North Country Trail: Grand Marais to Muskallonge Lake

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Here the North Country Trail crosses the Baltimore River near O-Kun-De-Kun Falls, 8 miles north of Bruce Crossing. The trail begins in New York, enters the U.P. at the Mackinaw Bridge, skirts Lake Superior before dipping into Wisconsin.

Far less used than the North Country Trail through Pictured Rocks, this highly recommended section of the North Dakota-to-New York trail goes between the Lake Superior shoreline and the Blind Sucker River on state land. It crosses gravel CR 407/H-58 six times, while keeping a real wilderness feeling in most places. There has been and will be some clear-cutting in limited places, partly to reduce jack pine budworm (at the height of a 50-year cycle), partly to bring in money for the state.

The trail passes near the Lake Superior shore in an area where it's known for agates and an unusually rich mix of rocks in general. Though the trail is not over a mile or so from the gravel road CR 407/H-58, it has a lot of interest and variety. It goes up and down short, steep, forested sand ridges of 50 or 100 feet, so it's rated moderate to difficult. But hiking isn't really that hard if you slow down. Views of the lake and shore alternate with areas through the ridges' pines and oaks. "Incredible!" wrote an end-to-end North Country Trail hiker. "I enjoyed the pounding waves and the distant views wherever I looked."

The 3-mile BLIND SUCKER PATHWAY, clearly signed from CR 407/H-58, lets hikers make a 7.6 mile loop. The path uses an old narrow-gauge railroad grade that parallels the Blind Sucker Flooding. It connects Blind Sucker Campgrounds #1 and #2 with the North Country Trail and the beautiful Lake Superior Campground and beach—one highly recommended hike.

Of course, it's easy to find the North Country Trail wherever it crosses CR 407/H-58 because it's signed. In addition to trailheads with parking in Grand Marais and at Muskallonge Lake State Park (state park sticker required), there's room enough on the road in places for you to just pull over and park. The parking area by the Lake Superior Campground, seven mikes west of Muskallonge Lake State Park, puts hikers in a place for beautiful woods and water hikes in both directions. West is by Lake Superior. East goes along a ridge where hikers look down at the big lake on one side and the Blind Sucker River on another. This section of trail is in good condition.

Trail markers here (but not in national forests or parks) are rectangular blue painted blazes. Road crossings are marked by brownish posts made of carsonite, with NCT stickers.

To see trail maps, visit northcountrytrail.org, then find "Explore by State." Click on the "Upper Michigan." overview map, then click on segments. Click on "maps" to buy trail maps. (Michigan has 15.)

To find out about local trail work sessions and hikes, go to northcountrytrail.org/ to get involved and click on Superior Shoreline chapter (from Munising to Deer Park) or Hiawatha Shore to Shore chapter.

Trailheads are east of Grand Marais along CR 407/ H-58, next to the Lake Superior State Forest Campground, at Muskallonge Lake State Park (906) 293-5131. Handicap accessible: no. No fee.

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