{"id":11089,"date":"2019-11-01T16:29:08","date_gmt":"2019-11-01T21:29:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pnts.org\/new\/?p=11089"},"modified":"2019-11-04T16:50:36","modified_gmt":"2019-11-04T22:50:36","slug":"bringing-a-vision-to-life-north-country-national-scenic-trail-extends-partnerships-and-trail-route","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pnts.org\/new\/bringing-a-vision-to-life-north-country-national-scenic-trail-extends-partnerships-and-trail-route\/","title":{"rendered":"Bringing a vision to life: North Country National Scenic Trail extends partnerships and trail route"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Kate Lemon, Marketing and Communications Coordinator,\u00a0North Country Trail Association<\/strong><\/p>\n

The North Country Trail Route Adjustment is a project that has been decades in the making. The two main objectives are to reroute the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT) in northeastern Minnesota to a more scenic and sustainable location using nearly 400 miles of existing trail, and to extend the eastern terminus of the trail to meet the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (AT) in Vermont. With this year\u2019s signing of S.47 into law\u2014the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act\u2014 this vision will become reality.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur community has long understood that these two route changes were key moves in fulfilling the vision for the NCT and that of the National Trails System Act, and because of the support of our volunteer advocates, local partners, and the bipartisan support of Congress, we finally got it done,\u201d said Andrea Ketchmark, Executive Director of the North Country Trail Association.<\/span><\/p>\n

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South end of Lake Champlain between New York and Vermont. (Photo Credit: Dan Dorrough)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A view of Lake Superior from the North Country National Scenic Trail in Minnesota. (Photo Credit: Molly Cochrane)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The Vermont extension will extend the North Country Trail approximately 40 miles east from its current terminus at Lake Champlain, through Vermont\u2019s rolling hills and into the Green Mountains to meet with the famed Long Trail to extend all the way to the Appalachian Trail, creating a significant connection between the longest and one of the best known trails in the National Trails System.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The route will pass through the farmland of western Vermont, the Village of Middlebury, and the Green Mountain National Forest. The North Country Trail Association (NCTA) and National Park Service (NPS) are excited to begin working with many new friends and partners, including the Green Mountain Club (GMC), Middlebury Area Land Trust (MALT) and our longtime friends the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cExtension of the NCT into Vermont helps support the mission of the Green Mountain Club by making the mountains of Vermont play a larger role in the life of the people,\u201d said Mike DeBonis, Executive Director of the GMC. \u201cBringing the NCT to Vermont expands the long distance hiking opportunities, connecting local trail networks, and contributing to the state\u2019s recreation-based economy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Minnesota Reroute, or the \u201cArrowhead,\u201d will replace a 100-mile stretch of undeveloped trail between Jay Cooke State Park southeast of Duluth and the eastern end of the North Country Trail in the Chippewa National Forest near Remer. Since the Trail was authorized by Congress in 1980, there have been no efforts to actually construct trail along this route because it contains extensive wetlands.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Arrowhead Reroute would utilize more than 400 miles of existing trail\u2014including the Superior Hiking Trail, Border Route Trail, and Kekekabic Trail\u2014and incorporate outstanding Minnesota scenery like the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the North Shore of Lake Superior. This reroute was evaluated and identified as the \u201cpreferred alternative\u201d in the National Park Service\u2019s \u201cNortheastern Minnesota Route Assessment,\u201d approved in 2004.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Superior Hiking Trail hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony in May 2019 to celebrate this reroute alongside enthusiastic partners and affiliates, such as the Superior Hiking Trail Association (SHTA).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBeyond the welcomed \u2018National Scenic Trail\u2019 designation, SHTA is excited to partner more closely with NCTA to address some of the trail\u2019s biggest problem areas and highlight the incredible hiking, backpacking, and trail running opportunities in northern Minnesota,\u201d stated Jaron Cramer, Development and Communications Director of the SHTA.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more about these efforts and affiliates, as well as volunteer opportunities to help build, protect, and promote these trail resources at\u00a0<\/span>www.northcountrytrail.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Unless otherwise indicated, all material in Pathways Across America is public domain. All views expressed herein are perspectives of individuals working on behalf of the National Trails System and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of the Federal agencies.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Kate Lemon, Marketing and Communications Coordinator,\u00a0North Country Trail Association The North Country Trail Route Adjustment is a project that has been decades in the making. The two main objectives are to reroute the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT) in northeastern Minnesota to a… <\/p>\n

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