North Country Trail: WK Kellogg Experimental Forest

January 31, 2016

~16 roundtrip

Highlights: scenic farmland, Augusta Creek Covered Bridge, Lakes, Biological robotic milking station

Of all the national scenic trails, I have currently hiked the most miles on the North Country Trail, a 4600 mile trail from North Dakota to New York (soon Vermont). Whether it be beautiful segments in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (Border Route Trail, Kekekabic Trail), along Lake Superior's beautiful shoreline (Superior Hiking Trail, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore), or in Michigan's Lower Peninsula (Manistee River, Jordan River Pathway), the NCT has provided exceptional backpacking opportunities.

With a travel PT job in southwest Michigan, I have had the opportunity to complete much of the established NCT in southern Michigan.   While much of the NCT in southern Michigan includes lengthy road walks, there are still many excellent sections of trail.

This was a nice day hike.  I started from the Augusta Drive/Hutchinson trailhead and hiked north.

The trail is on the edge of some hilled farmland.

I enjoyed a nice view from the top.

The trail entered the forest. There was still some green grass!

After a quick roadwalk, I rejoined the trail.

There was a scenic barn across a field.

The snow was melting causing the trail to be icy and slippery.

Augusta Creek Covered Bridge

Augusta Creek

I continued north on a short road walk near the creek.

The trail resumed and crossed the creek on this bridge.

After a quick climb, I made it to a shelter.

I reached M-89 for a short roadwalk.

Soon I rejoined the trail.

The trail was beside some farmland.

Part of it was shared with horse trails.

I entered the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary.

The trail followed along a fence.

I could see a lake through the trees to my left.

Soon I came to a lake on my right.  There were some swans on the ice.

I reached road by the Biological Station.  The route was different than on the ArcGIS online map.  I followed along the fence.

I was careful not to touch it.

I turned around and headed over to the milking station.

There was a viewing area to watch the cows being robotically milked.

It had started to rain as I began my return journey.

There was some fog.

A scenic view from the road walk.

Back into the fog.

Augusta Creek

Across the farmland up on the hill.

And back at the trailhead.

This was an excellent hike on the NCT in lower Michigan with minimal road walking and lots of different scenery.