Upper Branch Bridge is a popular access point on the Pere Marquette River for canoeists and fisher-folk. It also affords parking for the North Country National Scenic Trail which stretches from New York to North Dakota! This year's National Trails Day celebration will be held here on June 5.

Turn south off of US 10 at Branch on Tyndall Rd. (this is the border between Mason and Lake Counties). In less than one mile, turn left on Stevenson Rd. which will soon curve south and become South Branch Road. In 1.5 miles the road crosses the river and the parking area is on the west side of the road. Cross the road and find where the trail angles downhill, marked by a carsonite post and blue blazes.

There is a $3/day or $20/year fee to park at Trailheads in the Manistee National Forest. There is a self-pay station at the Bowman Lake Trailhead. Minimum distance required to get the answer to the question is 2 miles. The questions are listed on the entry form, and the question for this hike is on the printable information sheet.

If you prefer to hike in a group, there will be a hike on this piece of trail as part of the Spirit of the Woods Chapter of the North Country Trail Association celebration of National Trails Day, June 5.

The map below appears on the printable version, and should be adequate for this short hike, However, if you so desire, you can purchase maps for this section of trail from the North Country Trail Association, 1-866-hikeNCT. Request mapset "Manistee Forest South." Also free paper maps of the NCT throughout the entire Manistee National Forest are available from the Baldwin (231-745-4631) or Manistee (231-723-2211) Ranger Districts.