John Pottenger
Andrew Bashaw, speaking from the Buckeye Trail headquarters amidst the Wayne National Forest, says, Our trails through the Wayne really show how nature meets history. One hundred years ago these hills were stripped bare and degraded by mining, but now the forest and enjoyment of it have regenerated. We’re excited to be working with our partners at the Wayne on significant projects that will dramatically improve the trail experience and increase the relevancy of both the Trail and the Forest in the very near future!
Welcome to the Huron-Manistee National Forests The HuronManistee National Forests are located in lower Michigan and comprise almost a million acres of public lands extending across the northern Lower Peninsula. The HuronManistee National Forests provide recreation opportunities for visitors, habitat for fish and wildlife, and resources for local industry. The history of the two Forests begins long before the creation of either. The land that is now Michigan was once an unbroken forest. After European settlement of the area, logging and farming became the main occupations. The lands were heavily logged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Forest Service established the Huron National Forest in 1909, comprised of 437,287 acres spreading 70 miles east to west and 30 miles north to south. The Manistee National Forest was established in 1938 and is 538,756 acres that spreads 40 miles east to west and 70 miles north to south. In 1945, the Huron National Forest and Manistee National Forest were joined for administrative purposes. Working hand in hand with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and other partners, the Forest Service has changed the lands into healthy forests again. The 128.8-mile portion of the North Country National Scenic Trail which goes through the Manistee portion of the National Forests has 15 spur trails to other hiking and interpretive trails, including the popular Manistee River Trail, which when combined with the North Country Trail creates a 20 mile loop around the Manistee River. The Western Michigan and Spirit of the Woods Chapters of the NCTA have been invaluable partners providing countless hours of work to care for the North Country National Scenic Trail. Beth Keloneva, WMI Chapter president, tells us about their portion: The Western Michigan Chapter of the North Country Trail includes two counties, Kent and Newaygo County. We are blessed in Newaygo County to have a large portion of the NCT in the Manistee National Forest. The Manistee here includes deciduous trees, a variety of pines and cedars, many lakes, streams and rivers, and a wonderful variety of woodland creatures and plants. We
www.northcountrytrail.org
The Trail is often aligned with the Manistee River within that national forest.
even have a prairie where you can see prickly pear cactus, lupine flowers and the Karner Blue Butterfly. Northern Newaygo County also showcases the Loda Lake National Wildflower Sanctuary under the auspices of the Forest Service. The rivers and streams in the Manistee are phenomenal. In particular,near Newaygo, the Muskegon River is one of the longest and cleanest rivers in Michigan. The Chapter has a great working relationship with the U.S. Forest Service Office in Baldwin. Our volunteer Trail Managers meet once a year with them to discuss the NCT and share plans and goals for the year. For example the USFS and the Chapter are working together to purchase and install interpretive panels at ten different locations in the Manistee! The USFS is always willing to help us out with larger projects such as board walks and bridge building where necessary. The Trail would not be the same without the Manistee National Forest and the work of the Forest Service. Loren Bach, Spirit of the Woods Chapter President, shares a description of their segment: Our 80 miles of the North Country Trail are largely in the Manistee National Forest. One area has interesting flora: Joan Young hikes extensively at the south end of our Chapter and notes that there is an area that has 11 species of ferns. This area is found at Upper Branch Bridge trailhead on the NCT Map MI-04. Joan has a website where she describes this area, www.getoffthecouch.info/lake/ upperbranch.htm Another loop hike is the Manistee River Trail/North Country Trail loop at the north end of our Chapter near the Hodenpyle Dam (Map MI-05). This area is hilly and there are many overlooks above the Manistee River as well as a suspension walking bridge built by Consumer’s Power Company. More information may be found on our local website www.northcountrytrail.org/spw as well as links to the Forest Service information on campsites on the Manistee River Trail side. The North Country Trail Association store also has a map for sale (SE-MRL). This loop hike is also described in Strickland’s book. Unfortunately the Manistee River Trail side has no official volunteer group involved with upkeep and it is being loved to death. High numbers of hikers are eroding this sandy trail. In the next publication, we will continue our western trip along the North Country National Scenic Trail and introduce you to the other national forests in Michigan, the Hiawatha and Ottawa.
April-June 2016
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