Welcome to scenic northwest Wisconsin!  The Brule-St. Croix Chapter of the North Country Trail Association invites you to enjoy the forests, lakes and rivers of our trail country near Lake Superior.

Our chapter was formed to develop, maintain, and promote use of the North Country National Scenic Trail from Bayfield County Highway A,  south of Iron River, Wisconsin, to the Wisconsin-Minnesota border near Foxboro, Wisconsin.

Since our beginning in May, 1997 we have built miles of trail in and near the Brule River State Forest; established an annual National Trails Day hike to promote trail use; and organized an enthusiastic and growing group of trail supporters in our area.

National Trails Day Hike, 6/7/08  

Chapter News

National Trails Day Celebration in the Bird Sanctuary - Saturday, June 7th

Our 11^th annual National Trails Day celebration was once again a great success.   Events were held in the Douglas County Wildlife Area between Solon Springs and Gordon, and at the Brule Bog Boardwalk northeast of Solon Springs.  Early morning birders enjoyed first a hike, then a talk by Steve LaValley of the Wisconsin DNR.

Activities then moved to the Brule Bog Boardwalk, where the west section of the boardwalk was dedicated in memory of biologist Eric W. Cox.  Members of the Cox family of Harbor Springs, Michigan attended the dedication.  Also present was Dave Schulz, superintendent of the Brule River State Forest, to thank the Cox family and the NCTA for their gift to the forest.  Members of the NCTA Volunteer Adventure group working on the boardwalk were also on hand.

The group returned to the Bird Sanctuary Clubhouse for an excellent lunch put on by the BSC caterers extraordinare, Polly Edmunds and Peter and Lynne Nason. 

After lunch, hikers explored the North Country Trail southwest of the Clubhouse.  Some took the short walk around a prairie pothole to County Highway M.  Others went on to the Rovers Lake campsite, where they admired the water source and enjoyed the writings in the hiker register book, then walked the remaining mile to Stuckey Road.  Two venturesome walkers went on westward toward Spring Creek.

There were more than 45 participants in the NTD activities.  Funding for our celebration was provided by Scheel’s through a grant to the North Country Trail Association.  We appreciated the excellent coverage of this event and the next weekend’s Riverfest hikes in the Superior Daily Telegram.

Iron River Hikers

The Iron River Hikers now meet at 9 AM each Tuesday at Orchards Cafe in Iron River.  If you'd like to take an interesting walk, be there...the group chooses a trail section, travels together to the trailhead, enjoys hiking together, then often follows up with lunch at a nearby restaurant.  They hike year round!  For more information, contact Bob Norlin, 715-372-5229.

Solon Springs Hikers

The Solon Springs Hikers are meeting each Thursday at 9:30 AM at the Solon Springs Community Center.  Contact Lynne Nason, 715-378-4412, or Sheila Ohm, 715-378-4340 for more information.

More Chapter Events & BSC Rovers Calendar