The lake michigan circle tour was part of a plan that began in 1985 and included circle tours around all the great lakes. Whether you camp for a night or a week, youll make memories that will last for years at a lake michigan area campground. Lake superior circle tour adventures around the worlds largest lake. When it comes to great american road trips along the water, californias pacific coast highway gets all the press. Pages in category lake michigan circle tour the following 28 pages are in this category, out of 28 total. Lake michigan circle tour september 16, 2018 one of the most scenic routes in the united states is the lake michigan circle tour. Thus, we spent all of three hours planning the tour. Great lake, riding a route designated the lake michigan circle tour. The origin of the lake michigan circle tour dates back to 1988 and a combined marketing effort led by governors from both michigan and indiana. Aug 01, 2005 exploring lake michigan s scenic shoreline by motorcycle. Lake superior circle tour, lake michigan circle tour, lake huron circle tour, lake erie circle tour and great lakes seaway trail, from travel and tourism information to technical information about the routes themselves. Ive ridden from chicago to ludington, mi, by bicycle via us bicycle route 35 and by car and motorcycle both on a hd heritage classic and.
This route listing lists the official route as well as the various locallydesignated and marked lake superior. Discover more about motorcycle camping gear ideas sleeping. Lake michigan circle tour itinerary michigan forum. It was the brainchild of jack morgan, who worked for. Lake michigan circle tour patch first week in august 2016 i rode the lake michigan circle tour. Even as the mainline circle tour enters michigan, a locallydesignated lsct loop route is signed closer to lake superior bridging between the two states. Lake michigan camping guide lake michigan camping guide. Take a trip around lake superior, the greatest of the great lakes. Travel the lake michigan circle tour in west michigan, northern michigan, and wisconsin. To say i got a little excited would be an understatement. Of the 1,661 miles of lake michigan coastline, michigan accounts for 1,058 miles. Come ride around lake michigan with harleydavidson authorized tours provider windy city motorcycle tours. Reliving history along lake michigans circle tour route schmidt, bob, schmidt, ginger on. Travelers driving the lake michigan circle tour will pass through michigan, indiana, illinois, and have an opportunity to experience the beauty and splendor of lake michigan from several different angles.
After all, a lake is just a lake until you paddle through with an experienced guide and feel its drops kiss your arms and face, or pilot. While a looselyorganized circle route around lake superior was promoted by local tourist organizations as early as the 1960s, the first official and signed great lakes circle tour was the lake michigan circle tour. Highway 2 us 2 to wakefield, m28 to bergland and m64 to ontonagon. Lake michigan circle tour out of villa park, il windy. After all, a lake is just a lake until you paddle through with an experienced guide. Drive the lake michigan circle tour through wisconsin, michigan, indiana, illinois, and experiece the beautify of lake michhigan from different angles. The circle tour, established by the great lakes commission, promotes travel and tourism along the shores of north americas fresh coast. Aug 30, 2015 a tour of lake michigan, my inland sea. Join the circle tour club lake superior circle tour. The lake michigan circle tour winds through small towns, large cities, and just about everything in between. Lake michigan was an unlikely destination for me, but after listening to a group of motorcycle riders straight from the upper peninsula chatting up the regions virtues during last years hoot, i found i wanted to see it for myself.
Around the lakes 2017 lake michigan and superior circle tour duration. At ontonagon, the lsct continues east along m38 to m26. Tower hill sits 240 feet above the lake, and is a popular spot for visitors to climb before racing back down. Show the world youve circled 10% of the earths fresh water with a circle tour patch, pin. Have you circled lake superior by car, motorcycle, bicycle, boat or even on foot. Around the lakes 2017 lake michigan and superior circle tour. Lake michigan circle tour no reservations gregg eldred.
