North Country National Scenic
North Country National Scenic Trail is a 34.9-mile trail in Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Wisconsin. The Forest Service rates it trail class 1 to 2 to 3, minimally developed to developed. It is open to hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking. It enters Porcupine Lake Wilderness and Rainbow Lake Wilderness.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest official page carries current alerts and closure orders.
Map
One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.
| One end | 46.4947° N, 91.4386° W · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 46.3034° N, 91.0931° W · Directions ↗ |
The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start. The trail is recorded as 8 segments.
The trail
| Length | 34.9 miles, of which 7.5 miles evaluated accessible |
| Trail class | 1, minimally developed; 2, moderately developed; 3, developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | imported compacted material, native material (firm) |
| Typical tread width | 18-24 inches, 48-60 inches |
| Minimum width | over 42 inches |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | At least one segment meets Forest Service accessibility guidelines |
| National designation | National Scenic or Historic Trail |
| Trail numbers | 05100A, 05100B, 100A |
| Forest | Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (unit 0913) |
| States | Wisconsin |
| Detail published | management level, with uses |
Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.
Weather by month
Allowed uses
| Hiking | Allowed 05/01 to 11/30 (month/day) |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed 05/01 to 03/14 (month/day) |
| Mountain biking | Allowed 05/01 to 03/14 (month/day) |
A use is listed when the Forest Service records it as managed, accepted or discouraged on any segment. Discouraged still means legal. Uses marked restricted are left out. Where the forest publishes a Motor Vehicle Use Map, that map governs motorized use.
Wilderness
- Porcupine Lake WildernessFS · about 21% of the line is insideWilderness Connect ↗
- Rainbow Lake WildernessFS · about 18% of the line is insideWilderness Connect ↗
Inside a designated wilderness, bicycles and motor vehicles are prohibited by law regardless of the trail record, and permits or group limits may apply.
Trailheads
The Forest Service recreation layer records no trailhead within a third of a mile of this trail's line. Many trails start from a road pullout or another trail with no trailhead record. The forest's recreation pages list the trailheads it does publish.
Trails nearby
Camping nearby
Campsite Atlas cards carry site counts and booking links from Recreation.gov. Forest Service cards come from the recreation layer and link the agency page.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx-West Church Windrows
13 mi from the trail midpoint · 81 acres
- WildfireRedhouse
33 mi from the trail midpoint · 22 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Closure orders are on the forest's official page.
Explore
Historic places nearby
Guidebooks for Wisconsin
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Explorer's Guide 50 Hikes on and Around the North Country Trail - Michigan and WisconsinThomas Funke, 2016Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the North Country National Scenic Trail?
The Forest Service records 34.9 miles under this name in Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, the sum of 8 segments. The Forest Service evaluates 7.5 miles of that as accessible.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the North Country National Scenic Trail?
Hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking are allowed. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round. Some uses are seasonal. The allowed uses section lists the dates.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does the North Country National Scenic Trail start?
The line begins at 46.4947° N, 91.4386° W and ends at 46.3034° N, 91.0931° W. No Forest Service trailhead is recorded within a third of a mile of it. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the North Country National Scenic Trail in a wilderness area?
Yes. It enters Porcupine Lake Wilderness and Rainbow Lake Wilderness. Wilderness rules ban bicycles and motor vehicles and often limit group size.
Source: Porcupine Lake Wilderness
Where can I camp near the North Country National Scenic Trail?
Two Lakes (0.4 mi), Perch Lake Campground (0.9 mi) and Namekagon Lake Recreation Area (3.6 mi) are within five miles of the trail. The camping section lists all 3 with site counts and booking links.
Source: Campsite Atlas
How developed is the North Country National Scenic Trail?
Trail class 1 to 2 to 3, which the Forest Service describes as minimally developed to developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
How steep and how wide is the North Country National Scenic Trail?
The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the North Country National Scenic Trail accessible?
The Forest Service has evaluated 7.5 miles of this trail as meeting its accessibility guidelines. The surface is imported compacted material and native material.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the North Country National Scenic Trail a national trail?
Yes. The record marks it as a National Scenic or Historic Trail.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the North Country National Scenic Trail?
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Forest Service unit 0913. The trail is in Wisconsin.
Is there a fire near the North Country National Scenic Trail?
The interagency feed shows 2 active incidents within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Rx-West Church Windrows at 13 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.
Source: Fire nearby
Source
This page is built from 8 segments named North Country National Scenic in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0913. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed November 1, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.