White Cloud and the North Country Trail

White Cloud, the county seat, sits on the White River and likes to call itself the place “where the north starts.” It earns the title. Just outside town the land turns to the deep woods of the Manistee National Forest, and threading through it is one of the great footpaths in America: the North Country National Scenic Trail.

The North Country Trail is the longest trail in the national scenic trail system, winding more than four thousand miles across eight states, all the way from North Dakota to Vermont. A long stretch of it runs through Newaygo County, most of it off-road through the national forest, passing scenic lakes and creeks and crossing the Muskegon River near the historic Croton Dam. White Cloud has been named an official “Trail Town,” which means hikers can walk in off the trail for a meal, a bed, or supplies before heading back into the woods.

You don’t have to thru-hike to enjoy it. Day hikers can pick up the trail near town for an easy walk in the forest, and the rivers and lakes around White Cloud add fishing, paddling, and quiet beaches to the mix. For a small town, it’s a remarkably easy place to step straight into the outdoors. You can find trail maps and section guides from the North Country Trail Association at northcountrytrail.org.