Hike Duration and BestStart! Temperature Management Calculator
Select your expected daily mileage and travel direction. For computing hike durations choose a start date as well; for a BestStart! estimation no start date is needed as one will be calculated for you. Both will then provide an estimated hike duration and end date, high and low temperature data, and a chart of expected temperature stress days with a map showing where the expected highest and lowest temperatures should be encountered along the trail.
Note: The North Country Trail weather data file is large (~55–60 MB). Initial load may take a moment depending on your connection. Subsequent visits load instantly from your browser cache.
Informational only. Always verify conditions and heed local advisories.
Weather Planner
Weather data provided by Open-Meteo.com under the 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.
Select a state, then enter a trail mile within that state (measured from the state's entry point going westward). Choose a planning date to receive current conditions, a 5-day forecast, and a 7-year average for that date and location.
Informational only. Always verify conditions and heed local advisories.
Notes on Weather and Map Data
Notes on Weather Data
At approximately 4,400 miles, the North Country Trail is the longest National Scenic Trail in the United States. It passes through eight states (Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota) and spans an enormous range of climates, from the Adirondacks and Great Lakes shorelines to the Great Plains.
Ohio and parts of New York present the most significant heat concerns in summer, with substantial roadwalk sections at low elevation and high humidity. Michigan dominates the trail in terms of sheer distance (over 1,200 miles) and offers highly varied terrain, from the Upper Peninsula wilderness to the shores of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan.
The Minnesota and North Dakota sections bring cold-weather concerns: the trail's western reaches can see very cold nights well into May and again in September. The shoulder seasons (late April through May, and September) generally offer the most comfortable conditions for thru-hiking.
Notes on Map Data
The trail centerline shown on this map is sourced from the North Country Trail Association's official public ArcGIS feature service. Solid lines represent off-road trail; dashed lines represent on-road (roadwalk) connectors.
- Trail Completion: The NCT is an evolving trail. Some sections shown as on-road (dashed lines) are targeted for future off-road reroutes. Always consult the NCTA or FarOut for current conditions and any recent reroutes.
- On-Road Sections: A significant portion of the NCT, particularly in Ohio (roughly half its state miles) and parts of New York, follows public roads. These roadwalk sections are fully included in the mileage and weather calculations.
Additional Resources
- North Country Trail Association (NCTA): The primary stewardship organization for the NCT. Includes section guides, permit information, trail conditions, resupply resources, and detailed maps for trip planning.
- NPS North Country National Scenic Trail: The National Park Service page for the trail, with overview information, maps, and management contacts for each of the eight states.
- Superior Hiking Trail Association (SHTA): Stewardship organization for the Superior Hiking Trail, which shares the NCT corridor through northeastern Minnesota along the Lake Superior North Shore. Includes trail conditions, maps, and trip planning resources for that section.