Three New Bridges in Newaygo County, MI

One Year, Three Bridges from Paul Haan on Vimeo.

from the Western Michigan Chapter of the NCTA

The bridges span Bear Creek, Rattlesnake Creek and Second Cole Creek. Great accomplishment!



This segment is on NCTA map MI-04

See Western Michigan Chapter of the NCTA

North Country Trail Promo

from Maranda TV



Maranda TV has created this video about the North Country Trail in West Michigan, in the Lowell State Game Area.

This segment is on NCTA map MI-03

See Western Michigan Chapter of the NCTA

Mark Lewis Hikes Near Loda Lake

a red pine stand at Loda Lake (photo from the White Lake Beacon, used with permission)

based on a news article in the White Lake Beacon, "The road More taken," by Mark Lewis, July 13, 2009, used with permission

Mark Lewis is a writer for the White Lake Beacon, and his entertaining story of a hike on the North Country Trail in the southern Manistee Forest is sure to amuse. His hike occurred soon after the infamous South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford claimed to be hiking while instead he was having an affair with a lady in Argentina! Lewis quoted a cable news station, "Nobody hikes alone, I mean, who does that?"

Yet there was Lewis, hiking a section of the NCT, alone. The answer is that lots of us hike alone! But unlike so many portions of the NCT, he found that this one near Loda Lake was well used, and hiking alone wasn't a very solitary experience.

His enthusiasm for outdoor recreation shows in the promise, "Opportunities to get outside, into some pretty fantastic and wild places, are as abundant as they are economical. I practically could have thrown a dart at a map of Northern West Michigan and hit a winner." Yet he chose to explore the fairly new NCT/ Birch Grove Trail loop near Loda Lake and the North Country Trail Association Schoolhouse. The schoolhouse was the first headquarters of the Association, and is now managed as something of a hostel / meeting place by the Western Michigan Chapter.

This section of the NCT is open to bicycles, and Lewis was passed by several groups, and also met hikers. He calls this section "the road more taken." He describes it thus:

The North Country Trail/Birch Trail loop is a nearly 10-mile circular stretch that travels through several different kinds of typographies. While slight hills dominate the western portion of the loop, things seem to get a little flatter the further east one goes. On the eastern side, the trail meets up with a junction at the Loda Lake Sanctuary Walk, a two-mile loop which takes hikers through the only wildflower refuge in a national forest. At the southern-most edge of the trail, two miles south of Loda Lake, Camp Swampy and Diamond Lake County Park provide hikers with a convenient place to camp and swim.

Lewis had hoped to camp near the trail in the National Forest (dispersed camping is allowed), but the large number of trail users made him think twice about this since he had planned to set up camp and then leave for a while to explore further. Instead he chose to stay at Camp Swampy, a Forest Service campsite (daily fee required).

The next morning he spent more time at Loda Lake, the only wildflower refuge within a National Forest. "I love to sit in there in the early morning, as the sun climbs the sky, and listen to (and watch) the long skinny trees croak and crack, their limbs pressing against each other while their trunks ache back-and-forth," Lewis shared.

For a great weekend experience, this section of the NCT and connecting trails near Newaygo would be a good destination, just be aware that it is one of those rare sections of the NCT that have been discovered!

See Newaygo Birch Grove Loop Trail Dedicated
See North Country Trail Triad- Workshops, Hike and a Bar-B-Q
See Western Michigan Chapter of the North Country Trail Association

More Trails Day Events

from various sources

The West Michigan Chapter will host a continental breakfast followed by a hike and a DVD of the trail. We will end with a potluck lunch. Meet at the Schoolhouse on June 6, 10 am. Members are each urged to bring at least one non-member guest to the annual celebration of National Trails Day. Contact JerriLynn Osmarosmarjer@charter.net

The Star of the North Chapter, Minnesota, have a planned trail rehab, and maintenance day planned in the Chippewa National Forest near Remer, MN. Contact Brian Pavekpavekb@comcast.net

The Chequamegon Chapter, Wisconsin, is celebrating on June 20th with a trail maintenance day. Contact Marty Swankmarty808@centurytel.net

Healthier Streams Near the NCT in the Manistee

Volunteers install GeoWeb material to stabilize and harden the trail surface.

from the USDA Forest Service "Success Stories"used with permission, by Dianne Berry, Dec 12, 2008

Several stream crossings on the Manistee National Forest are healthier thanks to joint efforts of Forest Service staff and North Country Trail Association (NCTA) volunteers. The West Michigan Chapter of the NCTA, with assistance from the Baldwin/White Cloud Ranger District, completed stream bank stabilization projects along two creeks using geotextiles and geocell materials to stabilize and harden the trail surface.

Intense recreation activities on sensitive topography led to substantial stream damage at a number of crossings along the North Country National Scenic Trail. Mountain biking and horse riding on steep slopes and sandy soils contributed to noticeable damage.

Along Michigan Creek, new trail rerouted a section of poorly located trail that was contributing to significant sedimentation and degradation of stream quality. Construction techniques included a locally unique application of geotextiles and geocells. Turn-style barriers and educational signage were installed at choke-points leading to the project area in order to deter illegal horse use and minimize the effect of mountain bike use on the trail.

Stabilization of an adjacent hillside with signs of damage from off-trail pedestrian traffic was completed as well, using biodegradable fiber water bars to slow water flow and filter suspended sediment. Additionally, a woven straw/ biodegradable net matrix was installed on the slope to stabilize surface soils and facilitate plant recruitment.

A variety of local, native seedlings were transplanted through the matrix to expedite the rehabilitation, add additional slope stability, and divert pedestrian traffic away from the slope. More than twenty Chapter volunteers contributed their time and labor to complete this project.

Along Tank Creek, an original section of trail was located within the sandy troughs of an abandoned railroad grade. Water and the resultant sediment would be trapped in the trough and funneled into the creek. A reroute of the trail out of the trough and up onto adjacent higher ground significantly reduced sedimentation of the creek.

Geotextiles and geocells were installed at the stream approach to help reduce the grade, stabilize the parent soils, and harden the trail surface. Biodegradable fiber water bars were also installed at strategic locations along the creek bank to slow water flow and filter suspended sediment. Barriers and additional educational signage are planned to deter illegal horse use that occurs along the trail and through the creek.

During these projects, volunteers overcame their doubts about the use of geocell materials.

"I received quite a few skeptical looks that first day when I pulled the geocell materials out of the truck," said Huron-Manistee National Forests' Trails Coordinator Chris Loudenslager. "But, upon completion of the project, more than a couple volunteers said I had made believers out of them."

Building Connector Trail from Highbanks

from the Wandering Knight. You can see many more adventures, both on and off the NCT at Ken's blog.

I spent last weekend with a group of other people in the western part of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan building a new side trail off of the North Country Trail. 17 people worked for a handful of hours constructing the half-mile trail from the Highbanks Lake Campground to the NCT on what was probably a nearly ideal day to do such work.

Making a Difference: Building New Trail from Ken Knight on Vimeo.