The lhct was officially designated soon after the debut of the lake michigan and lake superior circle tours. We are planning a late august 2012 trip to mackinaw island and wanted to finish the trip coming home on the lake michigan circle tour, going through the upper peninsula and then back down through wisconsin to finish up in chicago on sept. Dedicated to the past, present and future of the great lakes circle tour routes. This website is intended to be a clearinghouse of information on the great lakes. How to make the most of the lake michigan circle tour. Lake superior circle tour accommodations range from the affordable to the luxurious and many of these activities and experiences can be found in our associations free 88page, fullcolour lake superior circle tour adventure guide. Its such a treat to discover all the wonderful small towns along lake michigan, each with its own unique character and history. Our original post about the lake michigan circle tour is one of the first long distance motorcycle trips we covered back in 2014. There is a designated route called the circle tour. Lake michigans greatest hits a nineday circle tour itinerary takes in the highlights of this ultrascenic drive. The name michigan is a french adaptation of the ojibwe word mishigama, meaning large water or. After lake superiors looselyorganized circle route which had been promoted by local tourist organizations since the 1960s became the first officially signed great lake circle tour route, the lake michigan circle tour lmct was not far behind. This free travel map is a complete source for discovering the lighthouses that dot.
The lake michigan circle tour lmct is 1,092 miles long and is the only great lakes circle tour that does not cross into canada, as lake michigan is the only great lake situated entirely within the u. A tour of lake michigan, my inland sea the new york times. From that, we knew that we really wanted to see copper harbor, michigan. One of the most scenic routes in the united states is the lake michigan circle tour. We will have 4 days to complete the trip after we leave mackinaw. But after our first, and only meeting, we all read more about the tour and were sidetracked by what we read about the southern shore of lake superior. That being said, you may want to spend one night near traverse city on lake michigan leland area. Many people had opinions both positive and negative of what i had in mind. My husband and i seniors are planning to do the lake michigan circle tour leaving on september 7. Discover more about motorcycle camping gear ideas sleeping bags check the webpage for more information. The great lakes circle tour is a designated, scenic road system connecting all of the great lakes and the st. Ride lake superior an epic motorcycle tour through ontario, michigan, wisconsin and minnesota. This is a combination of of the lake michigan and lake superior circle tour that a group of riders from. Six miles of hiking trails and chances to watch wildlife are also popular draws, and 200 modern.
Michigan group tour destinations what makes michigans 3,200 miles of freshwater coastline and thousands of inland lakes, rivers and streams so different is simple. Searching lake michigan circle tour will bring up lots of information on the internet, including the link below. What do you recommend as the optimum length for a full circle tour trip. Motorcycle touring around lake michigan motorcycle cruiser. At that point we will head north again into the up and then into wisconsin and around and back to milwaukee. Lake michigan circle tour travelers driving the lake michigan circle tour will pass through michigan, indiana, illinois, and have an opportunity to experience the beauty and splendor of lake michigan from several different angles. In michigan, the mainline of the lsct follows signed state trunkline routes in its entirety, although in some places the nearest state highway to the lake superior may be more than 25 miles away. We are contemplating taking the lake express from milwaukee, then heading south to st.
Warren dunes state park located in the southwest corner of michigan, this beautiful state park sees almost a million visitors annually thanks to its towering dunes and scenic shoreline. Jun 11, 2017 this is a combination of of the lake michigan and lake superior circle tour that a group of riders from. We are doing a one week lake michigan circle tour starting and ending in chicago in mid september. Lake superior circle tour patch existed 1988present. Lake michigan circle tour great info on this web site. This website is intended to be a clearinghouse of information on the great lakes circle tours. From ironwood, the circle tour continues easterly on us2 into wakefield. For details, see planning a circle tour of lake michigan, which lists the biggest festivals.
More than half of the lmct exists within michigan, while nearly a third of the route occurs within wisconsin. Still a great introductory route for the aspiring long distance rider, more experienced enthusiasts demand more in the way of technical maneuvering. Come ride around lake michigan with harleydavidson authorized tours provider windy city motorcycle tours lake michigan circle tour on vimeo join. Lake michigan circle tour trip report michigan forum. What youll need to bike the lake michigan circle tour simple. The rules for this ride are similar and you will get valuable background information. Lake michigan circle tour travel the lake michigan circle tour. As the name implies, it follows state highways around lake michigan, through illinois, indiana, michigan, and wisconsin.
