The "Last Mile" of the North Country Trail

Adapted from the January-March 1998 North Star: The Magazine of the North Country Trail.

On October 29, the National Park Service certified the last mile of the North Country National Scenic Trail -- well, sort of, anyway. Though there are many miles more trail remaining to be certified, the 1.25 miles of trail to the western terminus of the North Country Trail in North Dakota's Lake Sakakawea State Park joined the certification column.

National Park Service NPS Manager Bill Menke praised Park Ranger John Tunge, and Ranger David Leite for their efforts in completing the trail in Lake Sakakawea State Park, and for their efforts toward future extentions of the trail eastward in the Lake Sakakawea region, which are in the planning stages with the Corps of Engineers, which operates Garrison Dam, and the lake.

Leite has greeted virtually all of the few long-distance hikers to reach Lake Sakakawea in the past ten years.

The next few miles east from the certified trail end point at Intake Picnic Area provides some interesting walking, though the trail hasn't been completed yet. In addition, the auto tour road through Audubon Wildlife Refuge, when added to the Lake Sakakawea State Park - Garrison Dam area, would make another interesting walk for weekenders.

The westernmost segments of the North Country National Scenic Trail are generally located close to Lakes Sakakawea and Audubon, the latter maintained as a wildlife refuge; the new segment is located along the lake in Lake Sakakawea State Park. Water should not be a problem anywhere in this section, although camping may be once east of Riverdale. CAMPING: there are two public fee campgrounds in the Garrison Dam area.

LAKE SAKAKAWEA STATE PARK is located approximately 11 miles west of US83 on North Dakota SR200. The entrance road is 3/4 mile west of the west end of Garrison Dam, which impounds the Missouri River. (Note: the Missouri River is the eastern edge of the Mountain Time Zone, which is also the boundary between Mercer and McClean Counties.) The park's entrance station is about 1 mile down the entrance road. A day use fee is charged to vehicles. If driving, turn east (right) about 0.1 mile past the entrance station, then south (right) after about 0.3 miles, and continue to the Scotia Bay Picnic Area at the end of the road, where the west trailhead marker is located. Lake Sakakawea State Park has 822 acres, and 300 tent and RV campsites, beaches, launch ramps, and a small camp store. For further information, contact Lake Sakakawea State Park, Pick City, ND 58565. (701) 487-3315.

0.0 (0.0) WEST NCNST TRAILHEAD Marked trail, usually kept mowed out, and certified on October 29, 1997 follows the lake shore southward from the picnic area. At times of very high water, parts of the trail may be inundated, and it will be necessary, but not difficult, to bushwhack along higher ground. After 1.25 miles, the hiker reaches the Corps of Engineers Intake Picnic Area, overlooking the Garrison Dam powerhouse intake structure; follow the road on out to SR200.

PICK CITY, ND, 58565 is located 1 mile west of the Intake Picnic Area access road. Restaurants, laundry, convenience store, sporting goods, motel.

1.6 (1.6) TURN EAST ON SR 200 The trail turns east, to cross Garrison Dam, the largest earth-fill dam in the world, backing up the Missouri River some 175 miles to the west in 378,000 acre Lake Sakakawea, created for flood control, power, recreation, wildlife, and other purposes. Garrison Dam began in 1947, was completed in 1954, and the first power generated in the powerhouse in 1956. The five generators produce 1.8 to 2.6 billion kilowatts annually. A historic display on the building of the dam is available in the powerhouse lobby. Tours of the powerhouse are available; contact (701) 654-7411 for information. The suggested roadwalk route follows the top of the dam eastward, and it's a longer walk than it looks; it's 2.5 miles from the powerhouse to the spillway. The time zone changes to Central Time near the powerhouse. (Note: Lake Sakakawea State Park and Corps of Engineers officals have a proposed route for the trail that could be constructed sometime in the next few years. This route will not cross the dam, but will head downhill from the Intake Picnic Area junction, cross behind the powerhouse, loop past Downstream Campground, making use of a short trail there, then will cross the dam spillway well to the south of the dam before turning back north to Riverdale, and following the shore northward.)

DOWNSTREAM CAMPGROUND is located about 1.5 miles south of the suggested route, near the proposed route. A Corps of Engineers campground, it has 101 tent/RV sites, plus some primitive sites to the south. Fee. For information, contact US Army Corps of Engineers, Lake Sakakawea Office, PO Box 527, Riverdale ND 58565. (701) 654-7411.

4.9 (3.3) TURN NORTH ON MISSOURI DRIVE The suggested route for long-distance hikers turns north off of SR200 east of the dam onto Missouri Drive, which offers some fine overlooks of the lake. The projected route in this area will turn off Missouri Drive's sidewalks, and continue north; the suggested route rejoins SR200 after 1.9 miles.

RIVERDALE, ND 58565 has more roads platted and graded than have ever been built; it's much smaller than it appears on the map. Riverdale was built for housing during the construction of the dam. Joan Young reports that the Riverdale bowling alley has an interesting display on the building of the dam. There is also a small restaurant and convenience store. Private campground to the north of town; no information available.

AUDUBON NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, nearby, also provides an interesting walk in the vicinity. Though uncertifiable, the auto tour route is a potential "connecting" section for the NCNST. It receives very limited use, and is a fascinating place, especially in nesting season, and is well worth the visit if in the area.

The route begins at the Audubon NWR headquarters, about three miles northwest of the village of Coleharbor, on US83, about half a mile east of the highway.

The lake east of US83 is Lake Audubon; it's maintained at a more stable level than Lake Sakakawea. The gravel, occasionally almost two-rut auto tour road generally follows the shore of Lake Audubon eastward for 8.5 miles through the 11,273 acre Audubon Wildlife Management Area to the intersection with Mercer County CH12N; it only gets very light use, and is a pleasant walk, with a great amount of waterfowl during nesting season, and wildlife activity during most of the year. Take note that users are not supposed to leave the road, especially during wildlife nesting season, and no camping is permitted. There are several interpretive displays before reaching CH12N. For more information, contact Audubon Wildlife Management Area Headquarters, Cole Harbor ND 58531 (701) 442-5474.

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