Volunteers Reroute Degraded Section of North Country National Scenic Trail

Material and labor provided by volunteers successfully rerouted an unsustainable portion of the North Country National Scenic Trail.

Forest Service staff and North Country National Scenic Trail Association volunteers collaborated to improve approximately one half-mile of a popular section of the trail within the Manistee National Forest.

Significant degradation and erosion along an unsustainable portion of the trail prompted local Spirit of the Woods Chapter work coordinator Ed Chappel to seek technical assistance from Manistee National Forest Trail Coordinator Chris Loudenslager. The degraded section was poorly constructed on a hill, traversing straight up and down the face. Materials and labor provided by the volunteers moved the trail to the side of the hill, reducing the steep grade and creating a route that will better sustain the hiking and mountain bike use this segment of the trail regularly receives.

Additional volunteer efforts included new route blazes and rehabilitation of the obliterated trail, and will provide for routine maintenance and monitoring into the future.

"We are very fortunate on this forest to have the ability to work with such a great team of knowledgeable and dedicated volunteers to improve recreational experiences along the North Country National Scenic Trail," Loudenslager said.

Over 120 miles of the North Country National Scenic Trail traverse through the Manistee National Forest.