North Country National Scenic Trail

The North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT) was authorized by Congress in 1980 as one of just eleven National Scenic Trails in the U.S. This premier footpath stretches more than 4,800 miles across eight northern states from Vermont to its western terminus at Lake Sakakawea State Park. The NCT is the longest National Scenic Trail and is the only one found within North Dakota. Administered by the National Park Service, the NCT is built, maintained, promoted, and protected by volunteers of the non-profit North Country Trail Association (NCTA) that work in partnership with local partners (federal and state land management agencies, local governments, non-profits, and private landowners) who host the trail on their lands.

It is open for year-round non-motorized use but it is best to check the weather and trail conditions before using the trail. In North Dakota, approximately 280 miles (of an estimated 475) of the NCT are completed off-road with the rest being roadwalk connectors. This includes longer (backpackable) segments within the Sheyenne National Grasslands, Lake Ashtabula, Lonetree Wildlife Management Area, Chain of Lakes Recreation Area, and along the McClusky Canal.

Shorter, (day-hike) segments may be found within the Ekre Grassland Preserve, between Colfax and Walcott, Sheyenne State Forest, Fort Ransom State Park, from Kathryn to Clausen Springs Recreation Area, within Valley City, at Turtle Lake, at Audubon National Wildlife Refuge, and at Lake Sakakawea State Park. A map showing the route of the NCT and the location of completed segments is available online and free downloadable hiking maps are available from the NCTA.

Since there are multiple spots to access the North Country Trail, here are several contacts:

• For the Lake Sakakawea State Park, Garrison Dam, Audubon National Wildlife Refuge, Chain of Lakes, and Lonetree WMA segments, contact the Central Flyway Chapter email: [email protected], website: http://www.northcountrytrail.org/fly
• For the Lake Ashtabula, Valley City, Clausen Springs to Kathryn, Fort Ransom State Park, and Sheyenne State Forest segments, contact the Sheyenne River Valley Chapter email: [email protected], website: http://www.northcountrytrail.org/srv
• For the Lisbon, Sheyenne National Grassland, Ekre Grassland Preserve, Colfax to Walcott, and Fort Abercrombie segments, contact the Dakota Prairie Chapter email: [email protected], website: http://www.northcountrytrail.org/dpc

North Country Trail Association volunteers are eager to help people plan their hikes on the NCT and offer some suggested hikes. Feel free to reach out with questions. For general info about the North Country Trail, contact North Country Trail Association, 229 E. Main St. City: Lowell, MI 49331 phone: 866-HIKE-NCT; email: [email protected] website: http://www.northcountrytrail.org