North Country National Scenic Trail
The North Country National Scenic Trail is the longest of all
the National Scenic Trails which were authorized by he congress.
Like its fellow trails, the Appalachian, Florida, Natchez Trace,
Continental Divide, Pacific Crest, Ice Age and Potomac Heritage
National Scenic Trails, NCNST was created to provide calm
recreational activities in one of America's most amazing
landscapes.
When the Trail was established in 1980, portions of
it were designed to follow the already existing Finger Lakes
(New York), Baker (Pennsylvania), and Buckeye (Ohio) Trails.
Their sponsoring organizations became affiliates of the North
Country Trail Association and
agreed to maintain those portions of their trails to be used
by the North Country National Scenic Trail.
The Northwestern Ohio Rails-to-Trails Association
joined later to help create a link between the Buckeye Trail in
Ohio and newly-constructed trail in Michigan; the Superior
Hiking Trail Association and the Kekekabic Trail Club joined
when it was proposed that the North
Country National Scenic Trail route through Minnesota be
changed to include an already-completed section of the Superior
Hiking Trail along Lake Superior, and the Kekekabic and Border
Route Trails along the Canadian border. The NCNST
also threads its way through 57 state parks and state historic
areas, 47 state forests, 22 state game areas, seven state water
conservation districts and at least ten county forests and
parks. Several hundred miles of trail eventually will also cross
private land thanks to owners who have granted easements across
their property.
Existing and new sections of the NCNST are generally
limited to foot travel, including hiking, snowshoeing and
cross-country skiing. Other non-motorized uses, such as
bicycling and horseback riding are generally limited to areas
specifically designed to withstand such use. The trail is primarily managed as a long distance
trail for hiking. Cross country skiing can also be done on the
trail but the tread is not particularly smooth. Skiing is
recommended during which time a crust has already formed on top
of the snow.
Dog-sledding is also allowed in some areas. The NCNST stretches more than 4,600 miles from Crown Point in
East New York to Lake Sakakawea in West North Dakota.It is administered by the National Park service and managed by
federal state and local agencies.
It is also maintained by the North Country
Trail Association volunteers and
its partners.
|
