The North Country Trail TheU.S.CongressauthorizedtheNorth

CountryNationalScenicTrail(NCT)in1980andentrusteditsdevelopmenttoapartnershipofgovernmentagenciesandvolunteerorganizations.TheNCTisahikingandbackpackingtrailthatstartsinVermontandtravelsthroughNewYork,Pennsylvania,Ohio,Michigan,Wisconsin,Minnesota,endinginNorthDakota.Whencompleted,theNCTwillstretchover4,600miles,thelongestofelevenNationalScenicTrails.

andleavingintoWisconsinatIronwood.TheMichigan“IronBelleTrail”usestheNCTforitshikingroutefromAlbiontoIronwood.The4,600milelongNCTcrossesthe45th

paralleljustonce—inthemajesticJordanValley.

MichiganhasthelongeststatesectionoftheNCT,at1,150miles,enteringfromNWOhio

TheJordanValley45oChapter’ssegmentoftrailthroughMichigan’sAntrim,CharlevoixandEmmetcountiesisa78milesection.ThetrailwindsitswaythroughrollinghillsandvalleyscrossingbothStatemanagedforestsandprivatelands.Thewetlandsandthehillyvistasareacontrastinvariety.Thetrailismarkedwithblue2”x6”rectangularblazes,usuallylocatedontrees,butsometimesonrocksorposts.Twoblazessignifyaturn,withtheupperblazeindicatingthedirection.CertifiedsectionsarealsomarkedwiththeNCTtrianglelogo.

ThejewelofthissectionisthepristineJordanValleywithitsclear,coldspring-fedstreamsformingtheJordanRiver—someofwhichhasbeennominatedasaStateNaturalArea.TheJordanisalsothefirstrivertobedesignatedinMichigan'sNaturalRiversProgram.TheNCTfollows2/3oftheJordanValleyPathway(JVP),a19mileDNRlooptrail.

(picture)

StartingfromDeadman’sHill,theJVPispopularasaweekendbackpackingdestinationfeaturingaquietovernightopportunityatthePinneyBridgeStateForestCampground,wherepotablewaterandvaulttoiletsareavailableinseason.Campersmustregisterandpayafee.DispersedcampingisprohibitedbetweenAlbaHighwayandM32.WheeledvehiclesareprohibitedonJordanValleytrails.

Thetrailpassesnumeroussprings,streams,andcreeksthatareallgreatsourcesforclearandcoldwater,however,filteringisanecessity.PotablewaterandrestroomsareavailablenearthetrailattheJordanRiverNationalFishHatchery,whichiswellworthavisit(reachedbyJordanRiverRd.fromtrailcrossingat“ThreeTubes”).

(picture)

TheNCTalsouseshalfoftheWarnerCreekPathwayloop,apopulardayhikeandcross-countryskiingsitewithparkingonM32.

BetweentheJordanValleyandPetoskeythetrailishilly,highanddry,amidoldgrowthforest.Thereareafewroadsections,withawesomevistas.NorthofPetoskey,theMichiganFisheriesVisitorCenterandtheOdenStateFishHatcheryarealsoanearbyattraction.

Jordan Valley 45o

ChapterNorth Country Trail Association

Wearethevolunteergroupwhobuild,maintain,nurtureandpromoteour78mileNCTtrailsectionbetweenStarvationLakeRd.nearMancelona,andKippRd.nearHarborSprings.

Wehaveregularmeetings,grouphikes,projectsandothervolunteeropportunities.WearealwayslookingforfolkstojoinuswhoenjoytheoutdoorsandwanttohelpadvancetheNCTwhilehavingagoodtime.JoinUs!

(picture)

TheNorthCountryTrailAssociationmaintainstheNCTincooperationwiththeNationalParkService.TheNCTconnectsmorethan160publiclandunits—includingnationalforests,nationalwildliferefuges,stateparksandstatehistoricareas,aswellasprivateland.VolunteersarethekeyelementoftheNCT.WithoutthemtheNCTcannotbebuiltormanagedasitistoday.Onthetrailvolunteersbuild,relocate,anddesigntrails,buildandrepairtrailstructures,jointrailmaintenanceactivities,becomeatrailadopter,organizeeventsorleadhikes.

