Lake Superior Trip

[Cleaner Man]

I want to ride around Lake Superior this Spring or Summer.  I will be starting and finishing at St. Ignace, MI (by the Bridge).  Does anyone have suggestions as to best time of riding season (I understand that the deer flys can be bad), any sites along the way, etc. Any help and tips are appreciated.

[Joe Hummer]

I made the trip several years ago on my 1100 Shadow.  We started from the Green Bay area so we spent the night in a camp grounds near Bayfield, WI.  Our next night was at a small camp grounds near Nipigon, ON.  There is a place between the border and Thunder Bay that ON says is the Ontario's Grand Canyon.  It is pretty impressive and you can walk both inside and along the rim.  the next day, we rode from Nipigon to just west of Sault Ste. Marie.  The ride from Nipigon to Sault Ste Marie is a boring ride until you get just outside of SSM.  You will start getting back into the hills there. 

As for the time of year, we went in june or july (don't remember when exactly).  The weather was beautiful but it did cool off a bit in Canada.  I wore my leathers once I crossed the border until I came back into the states.

Here is my webpage I put together of my trip.  http://www.spirit-1100.com/Rides-LakeSuperior2004.htm 

Hope this helps. 

Joe

[NITRO]

MP, Alph, and I did this ride last July on our way to InZane. We started in WI and the north shore of Superior was outstanding. There are waterfalls all along the way and other great scenery, but we didn't stop many specific places. No matter what you do along the way, you're in for an incredible ride. I plan to do it again at some point.

There are views like this everywhere:




Scenic overlook along the road:


Look at these happy guys! MP (L) and Alph (R)


The "Niagara of the North" Kakabecca (spelling?) falls near Thunder Bay:


If you happen to make it over to Duluth, make sure to stop in at the Aerostich factory:

[MNBill]

http://www.wolfsheadrally.com/circletour/main.htm

This should give you some stops and info. I have never been on this ride but have seen it on the internet. Plan extra time for the Shore along the MN side. I always take the Scienic route from Duluth to Two Harbors that goes along the lake but there is a 4 lane if you need to make up time.
There is a great lookout that is out of your way on I35 at the south end of Duluth that has alot of tourist info and gives a great view of Duluth.

[alph]

As Nitro said, absolutely excellent ride!!  We left Eau Claire Monday morning at 7:ish, made it to Thunder Bay Monday night, Tuesday night we stayed in Suite Saint Marie, Wednesday night we were at Inzane X.  I had to work Friday so I had to leave Thursday morning for an all day ride back to Eau. 

One thing I regret is not stopping at an overlook about three miles east of Nipigon, it would have been the perfect spot for a group picture with the bay in the back ground, but there were some “landslide” prevention construction going on and in some spots traffic was backed up for a while and that turnoff was about 100 yards out of our site!!  There are a ton of turn offs to stop at, all have breathtaking views. I rode with two road Nazi’s that had a mission to make it to the night stop before night fall, you will see TONS of moose crossing signs, you might see a couple of moose lawn ornaments!!

YOU WILL LOVE THAT TRIP!!!  Very very fun enjoyable ride!!  Can’t wait to do it again!!

If I were to do it again I would say, don’t make reservations at any motel.  There are towns along the way, and I’m sure there’s always a vacant room around with this economy… personally, I’d like to camp it once, tons of campsites on the side of the roads also.

Let us know when you’re in town, maybe I can sneak out for the weekend.

Here’s Nitro right before the Mighty Mac Bridge.

[MP]

That was a great trip with Nitro, alph, and myself.  Had a blast.

