Overview – The North Country National Scenic Hiking Trail
The North Country Trail is one of eleven national scenic trails, the original one the venerable Appalachian Trail. These are long distance hiking trails intended for convenient local short trips as well as the longer wanderlust challenges. The narrow primitive footpath, intended for a natural and remote experience, is characteristic of the long trail and so is the connection with other trails and exciting waypoints.
The North Country Trail is the longest, 4600 miles through seven states from North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania to New York at Crown Point on Lake Champlain. With no high mountain peaks it is a variety of prairie grass, deep forest, lakeshore, pastoral and historic paths. Regardless of vehicular connections and some high density exposure the purpose is to provide premier hiking, a sport that deserves as much attention as any other outdoor activity. This is why the North Country Trail pursues the single use, single track and high quality footpath.
Puffer Pond
In New York State the North Country Trail will total approximately 670 miles, 420 of that will always be on the Finger Lakes Trail and 150 miles more inside the Adirondack Park and Forest Preserve. The Adirondack Mountain Club’s Onondaga Chapter has completed and maintains 108 miles of Finger Lakes Trail, 83 of it is North Country.
From western to central New York State, the North Country Trail is concurrent with the Finger Lakes Trail. At the central junction near Cuyler, NY the two trails separate. The North Country heads north for the Adirondacks while the Finger Lakes Trail continues on its own way south to the Catskills.