Peter Wolfe Chapter North Country Trail Association

Length: 5.64 miles (0.77 miles from Gardner Road to East Branch of Ontonagon River, 1.56 miles from East Branch to FR 884, 3.31 miles from FR 884 to FR 1100)
Ownership: U.S. Forest Service
Responsible for maintenance:  U.S. Forest Service
Developments along trail:  Signs at trailheads, future interpretive signs, puncheons at wetland crossing west of FR 884
General description of segment:  Highly varied forest types, somewhat brushy near East Branch of Ontonagon River, East Branch may be muddy due to runoff from clay banks upstream.  THERE IS NO BRIDGE AT THE EAST BRANCH - crossing is not difficult in typical summer low water levels (though due to muddy water, bottom is often not visible); in periods of high water, follow Forest Road 884 and Gardner Road.  Water depth during summer varies due to the amount of recent rainfall and exactly where you cross.  Reportedly it may be as much as waist deep if you don't cross at the right spot, even in summer.  If walking north from the East Branch crossing to the bridge on Gardner/Mud Creek Road to avoid road walking, stay well above the stream (50 to 150 vertical feet)  to avoid very thick brush in spots; I walked the east side from the bridge to the crossing spot in mid-summer, and could only see the ground about 1/4 of the time due to brush, thick ferns, etc.  Camping along the East Branch is possible, but best sites are well back from the stream in the vicinity of the trail.  There are nicer spots well downstream from the crossing.  Nice spots can be found near some of the small streams east of the river, especially Ellis Creek, which is permanent.  If bushwhacking along the East Branch on the west side, again stay well uphill from the stream unless looking for a campsite.  Old railroad grade running eastward off the Gardner Road ridge to the East Branch is followed in part by the NCT; where the NCT leaves the railroad grade (known as the Rousseau Loop), the grade has a slope of 20%.  One railroading magazine claims it may be the steepest adhesion (friction) railroad grade in the world.  Logging trains supposedly ascended this slope by rocking back and forth from one side of the East Branch valley to the other, gaining distance each time until they finally made it out.  Future interpretive signs will provide this message to hikers.  FR 884 has a gate at the north end; sometimes the gate is open, but FR 884 should not be depended upon as a trailhead you can drive to.  Gardner Road is plowed in winter (but it's not a high priority road to plow, and don't expect a plowed parking spot).
Trail conditions (as of 2004):  Trail should be well-marked and easy to follow, except in the immediate vicinity of the East Branch.  There, you may need to search a bit to find the trail on the opposite side after you cross.  There are some wet areas west of FR 884.
Link to online map