The North Country Trail is challenging. It traverses areas of very rugged topography and is often several miles from the nearest motor vehicle access point Most stream crossings are without bridges. The only developed campsites available are at the Black River Harbor campground on Lake Superior, the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park on the trail's west end, and the Bob Lake and Sturgeon River campgrounds to the east. Trailside camping is permitted. The Black River Segment , on the Bessemer Ranger District, is located at the north end of Copper Peak Road approximately 500 feet from County Road 513, north of Bessemer, Ml.
Parking is available at the trailhead.
It parallels the river for five miles with its scenic rapids and waterfalls from Copper Peak to beautiful Black River Harbor on Lake Superior. From here it crosses the foot bridge at the mouth of the Black River, then turns south and again parallels the river to a point just upstream of Rainbow Falls. It then turns eastward for five miles to Gogebic County Road 519. The trail runs north on this road into the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park and its junction with the South Boundary Road. The Bergland Segment , on the Bergland Ranger District, picks up at the Presque Isle Campground on Lake Superior Trail and continues to its junction with Little Carp River.