The North Country Trail is a long-distance hiking trail in the Midwestern and Northeastern United States. The trail extends roughly 4,800 miles (7,700 km) from Lake Sakakawea State Park in North Dakota to the Appalachian Trail in Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont, passing through eight states along its route. As of 2023, most of the trail is in place, though about one-third of the distance consists of road walking; those segments are frequently evaluated for transfer to off-road segments on nearby public or private lands.
A North Country Trail sign near Cazenovia, New York
A trail sign in Wisconsin, describing a route and distance that have since been expanded
The North Country Trail in the Manistee sector of Huron-Manistee National Forests, Michigan
An NCT signpost in Moraine State Park, Pennsylvania
The National Trails System is a series of trails in the United States designated "to promote the preservation of, public access to, travel within, and enjoyment and appreciation of the open-air, outdoor areas and historic resources of the Nation". There are four types of trails: the national scenic trails, national historic trails, national recreation trails, and connecting or side trails. The national trails provide opportunities for hiking and historic education, as well as horseback riding, biking, camping, scenic driving, water sports, and other activities. The National Trails System consists of 11 national scenic trails, 21 national historic trails, over 1,300 national recreation trails, and seven connecting and side trails, as well as one national geologic trail, with a total length of more than 91,000 mi (150,000 km). The scenic and historic trails are in every state, and Virginia and Wyoming have the most running through them, with six.
Each national scenic and historic trail has a rounded triangle logo used to mark its route and significant points.
Image: Appalachian Trail Totts Gap to Mount Minsi (20) (10355280153)
Image: Montezuma Pass Overlook, elevation 2100 meters panoramio
Image: Highline Trail 2017 09