Trail Alerts

• Garrison Dam The National Park Service has recently certified a new North Country Trail segment within the Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery that is a X-mile “lollipop loop” off the current roadwalk route on 40 1/2 Ave. and the “diagonal road” up to Hwy 200. The NCNST now follows 40 1/2 Ave. and the Hatchery Rd to the Fish Hatchery parking lot and then parts of the Hatchery Loop, Salmon Run, and River Loop trails. We hope that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will allow for connecting segments to connect with this loop in the near future that will take the NCNST off of the paved road in this area. Stay tuned.
• 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

• 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.
• East of Itasca State Park. There was a very bad blowdown east of Highway 71 in Mary 2022 and salvage logging last fall. Hikers can again follow the NCNST but it will be very rough until the tread is rebuilt.

• Western WI. Due to several extreme winter storms last December that significantly damaged area trails, it is anticipated that it will take volunteers the full month of May to clean up downed brush from the Minnesota border to CR-A south of Iron River.
• Tyler Forks River. The future North Country Trail route is now complete between Hwy 169 and Porcupine Hill but there is an un-bridged crossing (ford) of the Tyler Forks River.  Despite the fact it is blue-blazed, this will not be the official route of the NCT until the WI-DNR completes a trail bridge (anticipated 2024). This river crossing may be dangerous depending upon water levels, which can fluctuate rapidly.  Long-distance hikers should take the official route around the ford – especially during spring runoff or after significant summer storm events.
• St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. There is a short segment of the NCNST along the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway that is flooded because of beaver activity.  This is around MM 53.5. Map: https://bit.ly/2Y3mTKE
• US 63, Drummond Lake Road to US 2. There will be road construction on US Highway 63 near Drummond from July 5 on that may impact vehicle access to the trailhead parking area in the summer and fall. The NCNST will remain open for use. More info on the project can be found at projects.511wi.gov/us63bc1/.
• MacQuarrie Wetlands Segment to Pattison State Park. The Nemadji River Bridge on County Highway W is closed due to washout. Detour north on W, east on County Highway C, and south on Dedham Road to regain the road walk toward Pattison State Park. https://arcg.is/aDCeX0
• Copper Falls State Park. Dogs are not allowed on the Doughboys Nature Trail portion of the NCNST within Copper Falls State Park. NCNST hikers with a dog should plan to take an alternative route. The park can be reached at (715) 274-5123.

• Mackinaw County, M-123. There is a culvert being replaced on the Saint Ignace to Trout Lake multi-use trail at Bissel Creek north of Moran, Michigan. Work is supposed to begin 5/15 and last for about two weeks which means that if there are no delays, the trail could be re-opened by Memorial Day weekend. That portion of the trail will be closed during the replacement of the culvert. Alternate route: From the south, follow M-123 north (3/4 mile) to the two track that cuts east to the Multi Use Trail. This will take you 1/2 mile north of Bissel Creek. Once you reach the Multi Use Trail, hike back south to re-join the NCT just north of Bissel Creek. From the North, when the NCT reaches the Multi-Use Trail, hike north to the two track that allows you to reach M-123 (about 1/2 mile) and then hike south along M-123 (3/4 mile) to the NCT crossing of M-123.
• Hiawatha National Forest, Lone Pine/Dick Rd Area.There is significant flooding for about one half of a mile around the John Rd area. To avoid follow (from south to north) Lone Pine Rd east to Dick Rd. Stay north on Dick Rd for one mile and turn west on a two-track. Follow that to connect to the trail, north of mile marker 492
• 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.
• Baraga County, west of Craig Lake State Park. The outlet to Long Lake may become flooded causing a section of the road walk to be under water. Please proceed with caution.
• 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, west of US-45. There are beaver dams flooding the Trail crossing Sandstone Creek. Less than a half-mile west is another beaver dam on an unnamed creek flooding the Trail there, too. A temporary reroute was blue flagged on both streams; however more beaver activity this fall has flooded those blue flagged reroutes. Please proceed with caution. We will be looking into further options in 2022.
• 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.

• 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.
• Buckeye Trail/NCNST, Troy section. From February 1 to April 2023, the BT/NCNST has a detour where the trail crosses a levee west of Treasure Island. Temporary reroute: after crossing the Adams St Bridge, continue two more blocks to Main St on the sidewalk. Turn right (northwest) on Main street and go about .4 miles to the Chase Bank. Just past the bank is a spur of the bike trail. Turn right (north) on the spur for about .2 miles and the spur will “T” into the BT/NCNST. Turn left to continue on the BT/NCNST.
• 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.

• 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. An official route through the Green Mountain National Forest is still in the planning process. You can find more information on our Vermont page.

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