Ride around Superior

[giusto]

I have a few buddy's and a cousin or two that are willing to join me in a ride around Lake Superior this summer.

I am very familiar with the Upper Peninsula portion but have only been on the north shore of Superior twice. I was hoping to get a few ideas/tips on places to stay and sites to visit.

Thanks

[John Ulrich]

https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=&oq=lake+superior+cir&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4PRFF_enUS581US582&q=lake+superior+circle+tour&gs_l=hp..0.0l5.0.0.0.10774...........0.oqfdPOhNgiE#q=lake+superior+circle+tour+motorcycle

https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=&oq=lake+superior+cir&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4PRFF_enUS581US582&q=lake+superior+circle+tour&gs_l=hp..0.0l5.0.0.0.10774...........0.oqfdPOhNgiE

[Daniel Kalal]

I didn't spend too many days doing it, but there're a bunch of photographs that might give you an idea of what to expect...

http://www.dankalal.net/2014trip16/trip.html

[fotoguzzi]

you don't need advanced reservations, you can pick up a hotel as you go.. that gives you time to explore along the way and no need to hurry to make the next night.. and there is plenty of camping thru out Canada and the Mn No shore.. watch out for Moose and logging trucks, and the Mounties with radar.. speed limits are lower in Canada, they have better beer than the US too..
do it, it's a fantastic trip..

[ccoli]

If you're camping take warm clothing and gear
I had Frost on my tent in July. Great ride. Don't suppose the Wolf's Head rally  still happening.
Radar detectors illegal in Canada.

[kirb]

I've done the loop twice. Hug the lake through the UP as much as possible. Canada considers DUIs a felony and may reject your request to enter the country if you have had one in the last 10 years (or longer depending on the mood of the customs agent). More of an FYI.

I've found the ride through Canada much more laid back and far less of everything. Plan accordingly. I've stayed in Wawa, Marathon, Thunder Bay, Grand Marais, Duluth/Superior. They all have things that are worth the trip. It's like going back to the 70's when you are in some of the small towns.

From one of the trips (Marathon, I think):

[Wayne Orwig]

I was thinking about riding north of Lake Superior this summer also. I did the Canada side once, and wanted to repeat that. Is the US side worth the extra day or so it will take me?

My main memory of that trip is the potholes from Canada south to Duluth. 

[Late to the party]

Gentle (do I assume too much?) Guzzista,

Am also enamored of the idea of going around Lake Superior. Would like to know how much time you guys (who've done it) would allow.

Lateness.

[John Ulrich]

When planning don't forget the MN rally is one hour south of the Canadian border in Grand Marais.  June 17-19th   
http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=81145.0

[kingoffleece]

Is the Upper Superior Brewing Co still there?
We used to snowmobile in the UP for 10 years straight.  Fantastic area.

[acogoff]

    As others have stated it can be darned cold up on this end of our state even in summer. Bring way more clothes than you think will be needed 'cause you will probably need them. -10F out here now as I write this and -27 over east on the iron range.

[ohiorider]

The UP has some beautiful roads.  This one, on the other hand, is a snoozer!

https://yoopersteez.com/post/seney-stretch-m28

2008 Ride
Day 1 - from Sault Ste Marie, MI to Thunder Bay ON
Day 2 - from Thunder Bay thru Duluth MN and headed east to (I think) Iron Mountain, MI
Day 3 - from Iron Mountain, MI back to Sault Ste Marie, MI

All daylight riding.  Day 1 was delightful.  Day 2, unfortunately, there was fog hanging over and near the lake all day, so our views were really restricted.  Day 3, I recall we were on the Seney Stretch, but that could have been another time.  It was a ride to do a ride, so we didn't make many stops for pics.  Roughly, 1000 miles around the lake, so obviously, we weren't practicing for the Iron Butt.

Actually, the real Day 1 for us was riding from Cleveland OH to Sault Ste Marie.  And a day to get back to Cleveland.  Approx another 1000 miles.  I was on the R100GS, riding buddy was on his R1150RT.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I've done it both directions several times. (fishing trips) Fotoguzzi pretty much nailed it.

[Vince in Milwaukee]

This post is bringing back a lot of good memories.  I've got family in Soo Sault Marie, Michigan so I've done this a few times.  Great ride as others have said.  Who here remembers the Sportbike Rally in Parry Sound, Ontario?  That's on the east side of Lake Huron.  Another great ride.  Love the Canadian side as there's just a lot of open space without one city being on top of the next one.  Plan your gas stops accordingly.  If you want a chilled, relaxed ride, with some beautiful scenery, this is the place. 

[Texas Turnip]

Go ahead and make the trip. Gas isn't much of a problem like it was in the late 60's.

Others have given you good advice.

Time. I left East Texas on a Wed and road to Grand Rapids< MI. Next day to Thunder Bay and got to the Minn rally Friday afternoon. I had clear skis and pleasant weather. I've talked to others that had rain and fog.

