The climbing leans toward the final third: 44% of the ascent falls between mile 5.0 and mile 7.4.
Reaches
Trappers Falls (waterfall)
Greenstone Falls (waterfall)
Explorers Falls (waterfall)
Traders Falls (waterfall)
Heads up
Stream ford: expect at least one unbridged crossing.
Daylight at the trailhead
On August 31, 2026 — the day this page was generated — first light reaches this trailhead at 6:45 a.m., the sun rises at 7:17 a.m. and sets at 8:40 p.m., and the last usable light fades about 9:12 p.m. (EDT) — 13 h 24 min of daylight. At about 2.7 mph plus 30 minutes per 1,000 feet of climbing, the 14.9-mile round trip takes roughly 6 h 27 min, so leaving the trailhead at sunrise puts you back around 1:44 p.m. — 6 h 57 min before sunset.
Loop options
Yankee Springs Rec. Area - Horse Trail + North Country National Scenic Trail + North Country Trail_Iron Belle Trail — 8.2 mi loop, 859 ft gain
North Country National Scenic Trail + Yankee Springs Rec. Area - Horse Trail + North Country Trail_Iron Belle Trail — 3.6 mi loop, 374 ft gain
North Country Trail_Iron Belle Trail + North Country National Scenic Trail — 2.1 mi loop, 229 ft gain