[camp_me]

For those of you who have hiked the the Manistee River Trail/North Country Trail (NCT) loop, did you find the trail easy to navigate in terms of staying on the correct trail? Are there trail markers to keep you on the correct path and/or are maps available at the park to help guide those of us who are "directionally challeneged"-aka poor sense of direction?

[MI.SC]

I have hiked the trail loop twice, once NCT to MRT and once the other way, starting at Red Bridge both times. I found the best route is to hike the NCT side first then return on the MRT because it is tougher terrain and farther from water. You can pack in all the water you need for the first day then stop after the bridge and camp near the water. Once you get on the MRT side you can access water pretty much every mile if you needed to.
There is a great place to camp and fish about .5miles from the pedestrian bridge on the MRT side.

The trail does get confusing near the Marilla dam or at least it was last spring. Make sure you pay close attention. Last time I hiked it I stopped by the DNR station in Cadillac on the way up and they were glad to provide a free map of the entire trail system. But the trail is pretty simple, follow the white blazes on the NCT and the blue blazes on the MRT.

It is a great weekend loop. Enjoy!