Michigan Route Description

The North Country National Scenic Trail(NCT) is a premier footpath that stretches over 4,000 miles linking communities, forests, and prairies across seven northern states. Already, more than 1,700 miles have been certified off-road. The trail traverses New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and much of North Dakota.

The Michigan portion of this quest will be hiked on the North Country NST within the Manistee National Forest, from 9-Mile Bridge on Skocelas Road to Marilla Trailhead on Beers Road. This section is between the cities of Manistee and Cadillac, Michigan.

This region is mostly mature second-growth forest with oak and white pine, with scattered plantations of red pine. The soil is dry and sandy, and the topography moderately rolling hills. Hiking north from 9-Mile Bridge the trail enters the Udell Hills area, home of the Big M Ski Area. Udell is an odd, round group of weathered glacial sand deposits. Next the trail crosses M-55, the most easily found (by car) intersection with this hike. Several rather level miles and a short road section connect the trail to the Manistee River which is crossed at Highbridge via road. An historical marker on the trail marks the place where the former highest railroad bridge (Pere Marquette RR) across the river was located. Many early residents of the Brethren and Kaleva area came by train to homestead.

Along the river the names are reminiscent of the Michigan logging days when pine was king. Blacksmith Bayou (a cut-off oxbow of the river) was the former location of a logging camp with a blacksmith. At Leitch Bayou the trail descends to the floodplain of the river for several miles providing a change in ecosystem, and then climbs to near Sawdust Hole (reached by a short side trail), former location of the Somsel Mill. There is an interpretive marker along the trail. Barren, steep scars to be found occasionally along these river bluffs are usually the still-visible locations of "rollways" where logs where sent plunging to the river for transport via that waterway 100 or more years ago.

Now the trail remains high above the river, with occasional views of the water below. An especially nice overlook is at Red Hill (just north of the Coates Highway), reached by a short side trail.

[At Coates Highway, the trail junctions with the Manistee River Trail (not part of this route) which crosses Red Bridge, follows the east side of the river, and rejoins the NCT via the largest wooden suspension bridge in the lower peninsula just west of Seaton Creek and south of the Marilla Trailhead. This popular 20 mile loop lends itself to weekend trips.]

The hike will conclude at the Marilla Trailhead on Beers Road (just southwest of the village of Mesick). Total miles are 31.5.

Driving directions
 

To the Start

To reach 9-Mile Bridge from US 31 between Manistee and Scottville:  Turn east on Freesoil Road at the Orchard Market. Continue east for approximately 8 miles to Campbell Road. Turn north on this wide sand road which is usually well graded. The road twists and turns, but in about 5 miles, you reach Riverside Drive, a cross street. Continue straight and in 0.2 mile, you will reach 9-Mile Bridge over the Manistee River, parking is on the south side of the river, west side of the road.
 

To the Finish

To reach Marilla Trailhead on Beers Road:  From the village of Mesick head west on M-115. In 2 miles, angle southwest on Hodenpyl Dam Road, which will become Beers Road. The trailhead is on the south side of the road, about 6 miles from the turn off M-115.