We are looking for suggestions on things to do and places to stay not super expensive. It was the brainchild of jack morgan, who worked for the michigan department of transportation. Lake michigan s greatest hits a nineday circle tour itinerary takes in the highlights of this ultrascenic drive. The better lake michigan circle tour motorcycle map. Madison bike blog personal blog documenting a ride around the lake. Nov 26, 2015 sevenday lake michigan circle tour road trip itinerary roundtrip from chicago stay safe and healthy. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Michigan group tour destinations what makes michigan s 3,200 miles of freshwater coastline and thousands of inland lakes, rivers and streams so different is simple. Two trails from two rivers on lake michigan, bicyclists ride the breezes between a lighthouse and a submarine. Also if you search in the michigan forum and the ta road trip fourm, theres lots of information their too. Follow the lake superior circle tour route into wisconsin at the wisconsin highways website.
Reliving history along lake michigans circle tour route. The natural beauty along the lake michigan shoreline, with its numerous lakes and richly forested lands, makes camping that much better. They recognized each states scenic appeal and the impact of the shoreline and its connection with the many state parks, breathtaking overlooks and historic lighthouses along the way. Vacationers have been looping the lake for generations, but the official lake michigan circle tour route was not established until the 1980s when the michigan department of transportation teamed up with west michigan tourist association wmta to create the route and its official guidebook. Lake michigan circle tour travel the lake michigan. To find a campground for a specific lake michigan destination, check out the following. What sets the lhct apart, though, is this route is the only one touching just two jurisdictionsmichigan and ontario. Lake michigan circle tour map good ideas of places to visit time 09 september at 12 september at location around lake michigan and part of lake superior more info. A tour of the perimeter of lake michigan michigan, indiana, illinois, wisconsin including a short stop at lambeau field 1,272 miles 2,048 km recorded so far over 16 days from june 17, 2011 to july 2, 2011.
The lake huron circle tour is one of four great lakes circle tours, each of which run through portions of michigan. Michigan is a great state to visit with much to see. Now and then, you see a sign that says you are on it. Includes an interactive map for the motorcycle route, photos, rider comments, gps files, turn by turn directions, and more. Travel around lake superior by land or by lake, 350 miles long and 160 miles wide split between two countries, one province and three states. Weve already shared our choices for 10 mustvisit michigan locations on the lake superior circle tour, and today we present our choices for 10 mustvisit michigan locations on the lake michigan circle tour. But i say the middle coast is incredibly underrated. For half a circle tour, with a short cut by ferry, see lake michigan with kids.
May 03, 2016 the origin of the lake michigan circle tour dates back to 1988 and a combined marketing effort led by governors from both michigan and indiana. The great lakes circle tours are a total of four routes circling each great lake, with the exception of lake ontario. Rv campgrounds are plentiful as are great dining establishments and unique gift shops and regional attractions. Lake michigan circle tour out of villa park, il windy city. A few days and a few phone conversations later, mike proposed the idea of doing a week long circle tour of lake michigan in early to mid june. Explore the lighthouses of lake michigan with the 2017. Wed crossed the mackinac bridge onto michigans upper peninsula u.
It includes restaurants, scenic spots, places to stay that are unique and tourist areas. The state of michigan has signed each of the circle tours for the great lakes the state touches. The great lakes series consists of motorcycle rides that travel around one or more of the great lakes. The wisconsin portion of the tour offers a diverse array of opportunities as it travels through milwaukee and green bay, two of wisconsins. Question 1is it even feasible to drive around lake michigan in that amount. Northern lake michigan circle tour wisconsin motorcycle. Lake superior circle tour location around lake superior length 1,280. The protest dubbed operation gridlock, involved a crowd of about 4,000 people who used their vehicles to slow traffic in downtown lansing. Exploring lake michigans scenic shoreline by motorcycle. Lake superior is the largest of the five traditionally demarcated great lakes of north america. One week lake michigan circle tour itinerary suggestions.
Mackinaw city on the south shore of the mackinac straits, the year is 1775. The lake michigan circle tour is roughly 1,100 miles long and would take 14. For an overview of what youll see, go to circling lake michigan. Lake michigan circle tour itinerary for september michigan. Awesome ride so then i searched for a patch for my vest.