The North Country Trail is a designated National Scenic Trail (the same designation as the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and several others) covering approximately 4,850 miles connecting central North Dakota to Vermont. The NCT is the longest of the National Scenic Trails. The trail also winds through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.
As of March 25, 2024 I have covered 1,240.5 unique miles of the North Country Trail (25.5% of the total 4,850 NCT miles). The map above highlights (in blue) sections of trail that I have completed.
This quest really started in February 2020, when I joined Matt Bromley’s group run through the Yankee Springs to Middleville, MI section. From that day, I was hooked. I made the long drive to join Matt’s later section meetings and through the process gained a network of amazing friends and was able to cover many of the sections as point-to-point runs thanks to car spotting help from Tanya Bromley and others. I’ve had the pleasure of running sections of the North Country Trail with over 50 different friends. Other sections were solo out-and-back adventures, which are less efficient but always still fun and memorable.
This page will be updated as I complete new sections of the North Country Trail. Each section I’ve completed is posted below, arranged from west to east along the trail, regardless of the chronological order in which I ran the section. Some sections were covered eastbound, some westbound, and many in both directions as solo out-and-backs. Strava activity maps are included as proof of completion for each section, along with the date of completion, trail mile markers of the start and end points, the people I ran with, and photos. All NCT miles claimed were official NCT miles at the time that I covered the section (trails this long are rerouted for various reasons over time, so actual routes and distances are subject to evolve).
NCT Section Recaps
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NORTH DAKOTA: 0 of 465 miles completed (0%)
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MINNESOTA: 40 of 855 miles completed (4.67%)
MN NCT miles 815 – 827.5 (12.5 unique NCT miles)
December 24, 2023 – solo run (point-to-point)
Warm (for December) and rainy run on the skyline
Ended at Duluth’s iconic lift bridge in Canal Park
Note: SHT mile markers 27.5 to 40 (south to north)
MN NCT miles 827.5 – 852.5 (25 unique NCT miles)
December 23, 2023 – solo run (point-to-point)
Foggy run through Jay Cooke State Park to West Duluth
5,500′ of elevation gain w/lots of mud, rocks, and roots!
Thanks Drew for the ride to the starting point!
Note: SHT mile markers 2.5 to 27.5 (south to north)
MN NCT miles 852.5 – 855 (2.5 unique NCT miles)
December 22, 2023 – solo run (out-and-back)
Southern Terminus of Superior Hiking Trail
To the Highway 23 crossing and back
Note: SHT mile markers 0 to 2.5 (south to north)
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WISCONSIN: 1 of 214 miles completed (0.5%)
WI miles 0 – 1 (1 unique NCT miles)
December 22, 2023 – solo run (out-and-back)
From the State Line Trailhead to MN/WI border
Eastbound and westbound tracked separately
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MICHIGAN: 974.5 of 1,176.5 miles completed (82.8%)
MI Miles 56 – 71 (15 unique NCT miles)
July 8, 2023 – solo run (loop; partial out-and-back)
Porcupine Mountains Wilderness
MI Miles 174.5 – 184.5 (10 unique NCT miles)
November 23, 2023 – solo out-and-back
Big Lake Campground to Canyon Falls
MI Miles 211 – 221 (10 unique NCT miles)
November 11, 2023 – solo out-and-back
Craig Lake State Park McCormick Wilderness
MI Miles 237 – 254 (17 unique NCT miles)
July 16, 2023 – w/Matt B, Dave F, Amie M
Silver Lake Basin to Henderson Road
Amie and I were stung by bees. Thanks Tanya for crewing!
MI Miles 254 – 277 (23 unique NCT miles)
July 15, 2023 – w/Matt B, Dave F, Amie M
Silver Lake Basin to Marquette Maritime Museum
With spur trails to summit Hogback and Sugarloaf
MI Miles 277 – 303 (26 unique NCT miles)
July 1, 2023 – solo run (point-to-point)
Marquette Maritime Museum to Laughing Whitefish
With Laughing Whitefish Falls and spur trail to NCT
Probably the worst mosquitoes I’ve ever experienced
Thanks Jenelle for spotting cars and aid station help!
MI Miles 303 – 329 (26 unique NCT miles)
June 10, 2023 – w/Matt B, Dave F, Svenja, David Z
Laughing Whitefish to Valley Spur
With Laughing Whitefish Falls spur trail from NCT
With Rock River Canyon waterfall spur trail
Rock River Canyon 50K race event was in progress
Thanks Tanya for crewing!
MI Miles 329 – 346 (17 unique NCT miles)
September 11, 2022 – w/Matt B, Dave F
Valley Spur thru Munising to Miner’s Castle
Thanks Tanya for crewing!