YoucanjointheNCTandsupportourworkforaslittleasa$20/yeardonationathttp://www.northcountrytrail.org.Youwillgetemailinformationonupcomingchapteractivities,andtheNCTAmagazine,theNorthStar.

2/2019

Jordan Valley Pathway

the

NORTH

COUNTRY

NATIONAL

SCENIC TRAIL

National Park Service, NCNST

www.nps.gov/noco

www.tinyurl.com/jv45fb

www.northcountrytrail.org/j45

O’Brien Pond

Through

ANTRIM, CHARLEVOIX, EMMETCounties, Michigan

Trail Ethics –Leave No TraceFor everyone’s enjoyment and to preserve the

trails, we need to follow basic trail ethics:

❖ Please remember to pack out what you packin. Dispose of waste properly.

❖ Relieve yourself at least 200 feet from thetrail, campsite or any water course, in a hole6 to 8 inches deep, then cover the hole.

❖ Camp in authorized areas. Dispersedcamping is not allowed between AlbaHighway and M-32. Within this specialmanagement area camping is only allowed atPinney Bridge State Forest campground.Dispersed camping is allowed elsewhere onstate land with a free permit. Do not campwhere the NCT crosses private land.

❖ Know the rules for camp fires. Keep firessmall. Use fire rings if available. Use onlydead wood—do not cut any live trees. Don’tburn trash. Put all fires out with water.

❖ Please leave flowers, rocks etc. in place forthe next person to enjoy.

❖ Stay on the trail—do not make a new paththough you may have to walk through mud.

These practices help preserve our preciousresources so others can enjoy the beauty of theoutdoors.

http://www.lnt.org

In AppreciationArden Johnson (1922—2002)

Through his dedication and hardwork we have a trail to followthat takes us away from thebusyness of our everyday livesand into nature where thingsmarch to a different drummer.

The development of the NCT in this section islargely the work of Arden Johnson.

Petoskey Trail TownAs an NCTA “Trail Town”, the

City of Petoskey supports hikerservices and promotes the traillocally as a resource to beprotected and celebrated.

In Petoskey the NCT leverages the NorthCentral Michigan College (NCMC) Natural Area,the Petoskey Bear River Recreation Area, andthe Little Traverse Wheelway for a scenic routewithout urban clutter, but access to services.

Petoskey Bear River Recreation Area

Landslide Overlook

Marking 45o

North Latitude

TRAILHEADS (N->S)Kipp RoadParking ¼ mile N of Hathaway RoadSpring Lake ParkOff M-119 ½ mile N of US-31, across from Top of Michigan Trails Council HQPetoskey Bear River Rec AreaParking off Lake St. and off Sheridan St.North Central Michigan College Parking in front of Student and Community Resource Center (SCRC) at end of Howard St.Krause Road (Skyline Trail)Parking 1 mile S of Brubaker Rd.Slashing RoadAt Thumb Lake Rd., pull offWarner Creek PathwayParking off M-32, 2 miles W of US-131Deadman’s Hill RoadParking for the lookout, trail descends ½ mile into valley to intersect with NCTPinney BridgeParking area on Pinney Bridge Rd.Landslide OverlookParking at the N end of Harvey Rd., turn N off Alba Hwy ½ mile W of Alba/US-131Sand LakeR on Crooked Lake Rd. at ORV parking then R on Sand Lake Rd. to end. Spur trail E to NCT

North Country

NationalScenicTrailJordan Valley 45o Chapter

Register Boxes…With alogbook to write your comments or concerns.

DNR “You Are Here”Map Signs: 10

Add this free map to your smartphone:https://www.avenzamaps.com/maps

/852378/north-country-trail-associations-

jordan-valley-45-chapter-brochure-map

Track your location w/the “PDFMaps”

app.: http://avenza.com/pdf-maps

Reroute herein 2020--tbd