Trail Alerts

• Garrison Dam to Riverdale.The FLY Chapter has marked a temporary off-road route southwest of Riverdale, ND. The route is marked with temporary step-down stakes with a yellow Carsonite topper.
• 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

• Chippewa National Forest near Walker, MN. The Anoway Bridge is out as a Chippewa National Forest contractor is re-building it. Hikers should follow the posted detour.
• 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.

• Ontonagon County. Downstream from Victoria Dam. The West Branch Ontonagon River crossing will be impassable through November for this year due to water constantly being released. Hikers will need to use the 11 mile On-Road bypass to avoid the crossing.
• West of US 131.The trail may be challenging to follow through the recently logged timber sale.
• 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 2024.
• 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. Completed construction is planned by the end of September 2024.

• Zoar. Due to the heavy rainfall eastern Ohio has experienced over the past two weeks there have been instances of high water along the trail route with road closures in place. The stretch of NCT/Buckeye Trail south of Zoar along the Tuscarawas River has been underwater as well. When the water will recede enough for all areas of the trail will be passable is undetermined. Hikers should plan ahead, check the weather forecast, and scout their route out ahead of time if they plan to walk this section of trail.
• Oak Openings Preserve Metropark. Temporary detour along the NCT through Oak Openings due to habitat restoration and prescribed burns. Hikers can follow the on the ground detour provided by the park or use the following road-walk detour: Heading N to S along the NCT/Wabash Cannonball Trail turn S onto Girdham Road to Reed Road to Jeffers Road to where it intersects with the NCT (approx. 1.4 miles).
• Loveland. 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.
• 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.

• Allegheny National Forest, Tracy Ridge. The NCT traverses both Johnnycake and Tracy Run. Currently there are no structures in place at these crossings. Crossing may be dangerous due to changing water levels, especially during winter temperatures, spring runoff or after a significant storm event. All users should exercise extreme caution in this area. Approaching Tracy Run from the north, the only detour is doubleback on the NCT and exit the system. From the south, hikers can doubleback to the Tracy Ridge trail connector and exit the system or return on the NCT. Due to the remoteness of this area, checking maps ahead of time for route planning is advised.
• Shippenville. The NCT goes through PA SGL 63 where it traverses Deer Creek and there are no structures for passage. This crossing may be dangerous due to the changing water levels, especially during spring runoff or after significant storm events. All users should exercise extreme caution in this area. Detour as follows: From West – Take Bryners Mill Road North to Rt. 322 to Rt. 66 South back to the NCT. From East – Take Rt. 66 North to Rt. 322 East to traffic light in Shippenville. School St. turns into Bryners Mill Rd, take south to NCT.

• 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, 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.