Loading header...

4.7/5 (27 reviews)

6-Day Michigan Lakes & Trails Scenic Exploration Bike Tour

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.

Start - End: Traverse City - Traverse City

Total trip: 6 days

Average group size: 12 people

from USD 3,899/pp including taxes and fees

VIEW DATES

Trip Inquiry - 6-Day Michigan Lakes & Trails Scenic Exploration Bike Tour

Michigan Lakes & Trails Bike Tour Vineyard
Michigan Lakes & Trails Bike Tour stones found near Petoskey
VIEW DATES

Trip Inquiry - 6-Day Michigan Lakes & Trails Scenic Exploration Bike Tour

Enter your details below, and we'll send the itinerary straight to your inbox!

Enjoy Michigan’s lakes, forests, and quiet trails with shoreline beauty and charming towns.

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.

Trip Highlights

Day by day tour

Check out the map below for route of this tour.

Download This Itinerary

Enter your details below, and we'll send the itinerary straight to your inbox!

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, and 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. Visit the Glen Haven Historic Village before a shuttle back to Hotel Indigo.
Accommodation: Hotel Indigo, Traverse City
Meals: Dinner

Biking: 33 miles (53.1 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 713 feet (217 meters) ascent, 729 feet (222 meters) descent
Terrain: Easier or Intermediate

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.
Accommodation: Hotel Indigo, Traverse City
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Biking: 43.7 miles (70.3 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,132 feet (345 meters) ascent, 1,131 feet (345 meters) descent
Terrain: Easier or Intermediate

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, Petoskey
Meals: Breakfast

Biking: 26.7 miles (43 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 695 feet (212 meters) ascent, 647 feet (197 meters) descent
Terrain: Easier

Today you pedal north from Petoskey to Harbor Springs along the Little Traverse Wheelway, with Little Traverse Bay glittering to the west. After some urban riding through Harbor Springs, around mile 19.5 you reach the famous Tunnel of Trees — where branches intertwine overhead to create a stunning natural canopy.

Spend the afternoon making sure you’ve seen every corner of Petoskey.
Accommodation: Stafford's Perry Hotel, Petoskey
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Biking: 32.4 miles (52.1 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,341 feet (409 meters) ascent, 1,316 feet (401 meters) descent
Terrain: Easier or Advanced

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, 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, Mackinac Island
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Biking: 22.1 miles (35 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 222 feet (68 meters) ascent, 334 feet (102 meters) descent
Terrain: Easier

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: 8.5 miles (13.7 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 96 feet (29 meters) ascent, 90 feet (27 meters) descent
Terrain: Easier

Inns

Hotel Indigo on our Michigan bike tour

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 on our Michigan bike tour

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 on our Michigan bike tour

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.

Loading

FAQs

We know you might have a few questions before you book. Our Frequently Asked Questions cover useful information to help you feel ready for the ride.

On the first morning of the tour, our two pick-up locations are Best Western Plus Traverse City at 8am or the Hotel Indigo Traverse City at 8:15am. You are welcome to book your pre-tour stay at either of these hotels directly or any other hotel in Traverse City, though you must make your own way to one of the two pick-up points at the pre-designated times.

Your tour ends with a drop-off at either the Best Western Plus Traverse City or Hotel Indigo Traverse City around 3pm.

Arrival: We recommend arriving in Traverse City at least the day before your tour starts. Many guests like to arrive a day or two early to accommodate potential flight delays and/or explore the city prior to your tour start.

Departure: Flying out on the last day of the tour, we recommend departing from Traverse City after 5pm. Earlier flight times will require a separate transfer booked at your own expense.

If you plan to drive to the tour’s pick-up location, please ensure you arrange parking for the duration of your tour. If the pick-up point is a hotel, we recommend contacting them directly to inquire about parking availability. Keep in mind some hotels do not permit non-guests to park on-site, so you may need to find alternative parking options.

You’ll be fully supported throughout the tour with two experienced tour leaders — one riding alongside the group and another following in a support vehicle. The support van travels with you on all riding days, stocked with snacks and tools, and ready to help with repairs or provide a lift whenever needed.

Your tour leaders are there for more than just the cycling. They’re happy to assist with logistics, help arrange transport, and share local insights and recommendations to help you make the most of each stop along the way.

SHOW MORE

What's included

  • 5 nights’ accommodation
  • 5 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners
  • You’re supported from start to finish by our highly experienced guides and leaders
  • Industry leading Guest-to-Guide ratio (averaging 6:1)
  • All activities outlined in the itinerary
  • Delicious snacks and non-alcoholic drinks to keep you fueled
  • All necessary equipment (well-maintained and safe) for activities
  • Branded t-shirt and bag
  • 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
  • Transportation in our air-conditioned vans - safe, clean, modern, and comfortable!
  • Your queries answered by our knowledgeable Customer Care Team - only a call, chat, or email away
  • You’re “trip ready” with our Customer Care Team’s calls prior to your trip
  • “My Account” - your own online space with everything required for your adventure

What Our Guests Say