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Peter Wolfe
Chapter
North Country Trail
Association
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Trail Maps and Trail
Conditions
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Segment 14, U.S. 45 to Gardner
Road
Length: 8.04 miles (1.43 miles from US 45 to Baltimore
River
Bridge below O-Kun-De-Kun Falls, 3.16 miles from Baltimore River Bridge
to Middle Branch of Ontonagon River, 3.45 miles from Middle Branch to
Gardner
Road)
Ownership: U.S. Forest Service
Responsible for maintenance: U.S. Forest Service
Developments along trail: Signs at U.S. 45 and Gardner
Road trailheads, puncheons near U.S. 45 trailhead, 125 foot suspension
bridge over Baltimore River below O-Kun-De-Kun Falls, 150 foot
suspension
bridge over Middle Branch of Ontonagon River, future shelter site near
Middle Branch of Ontonagon River
General description of segment: Mixed forest of varying
ages, flat to rolling plateaus with deep, steep-sided valleys,
waterfalls
on Baltimore River (O-Kun-De-Kun Falls and smaller falls upstream),
nice
campsites in Middle Branch valley on either side of bridge, cross
Lathrop
Creek on bridge (not necessarily easy to see). The branches of
the Ontonagon are dependable water sources year-round, and Lathrop and
Tank Creeks should almost always contain water. U.S. 45 to
O-Kun-De-Kun Falls receives moderate hiker traffic, so campsites
at the falls may not be very private at times; there are nicer
campsites
along the Middle Branch, anyway. Gardner Road is plowed in
winter,
as is U.S. 45. Streams may be muddy after rains since the
Ontonagon
Clay forms banks along all streams in places; pre-filtering of water is
recommended before using your water filter.
Trail conditions (as of 2005): Trail should
be well-marked and easy to follow in most places. The stream
crossing
just west of Gardner Road had a small bridge in 2001, but it was washed
out in the spring flood of 2002. Until it is replaced (the ends
anchored),
expect to wade this small stream, or jump across at a narrow
spot.
The trail in the clearcut west of the small stream was cleared in 2001,
but may be growing in again.
Link
to online map
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Last modified: March 2, 2006