6-Day Michigan Lakes & Trails Scenic Exploration Bike Tour
Duration
6 days
Daily Biking
8 to 63 miles
Trip difficulty
2-Easier to Intermediate
From
USD 3299
OR CALL (800) 257-2226
Duration
6 days
Daily Biking
8 to 63 miles
Trip difficulty
2-Easier to Intermediate
From
USD 3299
Trip Overview
Sandwiched between two of the Great Lakes — Lake Michigan and Lake Huron — northern Michigan’s Lower Peninsula is one of the most attractive destinations in the Midwest. With lakes and trails galore, this gorgeous area is famous for cycling. Our 6-day bike tour there showcases the very best of the region. You have minimal shuttle time and make the most of riding options and an enviable selection of the best sights.
In fact, this tour offers more than just riding on idyllic trails along pristine waters … it offers a visit to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, a sampling of the area’s well-known vineyards, a visit to the Mission Point Lighthouse, a stay on Mackinac Island, a ride along a premier biking trail, a pedal through the famous Tunnel of Trees, a visit to locales made famous by Ernest Hemingway (whose popularity was recently revived by Ken Burns’ three-episode Hemingway documentary), and a riding tour of Charlevoix’s unique Mushroom Houses. Join us for the Michigan Lakes & Trails bike tour, and marvel at all this incredible area has to offer.
Surfaces for this tour: 89% Paved and 11% Gravel.
Itinerary
From start to finish, check out the route.
Northern Michigan’s Lower Peninsula is one of the best Midwest cycling destinations. Enjoy lakes, trails — and sights like Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, local vineyards, Mission Point Lighthouse — plus, bike on car-free Mackinac Island.
Arrival Day: Sleeping Bear Dunes
The two pick-up locations today are Best Western Plus Traverse City at 8am or the Hotel Indigo Traverse City at 8:15am. After brief introductions, shuttle one hour to the start of today’s route. After your bike fitting, take off on your first ride.
Pedal along Crystal Lake, the first of many lakes on the tour. Stop in Empire for a tasty lunch and visit the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center to learn about your upcoming visit to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. After lunch, cycle along the Sleeping Bear Dunes Heritage Trail. Either pedal or shuttle the gorgeous 8-mile loop around Pierce Stocking Drive. Crossing forests and dunes, this roadway is well-known for its scenic vistas, gentle curves and fascinating landscapes. In your last few miles of the ride, consider climbing “The Dune,” a challenging hike up a steep and sandy hill with rewarding water views up top. Visit the Glen Haven Historic Village and the Cannery Boathouse Museum before a shuttle back to Hotel Indigo.
Accommodation: Hotel Indigo
Meals: Dinner
Biking: 33 miles (53 kilometres)
Terrain: Easier or Intermediate
Grand Traverse Bay
Today you explore the Old Mission Peninsula via a picturesque ride through vineyards and cherry orchards. At the tip of the peninsula is the scenic Mission Point Lighthouse, where you enjoy a picnic lunch. Though the lighthouse has been decommissioned for nearly 90 years, it offers a historical view into the lives of lighthouse keepers at the turn of the century. After visiting the lighthouse, pedal south along the peninsula back to Traverse City. Those opting for extended mileage begin and end their day at the hotel and pass a number of wineries along the route. Enjoy the afternoon exploring the town or relaxing at the hotel’s rooftop bar. You’re on your own for dinner tonight. *(On the September 12th departure, you stay at the Delamar Traverse City the first two nights.)
Accommodation: Hotel Indigo
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Biking: 22 or 44 miles (35 or 71 kilometres)
Terrain: Easier or Intermediate
Charlevoix & land of Hemingway
After a morning shuttle to Charlevoix, you cycle along the Little Traverse Wheelway. Early in the ride you will tour Charlevoix’s famous “Mushroom Houses,” also known as “Gnome Homes” or “Hobbit Houses.” Built by Earl Young, the more than two dozen homes are made mostly of stone found throughout northern Michigan and were built to blend in with the surroundings. Then you head north into Petoskey, with a beautiful overlook of Lake Michigan where you have your choice of spots for lunch. After lunch, cycle the remaining miles to Stafford's Perry Hotel.
