Trail Alerts

• Lonetree Wildlife Management Area. Many of the Carsonite posts along the NCT within Lonetree WMA have fallen over but the NCT is fully mowed and hikeable. The route may differ slightly from what is shown on the NCTA’s maps.
• Lonetree Wildlife Management Area. The ND Game & Fish is using active cattle grazing along the NCNST as a land management tool and the rancher is employing electric fences.  Some of these electric fences cross the NCNST and most have stretch clip gates.  To pass through, simply unhook the clips from the fence post and walk them away from the post (you won’t get shocked), walk through, and then re-attach the posts.  The Parking area on 19th St. NE has a fence across the entrance but NCNST parking is allowed.
• Sheyenne National Grassland. NCNST users should expect to encounter grazing sheep and their guard dogs in between May 1 and October 1. The sheep rotate throughout different pastures along the NCNST in between mile posts 10-31 (covered on maps ND-071 through ND-075). The sheep herders are instructed to keep the sheep away from the Trail as much as possible but it’s not always the case. Read the “Do’s and Don’ts” on the U.S. Forest Service sign (posted along the NCNST) about how to safely interact with the guard dogs. If folks are planning a hike on the NCNST and are concerned about specific areas, they can call the Sheyenne National Grassland office at (701) 683-4342 and ask what area the sheep are in at that specific time.
• McClusky Canal. There is a major trail detour in central North Dakota because of a slide repair project on the McClusky Canal on the McClusky Canal that will be going on for the next 3+ years. The NCNST section to be bypassed is covered on maps ND-009 and ND-010.  https://arcg.is/nPr9H0

• Superior Hiking Trail. The SHT is currently closed between Gun Club Rd and the Silver Creek Campsite but the campsite remains open. See https://superiorhiking.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Silver-Creek-Roadwalk-2022.pdf for more info.
• Lake Vermilion State Park. From MM412 in Lake Vermilion State Park, there are backcountry campsites (fee required) just off the NCT’s route on the Mesabi Trail. See https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/state_parks/spk00285.pdf.
• Heart of the Lakes Trail. From MM72.5 to MM80.75, the NCT now follows the Heart of the Lakes paved multi-use trail which lies adjacent to the roads. This NCT segment is not yet signed.
• Itasca State Park. The DNR is closing the Gartner Farm Trailhead (on 540th Ave.) within Itasca State Park (map) because of a rough road leading up to it.  Hikers may park at the trailhead on Hwy 113 instead and take the spur trail up to the NCNST, which adds 0.6 miles one-way to reach the NCNST.

• Pictured Rocks, Munising Falls area. The trail north of the Munising Falls Visitor Center is closed until Nov. 22nd. Follow the signage along the temporary reroute that includes Sand Point Road for approximately 100 yards. The trail to view Munising Falls will also be closed during this time. Maintenance crews will be using heavy equipment while working to improve the walkway in this area.
• Ottawa National Forest – Bob Lake area. Forest Road 1470 will be closed between Pori Rd and FR 1460 for the Lake Superior Performance Rally on October 13 from 10am to 1am on the 14th.
• Chippewa County – Silver Creek. Sections of trail southeast of Silver Creek are extremely muddy and swampy due to illegal ORV use. Be prepared to get wet. The Chapter is looking into options to improve this area.
• CR 407 – Alger/Luce County Border. County Road 407 is undergoing construction for six and a half miles from the Alger/Luce County Line to the Blind Sucker River Bridge. Access to the trail between these points are unavailable.
• Pictured Rocks.The section of trail along Miners Beach is closed so the Park can replace the stair structure and repair part of the trail that was destroyed by a large storm last fall. Follow the posted reroute that primarily uses Miner Road. Expected reopening is early July. Check the Park’s website for reopening and the latest updates on Miners Beach.
• Wilderness State Park. Bridges are closed south of Goose Pond. Follow the trails to the east and north side of the pond to connect to existing trail by the dam. The Michigan DNR hopes to rebuild the bridges by end of summer in 2023.
• Ontonagon County. Downstream from the Victoria Dam: The river crossing can become impassable at times due to water released from the Victoria Dam reservoir. The dam releases water until June 11 for fish migration. Dam also releases water when there has been significant rain in the day(s) before. You can try to call the dam operators office (906-886-2637) and leave a message for a return call asking if water is being released from the dam. Their answer is rain dependent, so they will not know many days ahead of time. Or visit uppco.com/hydro-water-levels and scroll down to Ontonagon River > Victoria > Total Flow. If the Total Flow is greater than 650cfs they will be releasing water from the dam. The highwater bypass follows Victoria Dam Road and US-45 on this route. This route is only three miles longer than staying on the Trail and takes you into Rockland where there is dining, supplies, a post office (limited hours), and lodging.
• Ontonagon County. The bridge over Bush Creek failed in 2021 and is closed by the Ottawa National Forest. Please use extreme caution when crossing the creek.

