Becker, Clearwater and Hubbard Counties, MN
71.4 mi total 13.0 certified 0.0 connecting 26.9 marked 44.5 bare
North of Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, the transition from prairie to forest is long since complete; there's no doubt that this is indeed "north country", heavily forested, rolling and sometimes rugged, dotted with lakes. It's in this area that the North Country Trail in Minnesota ceases to be a largely-unrealized plan, and starts to take on reality. Serious trail construction efforts have been under way pushing west from Lake Itasca, and the trail is complete and certified in Lake Itasca State Park, one of the jewels of the whole trail. Trail construction efforts to connect Lake Itasca with the Chippewa National Forest through the Paul Bunyan State Forest, long in the planning stages, are getting under way, but the trail here is far from complete, and for now, a temporary route, largely roadwalk and out of the way, must be used.
0.0 [0.0] JUNCTION OF CR35 AND SR113
The suggested route picks up at the junction of Becker County Road 35 and Minnesota State Route 113 northwest of Elbow Lake. The suggested route heads east on SR113, a wide, paved and somewhat twisty road. The route briefly enters Clearwater County, but soon after re-enters Becker County. After 7.4 miles, reach the crossing of CR37.
7.4 [7.4] JUNCTION OF CR37; CONTINUE EAST ON SR113
The Headwaters Chapter of the NCTA, along with other groups, is working on trail west from Lake Itasca, and the route has reportedly been flagged, but not cleared, to a point about a mile north on CR37, after it enters Clearwater County and becomes CR39. As progress on this whole section has been slow, it's not recommended to try the flagged route unless local knowledge indicates otherwise. Until this segment is completec, continue east on SR113, passing a rest area overlooking Bad Medicine Lake after 2.9 miles, and reaching a turnoff on a woods road heading north after another 0.6 miles.
11.9 [3.5] TURN NORTH ON WOODS ROAD
After about 0.9 miles, entering Clearwater County on the way, look for a woods trail leading east. While partially cleared , this section of the trail is not reportedly complete, but should be marked or flagged, and follows the long-abandoned Nichols-Chisholm logging railroad grade eastward.
12.8 [0.9] TURN EAST ON MARKED TRAIL
The abandoned railroad grade heads eastward. After about 1.6 miles, it reaches the shore of Gardner Lake, and marked and more complete trail turns northeast above the shore of the lake. Toward the north end of the lake along the trail, about a mile after leaving the rail grade, an informal campsite has frequently been used by trail builders. The trail continues eastward, winding across several valleys; a nice view is reached about two miles past the campsite. About 0.9 miles farther, the route rejoins the railroad grade, following it eastward 0.3 miles to a crossing of Anchor-Mattson Road, where there is a small parking area, and continues east for another 0.6 miles along the grade to the border of Lake Itasca State Park.
LAKE ITASCA STATE PARK
is probably Minnesota's most famous state park, due to the headwaters of the Mississippi River flowing out the north side of the lake. But, Minnesota's oldest state park -- established in 1891 -- has other features, too, including towering virgin pines in Preacher;'s Grove and a large wilderness area. The 32,000 acre park has over 100 lakes of various sizes, and many miles of biking, hiking and snowmobile trails. Only the trails involved with the North Country Trail, and the hike/bike side trail are shown on the accompanying maps, but the park abounds with dayhiking and overnight backpacking possibilties; all trails are well marked and signed. There are many campgrounds located in the park, some as small as a single backpacking site, but ranging up to a 218-site RV campground with all the conveniences. The first Adirondack Shelters to be found on the North Country Trail are located here. The shelters and the backpacking campgrounds all have to be reserved ahead of time. Douglas Lodge, located at the south end of the east arm of the lake, has an excellent, reasonably priced restaruant and lodging facilities; the 1987 NCTA meeting was held here, along with a segment of the 1994 meeting. Various interpretive activities are available. Very limited hiker supplies are available at the Itasca Nature Store, located in the Douglas Lodge area. Though not on the trail, most hikers will want to take the 5-mile paved hike/bike trail to the Mississippi Headwaters and interpretive center at the north end of the lake. Bike rentals are available, but only at the park headquarters toward the north end of the trail. An AYH hostel is also located in the headquarters area. For more information, contact Itasca State Park Manager, Lake Itasca MN 56460 (218) 255-3654. For information about the hostel, contact Mississippi Headwaters Hostel, HC05, Box 5A, Lake Itasca MN 56460, (219) 266-3415.19.4 [6.6] ENTER LAKE ITASCA STATE PARK
New trail, cut especially for the NCNST in 1993, certified in 1994 and marked with the NCT markers, starts at the park boundary, and proceeds eastward. After about 2 miles, pass an informal campsite used during trail construction; plans are to develop this as a backpack campsite. The trail intersects an abandoned forest road, proceeding southward, and goes around the east side of Kirk Lake, and continues southward, until reaching an old access road leading eastward, about 5.2 miles from the park boundary. About 2.8 miles farther on, reach the designated campsites (reservation required) on the shore of Hernando DeSoto Lake.
