Agreement will allow North Country trail to cross Douglas County wetlands

America’s longest National Scenic Trail will pass through Douglas County wetlands owned by the University of Wisconsin-Superior Foundation.

Five organizations recently signed an agreement allowing approximately 1½ miles of the North Country National Scenic Trail to pass thought the MacQuarrie Wetlands in western Douglas County near the Minnesota border. The 140-acre property contains artificial wetlands built to replace natural wetlands lost to road construction. Used by the university for research; the property includes ponds, streams, and scenic overlooks of the Nemadji River valley.

Signing the agreement were UWS; its foundation; the National Park Service; the North Country Trail Association, a volunteer organization which supports the trail; and the NCTA’s Brule-St. Croix Chapter, which builds and maintains the trail in Douglas County.

The new section of trail may be built next year, NCTA Wisconsin trail coordinator Bill Menke said. Trail features probably will include a trailhead with parking, an information kiosk and signs. A backpacker campsite is planned on the trail nearby, on adjacent property.

“We are excited to be working with UW-Superior to establish the trail route for another segment of the trail within Wisconsin,” Menke said.

At a planned 4,600 miles in length when complete, the North Country National Scenic Trail will be the longest of 11 National Scenic Trails, stretching between New York and North Dakota. In Wisconsin, more than 90 miles of continuous trail are complete between Copper Falls State Park near Mellen and the Gordon Dam area in southern Douglas County.

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