Trust for Public Land Protects Critical Segment of the North Country Trail Along Wisconsin’s Black River
Partnership with National Park Service and North Country Trail Association Connects and Conserves a Vital Stretch of America’s Longest National Scenic Trail
Douglas County, Wisconsin — Trust for Public Land (TPL), in partnership with the National Park Service, the North Country Trail Association, and Douglas County, today announced the protection of a vital 317-acre property along the Black River in northern Wisconsin. The newly conserved land secures a critical segment of the 4,800-mile North Country National Scenic Trail and unlocks the opportunity to relocate more than 30 miles of the trail from nearby roadways to a quiet, forested route through Wisconsin’s scenic Northwoods.
This long-anticipated acquisition by the National Park Service will enable hikers to experience a continuous and uninterrupted journey through nature—linking Pattison State Park, home to Wisconsin’s tallest waterfall, with the expansive woodlands of Douglas County Forest. The project will not only improve the hiker experience on the North Country Trail but also conserves a mile of pristine double shoreline along the Black River and protects water quality, trout habitat, and stunning natural views.
“The North Country Trail is a national treasure that connects millions of people to nature and outdoor adventure,” said Sophie Harris Vorhoff, Minnesota State Director for Trust for Public Land. “Protecting this stretch of the Black River will not only complete a key gap in the trail but also preserves a rich and diverse landscape for generations to come.”
“The Black River property represents a key success in moving the North Country National Scenic Trail closer to completion and I am very grateful for the incredible collaboration and cooperation with the Trust for Public Land, Douglas County, and the North Country Trail Association that made this success possible. This property is a key connection linking public lands that assures the outstanding natural and scenic hiking experience the North Country Trail is intended to provide, and increases public access and opportunities for outdoor recreation across a protected landscape,” said Chris Loudenslager, Superintendent, North Country National Scenic Trail, National Park Service.
The conservation effort also creates a contiguous 50-mile north-south wildlife corridor across public lands, providing critical habitat and climate resilience for a wide range of species in northern Wisconsin.
Funding for this effort was made possible through the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, as well as generous support from the National Park Foundation, McKee Foods, The VF Foundation, and the Boreal Waters Community Foundation.
The North Country National Scenic Trail spans eight states from North Dakota to Vermont, making it the longest trail of its kind in the nation. This newly protected segment strengthens the trail’s connection to local communities while ensuring its ecological, cultural, and recreational values remain intact.
“The Black River property being in public ownership will enable the National Park Service, North Country Trail Association, and our Brule-St. Croix Chapter to embark upon planning and building a new roughly 30-mile segment of the North Country National Scenic Trail across public lands between Pattison State Park and the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway,” said Andrea Ketchmark, Executive Director of the North Country Trail Association. “Thank you to the Trust for Public Land and the National Park Service for making this acquisition happen.”
Since 1990, Trust for Public Land has worked on or completed 35 projects in seven states, all within 1 mile of the North Country National Scenic Trail.
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About Trust for Public Land
Trust for Public Land is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,504 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, and raised $110 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 10 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.