MI Miles 346 – 380 (34 unique NCT miles)
September 10, 2022 – w/Matt B, Dave F, Amie M
Miner’s Castle to Grand Sable Visitor Center
Highlights of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Thanks Tanya for crewing!
MI Miles 380 – 400.5 (20.5 unique NCT miles)
May 14, 2023 – w/Matt B, Dave F, Amie M
Grand Sable Visitor Center to Perry’s Landing
Thanks Tanya for crewing!
MI Miles 400.5 – 405.5 (5 unique NCT miles)
May 27, 2023 – solo out-and-back
Perry’s Landing to Muskallonge Lake
MI Miles 405.5 – 421 (15.5 unique NCT miles)
August 27, 2022 – solo out-and-back
Muskallonge Lake to Two Hearted River mouth
Wild blueberries were ripe and delicious!
MI Miles 421 – 442 (21 unique NCT miles)
July 31, 2022 – w/Matt B, Dave F
Two Hearted River to Tahquamenon Falls
Thanks Tanya for Crewing!
MI Miles 442 – 462 (20 unique NCT miles)
July 30, 2022 – w/Matt B, Dave F, Amie M
Tahquamenon Falls to Tahquamenon River Mouth
Thanks Tanya for Crewing!
MI Miles 462 – 485 (23 unique NCT miles)
July 2, 2022 – w/David Z
Tahquamenon River Mouth to M-28
Horrendous mosquitoes!
MI Miles 485 – 501.5 (16.5 unique NCT miles)
May 8, 2022 – solo out-and-back
M-28 to Hayward School Spur 3005
Took roads back on return to my car.
MI Miles 501.5 – 508 (6.5 unique NCT miles)
April 27, 2022 – solo out-and-back
Hayward School Spur 3005 to Trout Brook
Took roads back on return to my car.
Still some snow on the ground in spots.
Spring peepers and wood frogs calling.
MI Miles 508 – 526.5 (18.5 unique NCT miles)
May 15, 2022 – w/Matt B; Lani
Trout Brook to Burma Road
Magical leeks and trilliums!
MI Miles 526.5 – 555 (28.5 unique NCT miles)
May 14, 2022 – w/Matt B
Burma Road to the Mackinac Bridge
MI Miles 555 – 559.3 (4.3 unique NCT miles)
September 2, 2019 – Labor Day Bridge Run Event
Across the Mackinac Bridge!
MI Miles 559.3 – 581 (21.7 unique NCT miles)
November 6, 2021 – Big Group Run!
Mackinac Bridge to Sturgeon Bay Trail
MI Miles 581 – 595 (14 unique NCT miles)
October 16, 2021
w/Matt B, Amie M, Shannon M, Jon D, Dakota
Sturgeon Bay Trail to W Robinson Road
One week after finishing Indiana Trail 100
MI Miles 595 – 609 (14 unique NCT miles)
November 21, 2021 – w/Julia
W Robinson Road to Kipp Road Trailhead
Chilly morning with a dusting of snow
MI Miles 609 – 614 (5 unique NCT miles)
October 23, 2021 – Solo (loop, about 50% on NCT)
Kipp Road Trailhead to Spring Lake Park
Started w/Ashleigh & Alexa but hiked due to knee pain
MI Miles 614 – 616 (2 unique NCT miles)
November 21, 2021 – Solo hike
Spring Lake Park to Downtown Petoskey
MI Miles 616 – 628 (12 unique NCT miles)
October 2, 2021 – Solo out-and-back
Downtown Petoskey to King Road
MI Miles 628 – 631 (3 unique NCT miles)
September 22, 2021 – Solo out-and-back
King Road to Taylors Road/Maxwell Road
So many amazing mushrooms popping!
MI Miles 631 – 636.5 (5.5 unique NCT miles)
September 19, 2021 – Solo out-and-back
Taylors Rd/Maxwell Rd to Springvale Rd
Lots of fall colors and mushrooms!
Accidental bonus miles on Maxwell Road
Cherry Valley Overlook spur on northbound
MI Miles 636.5 – 645 (8.5 unique NCT miles)
September 11, 2021 – Solo out-and-back
Springvale Road to Thumb Lake Road
9.11 miles on 9/11 run
MI Miles 645 – 675 (30 unique NCT miles)
September 4, 2021 – Big group run with:
Matt, Amie, Jay, David, Dakota, Brian, Ashleigh
Thumb Lake Road to Landslide Overlook TH
Including Jordan Valley Pathway section:
I’ve run JVP many times! Home trails!
