North Country Trail
Trailheads 76th St. Trailhead Drive there · Freesoil Trailhead Drive there · Udell Trailhead Drive there
40th St. Trailhead the Forest Service's write-up
No Fee · season May 1 to October 31
Going North - From 40th Street Trailhead to M-20 Trailhead, visitors will find themselves in a heavily wooded red pine area with several stream crossings.
Going South - From 40th Street Trialhead to Croton Dam, hikers will cross Bigelow Creek. The trail provides access to Coolbough Nature Preserve. A spur trail will take visitors to Twinwood Campground.
M-20 Trailhead to Croton Dam -
Bicycles Allowed?: No
Miles: 19
Restrictions <em><strong>Allowed - </strong></em> <ul><li>Hiking</li><li>Llamas</li><li>Bicycles - some segments</li><li>Pets on leash</li><li>Nonmotorized snow use: snowshoes, cross-country skiing (not groomed)</li><li>Nonmotorized mechanized equipment</li></ul><em><strong>Prohibited -</strong></em> <ul><li>Motorized vehicles</li><li>Over-snow motorized vehicles</li><li>Pack and saddle animals</li><li>Trespassing on private land</li></ul><strong>Forest-wide Closures -</strong> <em>Camping in dispersed areas: </em> <ul><li>Camping within two hundred (200) feet of any body of water, except at designated sites.</li><li>Camping in an area which is posted closed and/or no camping.</li></ul><em>Being publicly nude.</em> <em>Parking</em> <ul><li>Parking in violation of posted instructions.</li></ul>
Freesoil Trailhead the Forest Service's write-up
No Fee · season January 1 to December 31
Going North - Heading north will take you to the Udell Trailhead. The trail from Udell Trailhead to Freesoil Trailhead traverses the Udell Hills. After the trail crosses the Little Manistee River, the terrain changes form mixed hardwoods to wetlands. The trail heading north was formerly a narrow gauge railroad that was elevated above the wetlands in the early 1900's by lumberjacks. The trail winds through the wetlands and swamp in this section. However, about 3.5 miles north of the trailhead a boardwalk has been put in through the wetland areas. Mountain bikes are allowed going both north and south from this trailhead.
Going north from Freesoil Trailhead -
Freesoil Trailhead to 3-Mile Rd. - Easy
3-Mile Rd. to Udell Trailhead - Intermediate
Going South - Heading south will take you to the Timber Creek Trailhead. The trail from Freesoil Trailhead to Timber Creek passes through Ward Hills, past McCarthy Lake and through very steeply hilled terrain. The portion of trail running from Timber Creek Trailhead to the Manistee River is the most advanced riding on this portion of the trail for mountain bikes.
Going south from Freesoil Trailhead -
Freesoil Trailhead to Timber Creek Trailhead - Intermediate
Brochure with map : This brochure is set to print on 11 x 17 paper, landscape (wide) orientation. To print on 8 1/2 x 11 paper set the print area to "shrink to printable area", this will make the text on the page smaller.
Flickr Photo Album
Restrictions <em><strong>Allowed - </strong></em>Hiking, Llamas, Bicycles, Pets on leash, snowshoes, cross-country skiing, Nonmotorized mechanized equipment <em><strong>Prohibited - </strong></em>Motorized vehicles, Over-snow motorized vehicles, Pack/saddle animals, Trespassing on private land As a visitor to the National Forest, you are asked to follow certain rules designed to protect the Forest, natural resources and to provide for public safety of visitors. These rules are available to you <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/hmnf/notices/?cid=STELPRDB5181640">on-line</a> or at any office of the Huron-Manistee National Forests. Please take time to read and understand them. General Topic orders apply across the Forests. <em><strong>Applicable Orders - </strong></em> <ul><li>Motorized Vehicle Use of Roads, Trails and Off-road Areas</li><li>Occupancy and Use</li><li>North Country National Scenic Trail</li></ul>
Udell Trailhead the Forest Service's write-up
<strong>Recreation Enhancement Act Fee -</strong> <em>Day Use -</em> <ul> <li>Day: $5.00</li> <li>Week: $15.00</li> </ul> · season May 15 to November 30
Going North - From Udell Trailhead to Upper River Road Trailhead, particularly in the Dilling Road area, visitors will traverse many hills. After crossing Coates Highway, visitors will climb up a hill to a flat, forested area.
Difficulty going north from Udell -
Udell Trailhead to Highbridge River Access - Easy
Highbridge River Access to Dilling Rd. - Easy
Dilling Rd. to Upper Branch Trailhead/Red Bridge River Access - Difficult
Dilling Road to Udell Trailhead -
Bicycles Allowed?: No
Miles: 10
Going South - Heading south will take you to the Freesoil Trailhead. The trail from Udell Trailhead to Freesoil Trailhead traverses the Udell Hills. After the trail crosses the Little Manistee River the terrain changes form mixed hardwoods to wetlands. The trail heading north was formerly a narrow gauge railroad that was elevated above the wetlands in the early 1900's by lumberjacks. The trail winds through the wetlands and swamp in this section. However, about 3.5 miles north of the trailhead a boardwalk has been put in through the wetland areas. Mountain bikes are allowed going south from this trailhead. There is no connector to the Big "M" Cross-Country Ski Trail, however the two trails do cross at several points.
Difficulty going south from Udell -
Udell Trailhead to 6-Mile Rd. - Intermediate
6-Mile Rd. to 3-Mile Rd. - Easy
3-Mile Rd. to Freesoil Trailhead - Easy
Udell Trailhead to M-55 -
Bicycles Allowed?: No
Miles: 10
M-55 to Bowman Lake Trailhead -
Bicycles Allowed?: Yes
Miles: 41
Brochure with map : This brochure is set to print on 11 x 17 paper, landscape (wide) orientation. To print on 8 1/2 x 11 paper set the print area to "shrink to printable area", this will make the text on the page smaller.
Flickr Photo Album
Restrictions <em><strong>Allowed -</strong></em> <ul><li>Hiking/Biking</li><li>Llamas</li><li>Pets on leash</li><li>Nonmotorized snow use (not groomed)</li><li>Nonmotorized mechanized equipment</li></ul><em><strong>Prohibited -</strong></em> <ul><li>Motorized vehicles</li><li>Over-snow motorized vehicles</li><li>Pack and saddle animals</li></ul>As a visitor to the National Forest, you are asked to follow certain rules designed to protect the Forest, natural resources and to provide for public safety of visitors. These rules are available to you <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/hmnf/notices/?cid=STELPRDB5181640">on-line</a> or at any office of the Huron-Manistee National Forests. General Topic orders apply across the Forests. <em><strong>Applicable Orders - </strong></em> <ul><li>Motorized Vehicle Use of Roads, Trails and Off-road Areas; R904-14-02</li><li>Occupancy and Use; R904-14-03</li></ul>