MP

[RTaz]

Hi Cleaner Man...I have led groups around Superior a few times...I recommend a July time frame...the weather up there is normally cooler so take some warm cloths...if staying in St. Ignace I recommend you stay at the Village Inn it has a very good restaurant and the rooms are very clean and less expensive (also a good bar) ...when heading into Canada expect slight delays ..its better to start early ...once you get out of the Canadian Soo the  traffic and city life will be left behind, the North shore starts taking on a very different look you will see more rock and hills stop at the Lake Superior Provincial Park south of Waw
+a...good restaurant /gas station just as you are coming into Wawa also a good waterfall there....as you head around north watch for bears/ moose they are quite prevalent thought the north shore...do not travel at dark the animals (moose) like to come out of the woods at night and stand in the roads ...they get away from insects that way...

at the top of Lake Superior you will come to Marathon Ont. this is a gold mining town there is a pretty good hotel in Marathon by the airport and just west of town is LaFance restaurant  good food....as you are heading west you will come to Terrence Bay cool little town...as you go west there is a real cool water fall about 1/4 off the road  if you see the sign check it out its worth it.

now as your headed toward Nipigon  there is a canyon up there west of town Quimet Canyon that is a must good road to take on the bike also...this canyon is spectacular you will like it BUT you have to walk aways to see it....

the scenery on the North shore is great, second largest formations of Mesa's in the world and they go right out into Lake Superior. as you come to Thunder Bay you will see the Sleeping Giant laying out in the water...while in Thunder Bay stop by Fort William historical park and ride over to Kakabeka Falls...

when you ride down towards Minn. be sure to stop at Bettie's Pies (don't ask why just do it) there are plenty of things to do riding down this way...I recommend seeing Split Rock Lighthouse and Gooseberry Falls State Park...Two Harbors is cool too...

Riding through Duluth check out the cool Iron bridge....when you get into Wisconsin stop at the State Park good museum

once your back in Michigan ride up to Copper Harbor you will enjoy the trip...Munising have lunch at the Dog Patch and then ride over and see the water fall ...after leaving Munising head up to Grand Marais and see the pictured rocks ...

From Grand Maraies head over to Paradise stop at the Tahquamemon Falls (brew pub try the blueberry beer) once in Paradise ride up to Whitefish point  the ride is real cool..

after White fish point head back down to Paradise ride till you come to the Curly Lewis HWY turn on that towards Brimley this is a great road to take stop at the lighthouse ...then just stay on this road and it will take you back to I-75 by Sault Ste Marie ...I-75 south to St. Ignace...

also check out this map  http://www.lakesuperior.com/ctmap.jpg

[solo1]

Outstanding information Robert!

That trip was on my 'bucket list' but I never got it done. Now, with all the aches that I have even on short trips and replacing the Valkyrie with a less comfortable Vstrom, I won't be doing it.

Any one thinking about this ride, do it NOW (well in the summer )

[R J]

The trip RTaz describes is a great ride.     My old ridin buddy and I made that trip in 88.

He had a 86 Yamaha Venture Royale and I had just bought my 88 Gold Wing.   Everything went fine until we encountered a semi--3/4 ton van (fatal) accident, between Grand Portage and Thunder Bay.   Semi across the road and traffic couldn't get by going into the ditch.   We were delayed about 5 hours.   I finally talked a Mountie into letting Frank and I try the ditch to get around.   He said I could try it and if I made it he'd let Frank try.   I made it, had to help Frank, his Yam Hooper didn't have enough poop to pull his trailer through.   I unhooked mine and went back in to retrieve his.   Other than that is was a marvelous trip.  

The suggestions RTaz talks about, in my book they are all MUST see.

When ya go, don't rush it, ride slow and smell the roses & enjoy the scenery.

[BradValk48237]

+2 on what Taz said! I did the trip a few years ago on my 85 wing. It is a good long ride! I left with a rear tire that I thought would make it, but those Canadian roads are smooth, but rough on the tires. When I got below the bridge, where there was tread showing, was now showing cords! made it to St Johns and had em mount a new rear to get me back home (in Ann Arbor then). THe Bayfield, WI area is very pretty, but there was a ton of Dragonflys...... at one point we had to stop and clean off the bikes because we couldn't see where we were going. And they HURT if you catch one on the hand.

I have circled all the Great Lakes... on purpose... its the best one of them all.

Have a great trip.

B

[RTaz]

Outstanding information Robert!

