Peter Wolfe Chapter - North Country Trail Association

M-64 in the Ottawa National Forest to Long Lake west of Craig Lake State Park

We like to think of the Peter Wolfe Chapter as one of the most remote sections of trail in the entire NCT. So if you want to experience solitude while on a beautiful hike, and view and walk along the highest cliff in the state of Michigan, this is the Chapter to visit. Check out the Chapter Maps and Guidance section below for detailed trail guides. We have monthly hikes year-round to showcase our trail. We always welcome the public to join us to explore this awesome trail. The hikes are posted to our Facebook page, emailed to members and hikers. We are always looking for help to maintain the Trail – taking the time to throw some branches off the Trail while you hike, helping on a special project, mowing or brush-hogging along the Trail, or joining a group of volunteers as they maintain the Trail. It’s all fun! Our annual General Membership meeting with a featured speaker is open to the public and takes place each spring to kick off our season. Please come join us on any or all of our fun activities!

Presentation at the 2023 PWC Annual Meeting by Bill Van Korsky about Native American Marked Trail Trees

Key Data

Chapter Trail Section

The Peter Wolfe Chapter (PWC) has over 120 miles of mostly forested North Country National Scenic Trail stretching from M-64 in the west to Long Lake, which is west of Craig Lake State Park, passing through Ontonagon, Houghton, and Baraga Counties. The PWC has about 85 miles of Trail on the Ottawa National Forest (ONF), about 12 miles on state land, and the remainder in private holdings. We are proud to have built three enclosed shelters for our hikers. This is remote country so be prepared!

There are a few small towns with supplies several miles off the PWC Trail section that have a café, post office, lodging, etc. Starting from the west, those include: White Pine on M-64 is 4.7 miles north of the NCNST; Bergland on M-64 is seven miles south of the NCNST; Ontonagon on M-38 is about 15 miles north of the NCNST (both from the Norwich Road crossing and the road crossing northeast of Old Victoria) and has a hospital; Bruce Crossing on US-45 is eight miles south of the NCNST from the O Kun de Kun Falls trailhead; Rockland on US-45 is four miles northeast of the NCNST shelter at Old Victoria (and just three miles northeast of where the Trail crosses Victoria Dam Road); Watton on M-28 is four miles south of the NCNST from the Tibbets Falls trailhead; L'Anse on US-41 is 10 miles north of the NCNST Canyon Falls trailhead and has a hospital; and Michigamme Market on US-41 which is 7.4 miles southeast of NCNST at the US-41 and North Nestoria junction.

In the western half of our section, you will encounter a number of breathtaking bluff overlooks in the Trap Hills, including the highest bluff in Michigan, where you see nothing but undisturbed forests and soaring birds, as far as the eye can see! (And imagine being there in the fall with the full color!) Going eastbound you will hike through the amazing Trap Hills that includes the highest bluff in Michigan, and passes through a restored mining village, Victoria, where you will see the ruins of an era gone by. You will then cross two huge suspension bridges, first over the mighty Baltimore near O Kun de Kun Falls, then the Ontonagon River. Next will be a short spur to the popular Bob Lake Campground in the Ottawa National Forest, then on to the magnificent Silver Mountain area where a short climbing spur will take you to the top of a nearly 360-degree view of beautiful forests and birds of the sky. Then hike along the eastern edge of the Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness. You can take a short steep spur into the gorge to experience a Wilderness Area as intended! (As if you were not already in one of the most remote sections of the entire NCNST.) Leaving the Ottawa National Forest and entering the state lands you will find a more sandy expanse with rare swales, the Tibbets Falls with a NCNST shelter on the Sturgeon River and Big Lake State Forest Campground area near where there is a waterfowl sanctuary teeming with birds of many kinds. Finally, walk upstream alongside the Sturgeon River and encounter the Grand Canyon of the UP, including Canyon Falls. Followed by more riverside walk and hike some very remote roads where you can watch for moose tracks, then a short mile walk along US-41 followed by another remote road walk to the next Chapter’s segment of NCNST at Long Lake, just west of Craig Lake State Park.

By the end of 2023, we hope to have the trail completely off that short US-41 walk.

Connect and Get Involved

Join the Chapter
pwc@northcountrytrail.org
Facebook
Consider a donation to the Chapter. (In the comments section, you can indicate it's for the Peter Wolfe Chapter.)

Resources

Use the Report Trail Condition form to alert NCTA and the Chapter to poor trail conditions. Visit the Trail Alerts page while planning your adventure.

Chapter Maps and Guidance

Additional Local Resources