(Photos below are from different times running it)
MI Miles 675 – 709 (34 unique NCT miles)
July 10, 2021 – w/Matt B, Amie M, Jon D, Travis Z
Landslide Overlook to Log Lake Park in Kalkaska
MI Miles 709 – 735 (26 unique NCT miles)
June 5, 2021 – w/Matt B, Jon D, Emily T
Log Lake Park in Kalkaska to Ranch Rudolph Road
Thanks Tanya for crewing!
MI Miles 735 – 750 (15 unique NCT miles)
December 18, 2021 – solo out-and-back
Ranch Rudolph Road to Ramsay Road
Chilly winter winds; part of Fife Lake Loop
Includes the Valley of the Giants section
MI Miles 750 – 760 (10 unique NCT miles)
January 1, 2022 – solo out-and-back
Ramsay Road to Mile Marker 760
Ran on a dusting of snow
20.22 miles on New Years Day 2022!
MI Miles 760 – 767 (7 unique NCT miles)
January 17, 2022 – solo out-and-back
Mile Marker 760 to Baxter Bridge Campground
Ran on a dusting of snow, did some handstands
MI Miles 767 – 795 (28 unique NCT miles)
March 13, 2021 – Group Run!
Matt, Tim, Amie, Shannon, Heather S-D, Ed, Steve, & Efrain
Baxter Bridge Campground to Hodenpyle Dam
I fell ill and tested positive for Covid the day after this 50K
Thanks Tanya and Donna for crewing and ride spotting!
MI Miles 795 – 796 (1 unique NCT mile)
January 17, 2021 – solo out-and-back
Hodenpyle Dam to Manistee River Trail (north end)
Pesky little gap between Hodenpyle and the MRT
MI Miles 796 – 804 (8 unique NCT miles)
July 3, 2021 – Multiple times with many friends!
NCT side of the amazing Manistee River Loop
I could post a hundred photos from the MRT!
(Pics from different days; NCT & MRT sides of loop)
MI Miles 804 – 816 (12 unique NCT miles)
March 20, 2022 – solo out-and-back
Manistee River Loop to High Bridge Road
A relatively warm day in March!
MI Miles 816 – 842 (26 unique NCT miles)
April 9, 2022 – w/Amie M
High Bridge Road to Blossom’s Cafe
North Country Trail race & Udell Hills section
MI Miles 842 – 864.5 (22.5 unique NCT miles)
April 30, 2022 – w/David Z
Blossom’s Cafe to Bowman Lake Trailhead
MI Miles 864.5 – 883 (18.5 unique NCT miles)
April 24, 2022 – solo point-to-point
Bowman Lake Trailhead to Nichols Lake
Thanks Liz for the car spotting!
MI Miles 883 – 896 (13 unique NCT miles)
December 12, 2021 – solo out-and-back
Nichols Lake to Loda Lake
The day I discovered the band Freedom Fry
MI Miles 896 – 928 (32 unique NCT miles)
September 12, 2020 – Group Run!
w/Matt, Amie, Tim, Jeff, Ashleigh, Allison, and Alexa
Loda Lake to Croton Dam
(Strava map is a bit off but the mileage is correct)
Thanks Jay and Tanya for crewing and rides!
MI Miles 928 – 966 (38 unique NCT miles)
August 29, 2020 – Big Group Run!
w/Matt, Amie, Tim, Alexa, Jon, Ashleigh, Penny…
…Anna Z, Emily T, Archie, Ed, & Corey!
Croton Dam to Downtown Rockford
I did another 10 miles at the end to make it 50
Thanks Tanya for crewing and rides!
Thanks Amie for the vegan birthday cupcake!
MI Miles 966 – 983 (17 unique NCT miles)
July 11, 2020 – Big Group Run!
w/Matt, Amie, Jessica, Gary, Jon, Steve, Crystal…
…Shannon, Amber, Emily T, Ashleigh, Heather…
Ed, Corey, & Amber!
Downtown Rockford to Seidman Park
Thanks Tanya and Donna for crewing and rides!
MI Miles 983 – 997 (14 unique NCT miles)
June 6, 2020 – Big Group Run!
w/Matt, Anna, Brandy, Bonnie, Ashleigh, Scott, Steve…
Tim, Emily, RaeAnn, Crystal, Rachel, Sandy, & Amie!
Seidman Park to Fallasburg Park
Thanks Tanya and Donna for crewing and rides!
MI Miles 997 – 1023.5 (26.5 unique NCT miles)
March 7, 2020 – Big Group Run!
w/Matt, Tim, Ashleigh, Bonnie, Shannon, & Jessica!
Fallasburg Park to Robertson Road
Thanks Tanya for crewing and rides!