Accommodation: Stafford's Perry Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Biking: 31 miles (49 kilometres)
Terrain: Easier
Petoskey & Tunnel of Trees
Today you pedal along the Little Traverse Wheelway North from Petoskey to Harbor Springs. Along the way, enjoy views of Little Traverse Bay off to the west. There are three riding options today, which provide a variety of ways to pedal the bike path and to visit the famous Tunnel of Trees. Also known as M119, this iconic road was given its name for the trees whose branches intertwine to create a ceiling above the roadway. Spend the afternoon making sure you’ve seen every corner of Petoskey.
Accommodation: Stafford's Perry Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Biking: 23 or 44 miles (37 or 71 kilometres)
Terrain: Easier or Advanced
North Central State Trail and Mackinac Island
Today you explore a quiet inland rail trail on the way to Mackinaw City and the ferry to the ever-popular Mackinac Island. As you gather your belongings before breakfast, make sure to pack a change of clothes and your toiletries in an overnight bag that you can carry with you as you cycle onto the ferry, as vehicles are not permitted on the island.
Located on the eastern end of the Straits of Mackinac, the island is in the narrow body of water that separates the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan. The entire island is recognized as a National Historic Landmark and is famous for being car-free. Instead of motorized vehicles, guests are propelled by feet, bicycles (though e-bikes are not allowed unless you have mobility issues), and horse carriages. You enjoy the lovely, flat, 8-mile bike route that circumnavigates the island. Spend the afternoon taking in the sights, visiting the historic buildings, and searching the island for the best fudge. Enjoy the final night with a celebratory dinner on the island!
Accommodation: Harbour View Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Biking: 24 miles (39 kilometers)
Terrain: Easier
Mackinac Island
Spend the morning exploring Mackinac Island by bike and by foot. Enjoy the sunrise over Lake Huron and take in a leisurely breakfast at the Inn after your morning ride, then catch an 11 a.m. ferry back to Mackinaw City and shuttle back to the starting hotel in Traverse City by about 3 p.m. where we say our goodbyes.
Accommodation: Not applicable
Meals: Breakfast
Biking: 9 miles (14 kilometres)
Terrain: Easier
Dates
Prices are per person based on double occupancy (2 people in one room). A deposit of $750 holds your reservation for most tours. For tours less than 6 days, the deposit is $500.
What's Included
- 5 nights’ accommodation
- 5 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners
- Our own highly experienced trip leaders, with you from start to finish
- Industry leading Guest-to-Guide ratio (averaging 6:1)
- Your own ‘Account’, an online space with everything required for your adventure
- Our knowledgeable Customer Service Team to answer your queries - just a phone call, email or chat away
- Customer Service pre-trip phone calls to ensure you’re 'trip ready'
- Delicious snacks and non-alcoholic drinks to keep you fueled
- Gravel bikes with drop handlebars, Hybrid with flat-bar handlebars or E-Bikes, equipped with a front handlebar bag or rear carrier, branded water bottle, mirror and flat pedals
- Ride with GPS for navigation along with the detailed maps and itineraries
- Branded t-shirt and bag
- All activities outlined in the itinerary
- All necessary equipment (well-maintained and safe) for activities
- Transportation in our air-conditioned vans - safe, clean, modern and comfortable!
Inns
Hotel Indigo - Traverse City
Standing among revamped lumberyards, sawmills and canneries, Hotel Indigo® Traverse City reflects the new life and vibrant spirit of the waterfront Warehouse District neighborhood. It also pay homage to its past — with modern guest rooms featuring wood details a 19th-century white-pine lumber baron would love.
Stafford's Perry Hotel
Set in Petoskey's historic Gaslight District, the Perry Hotel offers a perfect blend of old-world elegance and modern-day amenities. With breathtaking views of Little Traverse Bay and being the only hotel in downtown Petoskey, it's the ideal destination. Take a leisurely stroll to explore the delightful shops and galleries nearby or to enjoy the traverse bay.
Harbour View Inn
Built by Magdelaine Laframboise in 1820, Harbour View Inn was an iconic summer cottage on the island into the 1990s. Now a fashionable hotel nestled among other grand cottages and opulent mansions, the Harbour View Inn offers a welcoming and comfortable stay on charming Mackinac Island.