• Loveland, Ohio. Starting 10/1/23, ODNR will begin construction replacing the pedestrian bridge over O’Bannon Creek. Detour: Going northward, hike east to Rt 48, turn (L) on Cones Rd/Lyon Rd and get back to the trail. Opposite heading southbound.
• Delphos, Ohio. ODOT Construction is scheduled to begin on April 3^rd, 2023. This project will result in a 200 day closure of the Buckeye Trail/North Country National Scenic Trail along Main Street in Delphos, Ohio. Trail users should follow the signed detour along Canal Street between 1st St. and Cleveland St.
• Magnolia. The one mile segment of off-road NCT between OH E 8.7 to OH E 9.7 west of Magnolia, OH has been closed by the landowner. Hikers should follow the road walk blazes on Imperial Rd. NW and Magnolia Rd. NW to bypass this section until the issue has been resolved.
• Buckeye Trail/NCNST, Cincinnati area. The BT/NCNST along Round Bottom Road is particularly dangerous from where the trail crosses under I-275 to the Perintown Bridge. There is no suitable detour. Hikers should exercise extreme caution when hiking on this road segment.

• Kellettville.  There is a new and (currently) unmapped reroute moving the NCT south off from the road into USACE Kellettville campground. The new route follows Salmon Run through a historic lumber site and back onto Branch Rd just west of a bridge over The Branch. Maps will be updated shortly.
• Darlington. The NCT between Georgetown Rd and Louthan Rd will be closed for hunting. Signage is posted alerting closure. Road walk detour: follow Georgetown Rd south to the intersection with Louthan and turn R. Opposite heading west to east.

• Adirondack Park, North Branch Trout Brook. Challenging ford over Trout Brook. Choose footing carefully and plan for a wet crossing.
• Adirondack Park, Crane Pond Trail. The trail is flooded in this area. An alternative route is available to the north.
• Durhamville. The Oneida Creek bridge on State Route 46 has been completely removed. A 5+ mile detour is marked at ST 31 and ST 46 on the north end as well as at Canal St. and ST 316 at the south end.
• Crown Point. The Crown Point State Historic Site is currently undergoing a Unit Management Plan update. The proposed NCNST route which traverses the old fort ramparts has been submitted for approval in this process. Until then, use Grandview Drive as the NCNST route.
• Adirondack Park. Navigating the mostly undeveloped route of the NCNST in the Adirondack Park will require special planning preparations.  You can find more information on our Adirondack page.

For trail alerts along the Finger Lakes Trail, visit the Finger Lakes Trail Conference’s Trail Conditions web page.

• Green Mountain National Forest, Oak Ridge Trailhead. The Oak Ridge Trailhead has experienced significant erosion in the aftermath of the historic floods of 2023 that swept through Vermont. For now, hikers are encouraged to park on the side of Upper Plains Road just west of the trailhead on Route 125.
• Green Mountain National Forest, East Middlebury Bridge to Oak Ridge Trailhead. Updates have been made to the Trail route. Hikers should follow on-the-ground signage and markers from East Middlebury Bridge to Oak Ridge Trailhead.

For trail alerts along the Trail Around Middlebury (TAM), visit the Middlebury Area Land Trust’s “Trails” web page.