MI Miles 1,023.5 – 1,043 (19.5 unique NCT miles)
February 2, 2020 – Big Group Run!
w/Matt, Tim, Ed, Amie, Shannon, Emily, Amber…
…Steve, Jon, & Crystal
Robertson Road to Yankee Springs (S Norris Rd)
My first time meeting Matt and the NCT gang!
Thanks Tanya for crewing and rides!
MI Miles 1,043 – 1,062 (19 unique NCT miles)
March 19, 2023 – solo start, Matt & David joined
Yankee Springs (S Norris Rd) to Gull Lake
This was my Michigan Lower Peninsula finisher!
MI Miles 1,062 – 1,082 (20 unique NCT miles)
March 5, 2023 – solo point-to-point
Gull Lake to Springfield
Lot of road but included Fort Custer area
Thanks Matt for the car spotting!
MI Miles 1,082 – 1,104.5 (22.5 unique NCT miles)
January 15, 2023 – w/Matt and Amie
Springfield to Marshall
Lot of road, including downtown Battle Creek
We survived a Darth Vader encounter!
MI Miles 1,104.5 – 1,127 (22.5 unique NCT miles)
January 14, 2023 – w/Amie
Marshall to Homer
Lot of road, including downtown Albion
MI Miles 1,127 – 1,134 (7 unique NCT miles)
December 2, 2022 – solo out-and-back
Homer to Hillsdale County Line
Mostly road running
MI Miles 1,134 – 1,141 (7 unique NCT miles)
October 9, 2022 – solo out-and-back
Hillsdale County Line to Sterling Road
Mostly road running, including Litchfield
Listened live to Vikings beating the Bears
MI Miles 1,141 – 1,176.5 (35.5 unique NCT miles)
April 17, 2022 – w/David Z
Sterling Road Bridge to Ohio Border!
David’s Michigan Lower Peninsula finisher!
Mostly roads, including Jonesville & Hillsdale
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OHIO: 225 of 1,073 miles completed (20.97%)
OH Miles 32.5 – 62.5 (30 unique NCT miles)
January 27, 2024 – solo point-to-point
Delta thru Whitehouse & Waterville to Grand Rapids
Oak Openings Metro Park Section was a highlight
Thanks for driving Tanya, and Marianne for the ride!
OH Miles 62.5 – 95 (32.5 unique NCT miles)
February 19, 2024 – solo point-to-point
Grand Rapids to Defiance bridge over Maumee River
Thanks to Mary for the ride to my start point!
OH Miles ?? – ?? (27 unique NCT miles)
December 16, 2023 – solo (3 miles w/Matt, Tanya, Amie)
2 miles N of Lockington to Parkwood Dr in Tipp City
Point-to-point run with Mexican lunch at mile 19!
I did some bonus miles to make it a 50K+
OH Miles ?? – ?? (16 unique NCT miles)
December 17, 2023 – Hiked it with Matt, Tanya, Amie
Parkwood Dr in Tipp City to Triangle Park in Dayton
Rainy morning. Lots of paved bike path. Coffees to-go!
OH Miles ?? – ?? (5 unique NCT miles)
December 22, 2022 – solo run (out-and-back)
Dayton: Triangle Park to Eastwood Metro Park
Dropped from 46 F to about -2 F within hours!
OH Miles ?? – ?? (4.5 unique NCT miles)
January 18, 2024 – solo point-to-point
Downtown Xenia to Hedges Road
Finished off a 50K day with this section.
OH Miles ?? – ?? (30 unique NCT miles)
January 17, 2024 – point-to-point with Matt
Hedges Rd Spring Valley to South Lebanon
Chilly run through a tunnel of snowy trees.
Fort Ancient side trip and a super huge bridge!
OH Miles ?? – ?? (24 unique NCT miles)
January 18, 2024 – point-to-point with Matt
South Lebanon to Perinton UDF
Milford, Loveland, Miamiville section
With stops for Starbucks and a breakfast burrito!
OH Miles ?? – ?? (32 unique NCT miles)
March 23, 2024 – point-to-point with Matt
Perinton UDF to West side East Fork SP
East Fork SP was scenic and hilly (4,000′ gain)
Tonya and Cynthia hiked it opposite direction
OH Miles ?? – ?? (24 unique NCT miles)
March 24, 2024 – point-to-point with Matt
West side East Fork SP to Buckeye Trail Pt. 24
19 miles on roads; 5 on trail in the state park
Tonya and Cynthia hiked it opposite direction
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PENNSYLVANIA: 0 of 286 miles completed (0%)
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NEW YORK: 0 of 690 miles completed (0%)
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VERMONT: 0 of 68 miles completed (0%)