GRAND RAPIDS — For 850 miles, the nation’s longest scenic trail meanders through Northern Minnesota – featuring the pedestrian bridge over the Mississippi River in Grand Rapids along its path.
New signs posted in the city mark the North Country Trail, which stretches nearly 4,000 miles more across eight states, utilizing a network of trail systems along the way.
Art Norton, a volunteer with the North Country Trail Association, joined the KAXE Morning Show with Heidi Holtan and John Latimer to share more about the signs and a bridge in progress near Cohasset. The trail is built by volunteers like Norton, as well as groups like the Conservation Corps of Minnesota.
Norton said the new signs in Grand Rapids should attract attention to a trail that could be an unknown hidden gem to some. Through the city, the trail brings walkers by Grand Itasca Hospital, Grussendorf Park, the Itasca County Family YMCA, and KAXE’s studios. Then it heads north along Pokegama Avenue to the Itasca County Fairgrounds and east across the Prairie River.
“The ones on the posts are very visible,” Norton said. “And I thought, people are going to start asking, ‘Well What is this trail?’”
"I thought, people are going to start asking, ‘Well What is this trail?’”Art Norton, North Country Trail Association volunteer
A crew is also working at Tioga Beach in Cohasset on a 40-foot-long bridge over Figure 8 Lake in the middle of the woods. It’s expected to be a gorgeous spot during the fall season.
About 70% of the route is complete here in Minnesota. There is a 196-mile contiguous segment located in north-central Minnesota, between Detroit Lakes and Remer. A 400-mile, contiguous segment stretches from near Ely to Jay Cooke State Park south of Duluth.
Other isolated segments include a 3-mile segment in Maplewood State Park, the 4-mile segment near Grand Rapids, and a 10-mile loop in Fergus Falls.
Interested?
If you’re interested in helping with North Country Trail Association projects like clearing trees, you can submit a Volunteer Interest Form their website or contact KAXE.
