What we’re about
This is a group for anyone interested in attending hikes or volunteering to help build, maintain, and/or promote the North Country National Scenic Trail from Starvation Lake Road (southeast of Mancelona) to the Wexford/Manistee County line at Hodenpyl Dam Pond in Michigan.
The Grand Traverse Chapter is a part of the North Country Trail Association (NCTA). We plan a variety of activities - various hikes along our route and work sessions to maintain our current pathway and build new off-road sections of the NCNST. We also schedule outreach events to promote this great community asset. Volunteers with all interests and abilities are welcome to join us. All help and levels of participation are appreciated. Hope to see you on the North Country National Scenic Trail!
The NCTA Grand Traverse Chapter values just, diverse, equitable, and inclusive trail experiences. We are committed to these principles for everyone’s enjoyment of the NCNST. We strive to better include those who experience barriers to trails by prioritizing equitable solutions to ensure all can connect to and care for the Trail in a way that is meaningful for them.
An ArcGIS Map of the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCNST) can be found here: https://nct.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Viewer/index.html?appid=23a2c0d674cb443ea9835af2e8c5f13a
To receive notifications of our events and communicate with event leaders, please join MeetUp and NCTA Grand Traverse Chapter's Meetup group!
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Hike 100 Challenge: Harvey Bridge to M-115M-115 Parking west of Manistee River, Mesick, MI
Join the NCTA Grand Traverse Chapter of the North Country Trail Association on a 9.1 mile adventure hike that follows high bluffs above the Manistee River, skirts around the town of Mesick, then settles down along the Manistee River again.
PLEASE RSVP IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND. We’ll meet at a small parking lot immediately west of the Manistee River bridge, just west of Mesick, leaving promptly at 10:05am. It’s located on the south side of M-115, 0.7 miles west of the M-37/M-115 junction. Use Google Map to navigate to 44°24'22.5"N 85°44'06.9"W. Then we’ll board a few cars to take us to a parking area immediately south of Harvey (Iron Pony Truss) Bridge, located at 44°26'19.8"N 85°38'30.0"W. Follow this link for best directions between the end points:
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/44.4057831,-85.7206629/Harvey+Iron+Pony+Truss+Bridge,+Buckley,+MI/@44.4212846,-85.7047686,5013m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m9!4m8!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x881e52f7f31fbfe9:0xeea959c11e1854c0!2m2!1d-85.6423675!2d44.4392023!3e0?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQwOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
Starting the hike about 10:30am, we’ll walk across Harvey Bridge and begin with a beautiful 3 mile hike high above the Manistee River. Then we’ll follow a mile of pleasant rural road and endure a mile+ of busy M-37 highway’s shoulder before following Burkett Creek back to the Manistee River. After crossing the river, we’ll wind along its banks to find our way back to our cars. We’ll end the hike about 3:30pm, then drive some folks back to their cars at Harvey Bridge before heading home.
PLEASE NOTE: Although I was able to drive across Harvey Bridge with my Toyota Rav4 and saw another vehicle also cross, its condition is poor, the north approach is partially washed out, and signs indicate a 3 ton weight limit. Therefore, I recommend returning home by staying south of Harvey Bride (take N 19 Road south to M-42, then west to M-37 near Mesick). Please use caution on the loose gravel, but small cars should have no difficulty on those roads.
ALSO NOTE: This hike is not very conducive to shorter options due to the long car transfers required. Please call me at 231-519-1851 if you want to discuss options.
Plan on hiking for 5 hours at a 2 mph pace, with a short snack/lunch break. Hiking shoes, hiking poles, rain gear, plenty of water, and a bag lunch are recommended.
This route uses Avenza maps NCT MI-123 and MI-124. If you want to learn about navigating with the free Avenza App, download Avenza, search for “NCT MI-123” and “NCT MI-124”, download them, and bring your phone to this hike. We’ll be happy to get your started!
This is part of a a series of hiking events that will cover the entire portion of the NCT maintained by our Chapter, 107 miles from Hodenpyl Dam to Starvation Lake Road. This will be a great opportunity for those who want to hike it all and get their name engraved on the plaque at the Nature Center. - NCTA Grand Traverse Chapter - May Monthly MeetingBoardman River Nature Center, Traverse City, MI
Our next meeting of the Grand Traverse Chapter of NCTA is Tuesday, May 20, 7:00 pm at the Boardman River Nature Center.
The last few years, we have discovered that in May, with good weather and plenty of daylight, no one wants to attend an indoor meeting. Also, we don't have a program lined up anyway. Therefore, this meeting will be a hike on the trails around the Nature Center.
We'll meet in the parking lot at 7:00 pm then take a hike north on the trail following the west side of the Boardman River. We'll walk north until we get halfway to Sunset, then turn around so we can get back to the starting point before dark.
A copy of the trail map is attached. From the map, you will notice that the trail parallels the Cass Road commercial and industrial corridor. The trail is about a quarter mile east of Cass Road, but you would never know it. All that development is hidden from the trail by trees.
Directions to the Nature Center:
Boardman River Nature Center
1450 Cass Rd.
Traverse City, MI 49685
(1.5 miles South of South Airport Rd.)
44°42'27.88"N 85°37'30.42"W
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Boardman+River+Nature+Center/@44.7077779,-85.6276135,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x881e336b084d0ecf:0x3bf8ccdbb5b618cf!8m2!3d44.7077741!4d-85.6254248
