Spur 1 south and southwest to Inner Forest Rd.  Inner Forest RD can also be reached from the Thorpe Tower RD.  The 3 mile hike in the Paul Bunyan State Forest is on a striking connector trail that winds along lake Waboose to where it intersects the NCT.  The hike then progresses on the NCT to a campground located on a peninsula on Lake Waboose.  Hikers then return to the starting point.
• The fourth hike is scheduled for Thursday, August 16^th at 10:00AM.  The starting point is at the intersection of the North Country Trail and HWY 125, two miles northwest of Longville.  The NCT crosses HWY 125 approximately 2 miles south of the intersection with HWY 200.  The hike is a 2.8 mile hike in the Chippewa National Forest from HWY125 west to Hazel Lake.  The hike passes through mixed hardwoods and conifer plantations and by lakes and wetlands.

For more on these hikes, visit the ITM Chapter’s website, their Chapter brochure map, or their trail section’s interactive map.  Contact Jerry Trout at 218-675-5448 or itm@northcountrytrail.org if you have any questions.