Circle Lake Tour of Superior

[Moonshot_1]

Well, one of the vacation ideas floated out by the wife, who recently got her own bike this year, is to do a circle tour of Lake Superior.

We have been to Duluth and up 61 to Thunder Bay back in '05. So we've seen Split Rock, the waterfalls, Grand Marais, and the North Shore up to Thunder Bay. Loved it. Absolutely stunning area.

Now the plan is to go all the way around.

For those of you that have done it, I'd like some insight on a few things.
How much time would you allot for such a trip and do it right.
Any gotta see places?
Any place that deserves more than a casual stop? Perhaps an area that would be worth a couple of days exploring?

Any sections not worth going out of the way for?

Looking to streamline the trip. We already will "lose" a couple of days on the way up and back. So time may be a factor and if I could get some Highlights of such a Tour that would help out alot.

Thanks!

[RTaz]

Hi Moonshot_1   I have done that ride a few times, you can get alot of info from this site http://www.lakesuperiorcircletour.com/ be sure to stop at Kakabeka Falls and Quimet Canyon. Also their is a gorge with a cool waterfall just west of Terrance Bay and just south of Wawa. In Michigan The Soo locks is cool along with Sault Ste Marie. Ride over to m-123 to Paradise and up to Whitefish point, go over to upper and lower Tahquamenon Falls. Ride up to Grand Marais and ride H58 to Munising be sure to stop at Minors Castle and see the pictured rocks. Head up to Copper Harbor it's great up there ride up nto the top of the mtn you can see forever. Lake of the Clouds is great and so is Black River Harbor give yourself plenty of time you can do the ride in 5 days but if you really want to enjoy it take a min. of a week don't worry there is enogh to see so take as much time as you can.

[NITRO]

Definitely see Kakabeka Falls. MP, Alph, and I did it summer 2010 on the way to Inzane, took two days to make the trip around the north shore and, on the way back, one day to do the south. That was way too short of time to really appreciate how gorgeous it is up there. I'll be going back at some point!

[Ricky-D]

Don't forget if you haven't already checked that passports are now needed. You might could get back into the USA but they'll give you hell for sure.

I did the circle in '04 and camped at the National Park nearby Marathon which was very nice.

Rainy in Thunder Bay so I took off for Winnipeg.

Like to do it again soon!

***

[alph]

as NITRO posted earlier, it's a blast but plan on spending more then two days like we did!!  from Duluth take the "original" Hwy 61, not the "super slab" they made.  i think it's called North Shore Drive.

[LilAbner]

Great looking Pictures, you guys, put on the site, now i know i will have to get out of Colorado
and see what the real world looks like. Thanks.

[Molasses]

A lot of stuff already listed that's pretty cool, but I'd like to add the pictoglyphs at Agawa bay.  The path down to the water's edge is interesting.   

And the Pigeon river falls upstream of the US/Canadian border crossing on the MN end of the lake.  Doesn't get nearly the appreciation it should.  The trail to the falls on the Canadian side goes from behind the tourist info center and one section of the path pops out on the water's edge right by the drop.