North Country NST — Michigan landscape

Photo: Photo by Adam Bouse on Unsplash

North Country NST — Michigan

38 days · 1074.4 mi · strenuous · Point-to-point

Quick facts

Distance1074.4 mi
Days out38
Elevation gain45,292 ft
Gain / mile42 ft
High point1,906 ft

What the North Country NST — Michigan is known for

North Country NST — Michigan is a 45-65-day point-to-point traverse of both Michigan peninsulas, running from the Wisconsin border west of Ironwood to the Ohio state line south of Hillsdale. In the Upper Peninsula it passes through Ottawa National Forest, Hiawatha National Forest, and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore along a dramatic Lake Superior shoreline of sandstone cliffs, beaches, and waterfalls, including Tahquamenon Falls; after crossing the Mackinac Bridge it continues through the Lower Peninsula's Huron-Manistee National Forests past river valleys, sand dunes along Lake Michigan, and rolling mixed hardwood forest.

Route map & campsites

Route map of the North Country NST — Michigan on OpenStreetMap terrain Open in Planner →

Route shape from OpenStreetMap geometry. Start · End · Camp

Elevation profile

Elevation ranges from 1,906 ft to 6,017 ft over 1074.4 mi. Measured from OSM geometry (approximate).

  • Uphill 53.0 mi · 5%
  • Downhill 31.1 mi · 3%
  • Flat 988.3 mi · 92%

Ridgefold breaks every route into uphill, downhill, and flat — see the full per-day breakdown in the app.

Frequently asked questions

How much elevation gain is on the North Country NST — Michigan?

The North Country NST — Michigan climbs roughly 45,292 ft total — about 42 ft per mile, topping out near 1,906 ft.

Related trails

Sources & attribution

Route geometry and stats derived from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) — source relation. Stats are approximate and may differ from official surveys; permit rules and conditions change — verify with the managing authority before your trip. Last reviewed July 2026.

Plan the North Country NST — Michigan Plan Free →