The Adventure Cycling Association, North Lakes Bicycle Route is divided into two route
segments, one through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and an alternate that crosses
Lake Michigan by ferry. The route plus alternate is a total of 1088 miles (1752 km). This
route is very pleasant for biking through hardwood forests, lakes, and farmlands. Its
beauty is subtle rather than dramatic. It's a route in which high-mileage days are
possible, for those so inclined, because it is not particularly difficult. If you are doing the
Northern Tier, It can used as a connector for the Northern Tier Bicycle Route instead of
dropping south and going through Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana. The Manitowoc Alternate
uses a ferry across Lake Michigan and shortens the route by about 200 miles.
ROUTE
The North Lakes Bicycle Route can be ridden from late spring to mid-fall. Due to hanging
local conditions, it is difficult to predict any major wind patterns. Summer temperatures
can be cool.
Starting in Minneapolis-St. Paul, riders can conveniently start the route by biking right out
of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport onto bike paths along the Minnesota river
and the Mississippi River. The route uses city streets and connects with the Willard
Munger State Trail, a beautiful bike trail that leads out of the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
The route crosses the St. Croix River into Osceola, Wisconsin. The route goes through
dairy farmland and makes a gradual transition to the hardwood forests and lakes in the
northern part of the state.
After Wisconsin, the route goes through the farmlands of the Upper Peninsula in Michigan
and ride alongside Lake Michigan. At St. Ignace, passenger ferries can be used to
connect to Mackinac Island in the Straits of Mackinac and then into lower Michigan.
Alternatively, the Mackinac Bridge Authority will transport riders and bikes across the
bridge. It is worth taking some time to visit Mackinac Island, including the short eight-mile
loop around the island. The road is shared with only horses and buggies, pedestrians,
and other bicyclists as motorized vehicles are banned from the island.
The area between
Mackinaw City and Traverse City, at the northern tip of lower Michigan, is a favorite spot for
vacationing tourists. The route traverses farmlands and woods as it heads southward
toward Indiana. Entering Indiana, LaGrange County is home to a large Amish community,
and riders will share the road with the horses and buggies. Asphalt roads in this area
have grooves worn in them from horses' hooves, so careful riding is required. At the end
of the trip in Monroeville, riders can stay at the Shelter House in Monroeville Community
Park. It's a "full service" shelter with kitchen facilities, showers, and lots of floor space for
sleeping bags, set up specifically for cyclists. From here, the route joins the Northern Tier
heading east or west.
Terrain
The route is generally rolling and one of Adventure Cycling's easier routes to ride. There
are no dramatic climbs over mountain passes. This is not to say that there are no steep
climbs, but difficult climbing is not the general terrain of this route.
