North Country Trail: Cannon Township Trail

March 20, 2016

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.

During the weekend of March 19 and 20, 2016,  I was able to complete hikes on three separate sections of the NCT: White Pine Trail State Park, Rogue River State Game Area, and Cannon Township Trail.

This was a nice hike through a developed area on the Cannon Township Trail.  It includes a nice lake, impressive boardwalks, and nice forested trail.

I started at the northern end at the Cannon Town Hall off Belding Road NE and went south.

The trail started out as a wide side walk.  I could see Silver Lake across the road.

The trail turned away from the road and entered a residential area.

There was a scenic pond.

Next I came to an overlook of Sunfish Lake.

Armstrong Creek flows from Sunfish Lake and there was an impressive boardwalk across a swampy area.

There was still some ice on the water.

Looking toward Sunfish Lake.

The trail crossed a road and went beside a cemetery.  While the trail isn't blazed as of yet, there are still NCT markers posted.

There was a great forested section of trail including a scenic stream crossing.

The trail has been designed excellently up a fairly steep hill.

There was a bench with a nice Bible promise.

Great view!

I crossed Ramsdell Drive NE and went across another nice section of board walk as I entered Townsend Park.

I continued on to a parking area and then was surprised to discover that the trail continued on to Cannonsburg between Joyce and Ramsdell Drives.

The trail crossed Bear Creek on a nice bridge and ends with a parking lot on the right side of the road.

Bear Creek

I began my return journey.

Cannonsburg Cemetery

Back at the lengthy board walk

Sunfish Lake

From Sunfish Lake I ran back to the parking lot.

When attempting to combine sections of a long-distance trail, there most likely are going to be stretches that aren't as exciting as others.  As I try to complete many of the established portions in Michigan sometimes I wonder if I'm only hiking a section because it is the NCT.  This section certainly does not fit that category.  It is a fine hike in its own right, a surprisingly scenic hike in a developed section of lower Michigan.