26.4 [7.0] JOIN EAGLE SCOUT TRAIL
At this point, the trail enters the longer-established park trail system. The trail joins the Eagle Scout Trail heading eastward through some magnificant pine stands with spectacular views of remote lakes. The first shelter (reservation required) is located near the junction with the Desoto Trail, about 0.3 mile east; shortly afterward, pass junction with the Deer Park Trail. After 2 miles on the Eagle Scout Trail, the NCT reaches the Ozawindib Trail at Iron Corner Lake. A side trail leads south a short distance to the Iron Corners Historical marker, marking the juction of Becker, Clearwater and Hubbard Counties. A single-site backpack campsite (reservation required) is located here.
28.4 [2.0] JOIN OZAWINDIB TRAIL
The Ozawindib Trail heads north along the west side of Mary Lake through hilly terrain with fine stands of old growth pines to the South Itasca Center area, where Douglas Lodge is located. After about 0.8 mile, pass junction with the Red Pine Trail; the other shelter is located in this area. The trail continues north about 1.6 miles, passing two other trail intersections, to the South Itasca Center area; the NCNST circles the edge of the east side of the developed area, then joins the bike trail to the headwaters for a short distance before turning east to the park entrance on a separate treadway.
31.1 [2.7] TURN EAST ON MARKED TRAIL
The trail follows a winter snowmobile trail eastward paralleling and somewhat north of the park entrance road (SR48) to the park entrance on SR200.
32.1 [1.0] TURN SOUTH ON SR200
Certification ends; the suggested route continues south on SR 200 for about 0.5 miles until reaching the intersection with US71.
32.6 [0.5] TURN EAST ON US71
The suggested route follows US71 east as a roadwalk for 1.5 miles, to an intersection with paved CR3, leading north, and the dirt Spider Lake Road, heading south.
34.1 (1.5) TURN SOUTH ON SPIDER LAKE ROAD
The route follows Spider Lake Road south. After about a mile, the road deteroirates to a two-rut; after another mile, the road bends to the southeast, passing several lakes. 2.0 miles farther, pass junction with Coon Lake Road, heading southwest. Continue east on Spider Lake Road another 4.6 miles on a somewhat better road until reaching paved CR4.
43.7 [9.6] TURN SOUTH ON CR4
It is anticipated that trail soon to be under development will emerge from the Paul Bunyan State Forest somewhere to the sorth of this intersection. A trail route has been marked out, but has not been flagged, and it's not an easy section to bushwhack. Until the trail is completed and that may be a while -- a long detour to the south is necessary. Follow CR4 south for 4.2 miles until reaching CR24 at the hamlet of Emmaville.
47.9 [4.2] TURN EAST ON CR24
CR24 is followed east. After about 1.5 miles, it bends to the southeast, and continues past several lakes until reaching CR7, 2.5 miles later.
51.9 [4.0] TURN NORTHEAST ON CR7
CR7 is followed northeastward for 3.0 miles past Mantrap Lake, until reaching CR2.
54.9 [3.0] TURN SOUTH ON CR2
A route suggested by the Headwaters Chapter of the NCTA goes north from this intersection, and goess east on small forest roads across the Paul Bunyan State Forest. The route ends with a 1-mile bushwhack to an obscure NCNST trailhead in the Chippewa NF. Bushwhacking from the trailhead westbound to the perpendicular Steamboat Road is reasonable, but doesn't work as well eastbound, unless equipped with a good compass and a topographic map of the area. The alternate route given here is somewhat longer, but is more easily followed, but should be considered only a temporary route until trail is developed from a point about three miles north of this intersection east to the NCNST trailhead in the Chippewa National Forest. Work on this section is expected to begin soon.
Follow CR2 south from the CR7 intersection. After 2.2 miles, CR2 bends to the east at Crooked Lake, and after about 1.3 miles, bends to the south again, to go between Crooked Lake and East Crooked Lake. After another 1.9 miles, it reaches gravel CR85. The first 4 miles of this section is in the Paul Bunyan State Forest, which lies to the east.
60.3 [5.4] TURN EAST ON CR85
CR85 is followed east for 3.5 miles. Near a small lake, the road turns sharply south, and after another 0.5 mile, reaches the Heartland Trail, a paved bike trail.
64.3 ([4.0] TURN EAST ON HEARTLAND TRAIL
The Heartland Trail, a paved bike trail located on an old railroad grade, parallels SR34 northeastward. A popular bike trail, it is a favorite among touring bikers, and was repaved in 1997. After 2.0 miles, reach the center of the village of Akeley.
AKELEY, MN 56443. Restaurants, motels, municipal campground, other services.
66.3 [2.0] CONTINUE EAST ON HEARTLAND TRAIL.
The route continues to follow the Heartland Trail east for another 5.1 miles, entering Cass County along the way. About 1.5 miles into the county, near the third lake passed to the south, certified NCNST crosses.
71.4 [5.1] REACH CERTIFIED TRAIL
Description of this segment ends at this point. The trail is certified for about 2 miles to the northwest. Walker, MN, a good supply point described in the next section is about 4.0 miles north.