That trip was on my 'bucket list' but I never got it done. Now, with all the aches that I have even on short trips and replacing the Valkyrie with a less comfortable Vstrom, I won't be doing it.

Any one thinking about this ride, do it NOW (well in the summer )

Wayne...if we did it right you could still ride around that lake...nice and slow with lots of stops....

[Hoser]

Great pics, guys,  Don't take a gun Joe!     Hoser

[alph]

isn't there a "circle tour" patch??  i thought i read something about getting a patch from the tourism bureau from what ever state you're in that borders the lake?

[RTaz]

isn't there a "circle tour" patch??  i thought i read something about getting a patch from the tourism bureau from what ever state you're in that borders the lake?

yes there is a patch  stores all around the trip sell them....

[Valk1520]

We went the 2nd/3rd week of September a couple years ago.  A little cool but no bugs and the colors where almost perfect, even around "Lake In The Clouds" in the U.P. of  Michigan.  When people say "watch out for moose" we were told by locals that moose charge headlights!!   So we stopped for the night before dark.  GREAT RIDE!!  Hope to do it again this year.

[PhredValk]

Did Thunder Bay to SSMarie last summer on my way to Toronto. Wawa;

Going this summer, as well, hopefully in July. Maybe we'll meet up. Going clockwise?
Fred.

[B-Taz]

Another Nice stop as you get into the UP is Black River Road.  It's a nice twisty road up to the lake from just West of Wakefield.  There are tons of waterfalls off the road you can walk back to.  Nice harbor at the end too.  Then head North from Wakefield into Porcupine Mountains Presque Isle campground.  This is a nice road too.  There is a cool walking path from the parking lot that you can walk right out on the slate rock waterfalls.  Me and some buddies went camping up there a while back and the scenery here is awesome.  Then you can take South Boundary Road (very awesome road) around the porkies and see the lake of the clouds on your way up to Copper Harbor.

Careful on South Boundary!  My buddy got caught out on a mountain bike at night and got chased by a grey wolf that actually bit at his heel on his pedal! 

[Molasses]

I started a list and it went too long before even getting off the North Shore (cool stuff abounds: Palisade Head, Split Rock Lighthouse, Cascade Falls and others too many to list and too time-consuming to see 'em all).  So.  Going in a clockwise direction from Duluth, what I wouldn't miss:  stopping at Aerostich in Duluth and the harbor park to see the ship canal and lift bridge in action.  Old 61 from Duluth to Two Harbors.  At the Pigeon Falls border crossing: stop at the info center right after entering Canada and walk on the trail that goes under the highway and up to the falls (it's not as idiot-proofed as the US side and you can literally stand on the rocks alongside the lip of the falls).  Kakebeka falls W. of Thunder Bay (taking 130 between 61 and 14 will save a little distance and gets one off the highway mentality for awhile, but won't save any/much time due to speed limits and winding).  The info center/Terry Fox memorial just N of Thunder Bay.  Ouimet Canyon.  Rossport's little city park just E. of town.  There're a TON of good views all along the lakeshore, but one pullout W. of Marathon, a little ways E. of a long bridge that slopes downhill toward the E. sticks out in my mind.  The Winnie the Pooh statue in White River is a good photo stop.  Likewise the several geese statues at Wawa (eat a dill pickle out of the barrel at the touristy store that has one outside).  Old Woman Bay (especially if its' windy/the waves are coming in).  The Agawa Bay petroglyphs.  Back in the US at the Soo, the Point Iroquois lighthouse.  Whitefish Point.  The Au Sables area W. of Grand Marais is nifty, but some of the in-park roads are ill-suited for street machines.  The other end of the Pictured Rocks, at Munising, is very pretty and there are boat tours from there that are a good ride.  The whole 26/41 loop up in the Keweenaw peninsula (going up atop Brockway from Copper Harbor is worthwhile).  Lake of the Clouds in the Porcupine Mts state park.

[Cleaner Man]

Thanks for all the good advice, and pictures I wasn't able to do much riding last summer, and hope to make up for lost time. Looks like a great trip. thanks again.