North Country trail winding across Minnesota

Posted at 2:10 PM on April 25, 2012 by Dan Gunderson
Filed under: Environment, Sports & Recreation

Volunteer Bruce Johnson digs new trail in Hubbard County- photo courtesy NCTA

The North Country Trail Association is hosting informational meetings today in Fergus Falls. The meetings are to gather public input on a route from Fergus Falls to Breckenridge, across the Red River Valley.

The North Country Trail is still under construction, but will eventually run about 4,600 miles; from New York to North Dakota. It is the longest federally designated scenic trail in the United States. About 2,000 miles have been built, some across rather difficult terrain.

Volunteers are still constructing the trail across Minnesota . This new section is in Becker county.

Photo courtesy NCTA

In Minnesota, the trail also incorporates the famed Superior Hiking Trail along the North Shore of Lake Superior. The Minnesota arm of the trail organization is now in the planning stages for about 120 miles of trail across the Red River Valley to connect to the North Dakota trail segment.

The NCTA is also recruiting volunteers to help build and maintain the trail segments.

The meetings will be held from 3-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at the West Central Initiative in Fergus Falls.