NCTH Segment 28 - Crooked Lake Outlet

Crooked Lake Outlet to Craig Lake

Segment 28 Crooked Lake Outlet to Craig Lake

Trail adopter(s): Norma and Jim Matteson, 906-228-4165 / snowmatteson@charter.net

Segment length: 3.8 miles

Last update: May 2008

On the trail:

Westbound:

Eastbound:

Other trail: Crooked Lake Spur
Other trail: Craig Lake East Spur

Previous segment: 27 - Lake Elinor Outlet to Crooked Lake Outlet
Next segment: 29 - Craig Lake to Long Lake Outlet


This segment of the NCT starts on the east end at the Crooked Lake outlet and extends approximately four miles west to Craig Lake, which is the western terminus for the NCTH. About a twenty-mile gap exists between Long Lake and the Baraga Plains area where the trail resumes under the care of the Peter Wolfe Chapter.

Craig Lake State Park is in the middle and provides the “main” road in (rough!) from US 41. It’s a wilderness park with rustic campsites. Fortunately the park keeps some of the trails up, but it’s still a rugged area to maintain.

From US-41 west of Michigamme turn north (right coming from the east or left coming from the west) onto Nelligan Road, also known as Craig Lake Road. Follow the signs for approximately 6.5 miles to the parking lot at Craig Lake. From the parking lot, walk down the gated road. The NCT goes both directions from this road, to the east and to the west. The first segment turns off to the right just before the privy. This segment is over very rough, steep terrain and ends at the bridge at the Crooked Lake outlet.

In June 2006 a crew of 7 broke into three groups and did trail maintenance across the whole 8 miles - to the east to the Crooked Lake Outlet and to the west to Long Lake (see Segment 29 Craig Lake to Long Lake). There are still many large blowdowns that need a chainsaw to remove, but the trail is passable as is.

Download printable full page map as a pdf file.

Butterflies feeding at Craig Lake State Park

In 2005, we covered our adopted segment with two long work sessions. Starting with the west end, we took a private road in that required keys from the owner to unlock the gate. From here our crew split up and worked in opposite directions. We were able to maintain the trail from Long Lake to Teddy Lake, which presented no particular problems.

The next work session was the killer as we started at Craig Lake State Park and worked our way east to the Crooked Lake outlet. The terrain is very steep and rugged and it’s about a total of ten miles in and out. At the end of the day we felt we had really accomplished a lot as we limped back to the parking lot in the rain. We were able to clear away blow downs and cut back the tag alders so the trail was passable once again.

With the rugged terrain, lakes and rivers, it’s a beautiful area to hike and a peaceful place to get away from everything.

Portions of this segment of the NCT are described in Eric Hansen's Hiking Michigan's Upper Peninsula, pp. 80 - 84.

Craig Lake State Park Map as pdf.




	North Country Trail Hikers		Crooked Lake Outlet to Craig Lake Segment 28 Crooked Lake Outlet to Craig Lake Trail adopter(s): Norma and Jim Matteson, 906-228-4165 / snowmatteson@charter.net Segment length: 3.8 miles Last update: May 2008 On the trail: Westbound: Eastbound: Other trail: Crooked Lake Spur Other trail: Craig Lake East Spur Previous segment: 27 - Lake Elinor Outlet to Crooked Lake Outlet Next segment: 29 - Craig Lake to Long Lake Outlet This segment of the NCT starts on the east end at the Crooked Lake outlet and extends approximately four miles west to Craig Lake, which is the western terminus for the NCTH. About a twenty-mile gap exists between Long Lake and the Baraga Plains area where the trail resumes under the care of the Peter Wolfe Chapter. Craig Lake State Park is in the middle and provides the “main” road in (rough!) from US 41. It’s a wilderness park with rustic campsites. Fortunately the park keeps some of the trails up, but it’s still a rugged area to maintain. From US-41 west of Michigamme turn north (right coming from the east or left coming from the west) onto Nelligan Road, also known as Craig Lake Road. Follow the signs for approximately 6.5 miles to the parking lot at Craig Lake. From the parking lot, walk down the gated road. The NCT goes both directions from this road, to the east and to the west. The first segment turns off to the right just before the privy. This segment is over very rough, steep terrain and ends at the bridge at the Crooked Lake outlet. In June 2006 a crew of 7 broke into three groups and did trail maintenance across the whole 8 miles - to the east to the Crooked Lake Outlet and to the west to Long Lake (see Segment 29 Craig Lake to Long Lake). There are still many large blowdowns that need a chainsaw to remove, but the trail is passable as is. Download printable full page map as a pdf file. Butterflies feeding at Craig Lake State Park In 2005, we covered our adopted segment with two long work sessions. Starting with the west end, we took a private road in that required keys from the owner to unlock the gate. From here our crew split up and worked in opposite directions. We were able to maintain the trail from Long Lake to Teddy Lake, which presented no particular problems. The next work session was the killer as we started at Craig Lake State Park and worked our way east to the Crooked Lake outlet. The terrain is very steep and rugged and it’s about a total of ten miles in and out. At the end of the day we felt we had really accomplished a lot as we limped back to the parking lot in the rain. We were able to clear away blow downs and cut back the tag alders so the trail was passable once again. With the rugged terrain, lakes and rivers, it’s a beautiful area to hike and a peaceful place to get away from everything. Portions of this segment of the NCT are described in Eric Hansen's Hiking Michigan's Upper Peninsula, pp. 80 - 84. Craig Lake State Park Map as pdf.

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