As the nation’s longest National Scenic Trail, I believe the NCT deserves a higher reputation. Sure, lots of it isn’t completed but it has more completed miles than the PCT, the AT, and also the CDT. The issue is they aren’t continuous. In the last few years, I have completed over 1000 miles of the NCT with sections in Michigan and Minnesota. It’s still possible to hike for hundreds of miles whether in Michigan’s southern lower peninsula, upper peninsula, or Minnesota’s Arrowhead Region.
Exceptional scenery includes some of the best fall colors, scenic beaver ponds, the greatest of Great Lakes: think of endless beaches, dunes, cliffs. Like an ocean but freshwater. Numerous rivers and interesting cultural/historic sights. Typically there is no need to worry about crowds away from the main tourist spots and dispersed camping is allowed on much of the route in state and national forests. The eastern UP is one of the trail’s best kept secrets! So is much of the Manistee National Forest away from the Manistee River Trail. There are too many nice sections to mention.
Other amazing 100+ mile sections are located in North Dakota (I believe), western Minnesota, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and New York (maybe Ohio, not sure). Please consider a portion of the NCT for your next long distance, weekend, or day-hiking adventure.
http://ericshikes.blogspot.com/p/north-country-trail.html
