Mention the Pacific Crest Trail or The Appalachian Trail and most people recognize the names. There is another national scenic trail, however. The North Country National Scenic Trail stretches from North Dakota to New York. The route meanders about 4600 miles through the northern part of the United States with around 2100 of those miles certified as complete. One of the great features of this trail is that it is very accessible. Most segments are fairly short and easily completed as a morning or afternoon outing.
One part of the trail parallels the St. Croix/Gordon Flowage near our cabin. Last fall, a new five mile long segment in that area was completed by the local trail association.
The new section starts on Stuckey road,just a half-mile north of "resort row" on the flowage.
Early in spring, there is not much color to the prairie. The right picture was taken nearby later in the season a couple of years ago.
Just a few miles Northeast of here, the trail crosses a continental divide that separates the St. Croix/Mississippi River watershed from the Lake Superior watershed. The short portage between the Brule River that empties into Lake Superior and the headwaters of the St. Croix was well known by Native Americans and French Explorers. The recorded history goes back to at least 1680.
If you only have part of a day to spend on the trail, be sure to include a sunset.
If you have to choose a season, choose autumn.
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