 
Michigan Bicycling Events
Event
Online DescriptionOur 24th Year of Exploring Lake Michigan's Coastline3 or 7-Day Options
The Rider Information Booklet contains answers to most of your questions, please review carefully.
Saturday, August 7th: Montague-Check In   After you're settled in and your tent is put up, feel free to goof off at the beach at Duck Lake Channel where you can swim in the warmer water of Duck Lake or take a refreshing dip in Lake Michigan. You can also visit the White River Lighthouse and Museum .You can check out the world's largest weathervane in downtown Montague. If you are interested in taking a little pre-tour ride, we will supply you with the necessary map.
We will be serving you dinner on Saturday night. Following dinner, we will be holding our Welcome Bikers Meeting, at 7:00 pm.
Today's route passes Little Sable Point Lighthouse, established in 1874, it is one of
You will find PENTWATER a bustling town, and an excellent location for lunch. Mears State Park is at the north end of town and offers additional access to Lake Michigan. Swimming is great at Summit Township Park also.
By now you are ready to experience some of our varied terrain. Today's ride offers a few strenuous climbs that reward you with awesome panoramic views. You will also pass through charming towns, such as MANISTEE and ONEKAMA, with their own unique character and strong Michigan history.
The Manistee North Pierhead Light was established in 1927, and is still active today.
As your route descends into FRANKFORT, you will find a town that is easy to walk to from our overnight school, interesting stores, and a beautiful beach to watch the setting sun.
Tuesday, August 10: Frankfort to Traverse City (62 mi.) Today you will ride through the beautiful Sleeping Bear Dunes  National Lakeshore area. The rolling hills take you past coastal dunes and clear lakes, dense beech-maple forest and bluffs as high as 480-feet above Lake Michigan.  Point Betsie Lighthouse was established in 1858 as a round/integral brick structure with attached quarters. The light is still active and stands 37 feet tall. The Coast Guard used Point Betsie as a residence until 1996.  Native Americans say that Manitou, the Great Spirit, placed a mound of sand where Mother Bear died waiting for her cubs after fleeing a huge Wisconsin forest fire. Hike the Empire Bluffs Trail to overlook Lake Michigan. You will be beautifully rewarded for this hike. The North and South Manitou Islands just off shore are located where the cubs perished.  The views are spectacular as you glide past GLEN HAVEN on your way to GLEN ARBOR.  In GLEN ARBOR you have many choices for lunch and opportunities to enjoy more cherry delights. If you want to take a break you can rent kayaks or canoes and explore the waterways.  After you leave the Glen Lake area you will pass through the peaceful rural farming area west of TRAVERSE CITY. Climbs in and out of these farming valleys will be rewarded with a long downhill into TRAVERSE CITY.  The Traverse Bay area is one of the top vacation areas in the Midwest.
The peninsula is famous for its beautiful homes, cherry orchards and wineries.
After taking your morning ride, you can take a nap, go swimming, walk downtown for shopping in TRAVERSE CITY historical downtown, go kayaking or even take a cruise on a tall-ship. All things are possible in TRAVERSE CITY. We will provide breakfast this morning, but lunch and dinner will be on your own. We encourage you to experience the fine eating establishments in TRAVERSE CITY.
Friday, August 13th: Charlevoix to Harbor Springs (55 mi.) From CHARLEVOIX we have four different route options.   You can take the Little Traverse Wheelway into PETOSKEY then on up to HARBOR SPRINGS. This route provides spectacular views of Lake Michigan.  Or you can take the Ironton Ferry and follow the south shore of Lake Charlevoix through BOYNE CITY and on to HARBOR SPRINGS. The short ride on the ferry is an experience you will want to have if you have never been on a ferry before.  Or for those wanting the most miles you can go through East Jordan and up through BOYNE CITY and on to HARBOR SPRINGS. For those really wanting to test themselves you there is an additional option to ride the famous "Wall" just outside of EAST JORDAN.  BOYNE CITY is a wonderful community nestled between Lake Charlevoix and the rolling hills to follow. It is worth exploring and enjoying a lunch break. The ride along Beach Drive to HARBOR SPRINGS will take you past some wonderful summer homes. HARBOR SPRINGS hosts a wonderful combination of good restaurants, tasteful art galleries, interesting architecture, a large marina and a bike shop. Saturday, August 14th: Harbor Springs to Mackinaw City (43 mi.) You will ride through one of Michigan's most scenic drives, the historic and protected  "Tunnel of the Trees." CROSS VILLAGE has the historic Leggs Inn. Look at the gardens and view of lighthouses and islands in back.
Sturgeon Bay offers many scenic vistas of Lake Michigan. Stop along the way for your last chance to swim in Lake Michigan. Amenities:
EventList powered by schlu.net  |
You're missing out on important information about Michigan cycling events...please install/update your Flash player.
The 7-day Shoreline West Bicycle Tour takes the scenic route from Montague to the mighty Mackinac Bridge in Mackinaw City. There is so much to experience on this ride: view historic lighthouses, pristine orchards, world famous cherries, wineries, farms, swim at sugar sand beaches, climb the dunes, grab a fresh lunch and picnic along the route in "Michigan's playground" and ride through the Tunnel of Trees. The terrain is never mundane as it varies from flats, rolling hills, and many challenging climbs. With moderate mileage, this is a great bicycling vacation to either ride with someone you know or someone you meet on tour. Choose from our 3 or 7-day tours. The 3-day tour joins in Traverse City on Wednesday and ends in Mackinaw City.
the oldest brick lighthouses in the Great Lakes System. 
Traverse City Lay Over Day (41 mi.)
fields of sunflowers as you ride towards ELK RAPIDS, another charming
Northern Michigan village on Lake Michigan. 
Advocacy Priorities
Add comment