North Country NTL Scenic -West
North Country NTL Scenic -West Trail is a 23.5-mile trail in Hiawatha National Forest, Michigan. The Forest Service rates it trail class 2 to 3, moderately developed to developed. It is open to hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking. It enters Rock River Canyon Wilderness.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Hiawatha 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 | 46.3834° N, 86.6781° W · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 46.4207° N, 86.9912° 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 3 segments.
The trail
| Length | 23.5 miles |
| Trail class | 2, moderately developed; 3, developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | imported compacted material, native material |
| Typical grade | 5-8 percent |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Evaluated and does not meet accessibility guidelines |
| National designation | National Scenic or Historic Trail |
| Trail numbers | 915 |
| Forest | Hiawatha National Forest (unit 0910) |
| States | Michigan |
| 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 05/15 to 11/30 (month/day) |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed |
| Mountain biking | Allowed year-round |
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
- Rock River Canyon WildernessFS · the line touches the boundaryWilderness 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
- WildfireSilver Leaf
28 mi from the trail midpoint · 12 acres
- WildfireRidge
40 mi from the trail midpoint · 496 acres · 50% contained
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 Hiawatha National Forest and Michigan
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Field Guide Hiawatha National Forest Ecological Classification SystemGreg Kudray, 2019Find at Bookshop.org
- 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 NTL Scenic -West Trail?
The Forest Service records 23.5 miles under this name in Hiawatha National Forest, the sum of 3 segments.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the North Country NTL Scenic -West 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 NTL Scenic -West Trail start?
The line begins at 46.3834° N, 86.6781° W and ends at 46.4207° N, 86.9912° 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 NTL Scenic -West Trail in a wilderness area?
Yes. It enters Rock River Canyon Wilderness. Wilderness rules ban bicycles and motor vehicles and often limit group size.
Source: Rock River Canyon Wilderness
Where can I camp near the North Country NTL Scenic -West Trail?
Au Train Lake Campground (1 mi), Bay Furnace Campground (4 mi) and Grand Island National Recreation Area (4.3 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 NTL Scenic -West Trail?
Trail class 2 to 3, which the Forest Service describes as moderately 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 NTL Scenic -West Trail?
The typical grade is 5-8 percent.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the North Country NTL Scenic -West Trail accessible?
No. The Forest Service evaluated it and found it does not meet its accessibility guidelines.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the North Country NTL Scenic -West 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 NTL Scenic -West Trail?
Hiawatha National Forest, Forest Service unit 0910. The trail is in Michigan.
Is there a fire near the North Country NTL Scenic -West Trail?
The interagency feed shows 2 active incidents within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Silver Leaf at 28 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.
Source: Fire nearby
Source
This page is built from 3 segments named North Country NTL Scenic -West in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0910. 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.