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We’re excited to announce the next release in our new map series: the North Country Trail in Wisconsin. Coming in at just over 209 miles, this section of NCT traverses large tracts of northern forests and world-famous rivers. This is pure, iconic North Country!

The map set for Western Wisconsin is the first official map release for the 50-mile segment of NCT from the Minnesota state line to the Saint Croix River, southwest of Solon Springs. With the exception of a five-mile segment on the University of Wisconsin-Superior’s McQuarrie Wetlands property and two miles in Pattison State Park, this is a mostly unbuilt (currently on-road) section of NCT. As the NCT is becoming more and more popular with long-distance hikers, it’s important to have maps for these on-road areas.

From the NCT’s intersection with the Saint Croix River, the Trail heads north to Solon Springs and the historic portage to the world famous Brule River. Following state and county forests, the NCT winds roughly 100 more miles of essentially off-road trail to the Chequamegon National Forest. The 60+ miles of off-road NCT in the Chequamegon National Forest is a popular regional attraction, while at the same time offering the solitude of two federally designated Wilderness Areas.

After leaving the Chequamegon National Forest, the NCT passes through the town of Mellen and into the scenic forest and high ridges along the Bad River in Copper Falls State Park. From this area east, new trail construction has been ongoing as local volunteers and staff work to develop the Trail heading towards Lake Superior and the Montreal River at the Michigan state line. This modification to the route of the NCT resulted from a somewhat recent National Park Service planning process.

Wisconsin features some of the longest continuous sections of completed off-road NCT.  Additionally, as a result of the work of the highly skilled NCTA staff and volunteers in this area, the NCT in Wisconsin is a showcase of high-quality trail design and construction. The Trail, trail structures, and supporting facilities in Wisconsin are truly world class.

These maps continue to be available as no-cost digital downloads. The PDF files can be printed at home as well as used on a mobile device with the Avenza App. The maps are made at a scale that is built for on-trail navigation: one inch equals a half-mile. The numbered mileage index shown on these maps allows you to easily estimate mileages along the Trail. Additionally, by loading the digital version of the mileage index on a GPS receiver, you can use the numbered index to relate your location from the GPS receiver back to the maps.

You can find these maps and others at northcountrytrail.org/trail/maps/. Enjoy!