Spotlight - North Country Trail
Your backyard trail: why membership matters to the North Country Trail Association
Whether you are a trail runner or a casual walker, the North Country Trail welcomes all outdoor enthusiasts
“You’re helping to build and maintain the path beneath your feet, making it safer and easier to access for everyone - including yourself.” - Kate Lemon, marketing and communications manager, North Country Trail Association
12 Aug. 2025
By Justin Tiemeyer
Contributing Writer
The North Country Trail is one of those rare wonders that sits astride both national and local interests. The trail itself spans 5,000 miles from North Dakota to Vermont, with more length in Michigan than anywhere else - nearly 1,200 miles - but it also runs through the heart of Lowell, making it an official Trail Town.
Those who join the North Country Trail Association (NCTA), join a vibrant community of 5,700 trail users dedicated to protecting and enhancing the treasure of the North Country National Scenic Trail. Lowell’s local chapter is one of about 30 nationwide, and a significant portion of membership fees goes directly to your local chapter. Kate Lemon is the marketing and communications manager with the NCTA. ”This means your contribution directly improves the very section of the trail you might walk, run, or simply enjoy the peace and quiet from,” Lemon said. “You’re helping to build and maintain the path beneath your feet, making it safer and easier to access for everyone - including yourself.”
Membership is technically just a financial contribution that provides free and up-to-date maps to trail users, training and certification to NCTA sawyers and hike leaders, and essential infrastructure, like bridges and boardwalks, to make even the most challenging sections of the trail accessible.
Members are not required to volunteer, nor are they required to use the trails, but many volunteers are also members. “It’s how they can double their impact, so to speak,” Lemon said. “Volunteers can build and maintain trails, help out at the NCTA Headquarters here in Lowell, table events, lead hikes, and more.”
Since there are only 16 staff members across 5,000 miles of trail, the NCTA relies heavily on volunteers across its local chapters. “Without its 30 volunteer chapters, the blue blazes would fade, and vegetation would take over the trail,” Lemon said. “Volunteers are relied upon to mow, install signage, prune branches, remove downed trees, construct bridges and boardwalks, collect GPS data for our maps, lead hikes, and much more.”
The President’s proposed budget for 2026 includes cuts to trails and public lands, including a cut of $900 million in National Park operations and 60% of the U.S. Forest Service’s trail maintenance funds. For reference, the NCTA receives approximately 20% of its operating budget from the National Park Service. This makes involvement all the more important.
While membership directly supports the NCTA’s work, with a portion allocated to local chapters, there are other ways to support the NCTA. You can set up a one-time gift or make a monthly donation through the Mile Makers Club. If you have a donor-advised fund (DAF), you can recommend grants to the NCTA. You can participate in hike or chapter leadership, share NCTA news and calls to action with your personal and professional networks, and you can visit the trail.
“The more people who use and appreciate the trail, the more visible its value becomes,” Lemon said, “which can indirectly help with political support.”
The North Country Trail is not a members-only trail. Anyone who enjoys spending time outdoors, whether they be hikers, trail runners, birders, snowshoers, or sportsmen, is welcome on the trail.
“We do try to say ‘trail user’ more often than ‘hiker’ these days, because we realize so many folks don’t consider themselves hikers,” Lemon said. “They may take daily walks on the trail but without boots and trekking poles. They don’t feel like hikers - and that’s OK. You can love and support this trail and be a part of this community without having backpacked or camped or hiked 100 miles. Make the journey yours. Together, we can protect all kinds of outdoor experiences this trail offers to so many.”
The North Country Trail Association chapter in Lowell is located at 229 East Main Street. They can be contacted by phone at 866-445-3628 or by email at hq@northcountrytrail.org. Follow the NCTA on Facebook and Instagram at @northcountrytrail. To join, simply press the big, blue join button at the top of the northcountrytrail.org website.
