August 20 Set for Hiawatha Trail Celebration at Paradise

Hiawatha Shore Trail Day Saturday, August 20, at Tahquamenon Falls State Park in Paradise. Activities will take place at the Lower Falls Pavilion from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and include shuttles for hikers walking the trail between the lower and upper falls, arts and crafts for kids, interpretive hikes, and displays. There will also be giveaway items and coupons to hikers for free soft drinks or ice cream.

The event is held this year in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCNST) and is sponsored by the Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore Chapter of the North Country Trail Association.

North Country is a premier hiking trail that stretches more than 4,600 miles across New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota. When completed, it will be the longest continuous hiking trail in the United States. The Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore Chapter is responsible for 122 miles of trail that begins at the Mackinac Bridge and meanders through state and national forests and ends at the mouth of the Two Hearted River on the shore of Lake Superior. Chapter members have adopted sections of the trail, which they hike yearly to report on areas that need maintenance.

The North Country Trail Association is a non-profit organization solely devoted to the exploration, construction, and maintenance of the trail.

For questions regarding membership or local chapter information, contact Karen Sandberg of St. Ignace at 643-7607.