IMO. Go by yourself so you get to see something other than your buds bike. People will talk to you in a cafe instead of you talking to your biker buds.

Enjoy,
Tex

[LowRyter]

Grand Marais (photo) (ride the flintlock trail rd)  and Duluth (cool town). 



if you're going south you might make the Kettle Moraine side of the Wisconsin shore on Lake Mich too.

[fotoguzzi]

Grand Marais (photo) (ride the flintlock trail rd)  and Duluth (cool town). 

Gunflint trail 60 miles into the wilderness, bumpy road tho..

[fotoguzzi]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMQ9LdqzUzI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrAgGqJdYdM

[cruzziguzzi]

Check out "Devil's Kettle Falls" in Magney State Park.

Weird.

If the Grand Portage National Monument is still there - it was pretty cool.

Locals - Do they still have the North Shore Scenic Railroads running? They were fun.


Todd.

[rbugs]

 Do not skip any waterfalls or light houses.

[Moto Fugazzi]

There's some really cool places in upper MI that are worth going to...Copper Harbor, Porcupine Mountain (good for hiking), and I remember Marquette, MI being cool (that was in 1993).
Other places worth going to in the UP:
Bon Falls  http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/details.aspx?id=412&type=SPRK
The Paulding Light  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulding_Light
Agate Falls http://www.gowaterfalling.com/waterfalls/agate.shtml

If you can, you may want to ride up the east side of Lake Michigan as well. Western MI is worth riding through.
Ken

[giusto]

Is the Upper Superior Brewing Co still there?
We used to snowmobile in the UP for 10 years straight.  Fantastic area.

The building is still there...in Marquette. But they haven't been in business for a long long time

[giusto]

Thanks for the input!  Much appreciated.

Starting point is Traverse City MI...home...one of the most beautiful places on Earth...rolling hills with two lanes along Lake Michigan...beach stops everywhere.

[Moto Fugazzi]

Thanks for the input!  Much appreciated.

Starting point is Traverse City MI...home...one of the most beautiful places on Earth...rolling hills with two lanes along Lake Michigan...beach stops everywhere.

We stopped in Traverse City on our trek around lake Michigan. I had no idea at the time that eastern MI was that beautiful. Luckily, we stumbled across motovino cellars in that area, and brought some wine home for our wives.

This year, we may take a trip around all of the great lakes, but we'll see what happens...
Ken

[nick949]

Great ride along the north shore, especially south of Wawa and in the Red Rock region. But, it is a main road. All the good stuff requires you to stop from time to time........





and to get a flavour of the region, if you get all adventurous and leave the safety of the Trans-Canada Highway.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW4EjrgzNiA (this just a few miles east of Wawa)

Sometimes it's worthwhile stopping to smell the balsam.

Nick

[ohiorider]

Thanks for the input!  Much appreciated.

Starting point is Traverse City MI...home...one of the most beautiful places on Earth...rolling hills with two lanes along Lake Michigan...beach stops everywhere.

Traverse City is lovely.  I really enjoyed my ride in 2013 up the Leelanau Peninsula where I spent a long weekend in Northport.  I am so sorry that for the three years I lived in Ann Arbor, we always motorcycled directly to the UP.  Nothing wrong with that, but I cannot believe we bypassed Traverse City, Charlevoix, and the Leelanau Peninsula areas in our rush to get up to Copper Harbor.

[giusto]

Yup thanks for the TC Kudos...this is an amazing place and especially for riding curvy rolling hills along the largest source of fresh water on the planet. Looking forward to it and the gang is growing :)
remember to come up Interlaken for the Michigan Rally September 9-11...we'll have an awesome ride on Saturday....some great company, food and Steve Moore's cycle campground is not to be missed

[Tinkerfreak]

For travel through Ontario you can look here, somewhere out there is a specific motorcycle travel map for the ride around Superior but I can not locate it at this time.

http://www.northernontario.travel/motorcycle-touring

Found it, helps if you use the correct spelling when searching;

http://www.ridelakesuperior.com/

https://www.ontariotravel.net/en/play/powersports-touring/motorcycles/tour-planner

And if you are in the area in late August and can find the time to stretch it a tad drop in on our annual rally with the Ontario Guzzi Riders in Lavigne Ontario August 26 to the 28th

http://www.ontarioguzziriders.com/

The date and details will be up on our website soon. Hope to see you there and if not then enjoy your trip.

Cheers

[Trialsman]

Four of us are leaving Pittsburgh and going north around the lakes this summer - probably late June.  We intend to go up the Bruce Peninsula to Tobormorry then take the ferry across and continue around Superior.  The Apostle Islands sea caves are spectacular around Bayfield, WI if you want to take some time sea kayaking.  We will return through the "Uooper" back to PA.  I will be on my Norge.

[janusz]

I'm planning the same trip this summer. I used this site to generate the map and day by day itinerary:
http://www.gotourontario.ca/?lng=en
You can enter as a guest or create account to use it. It is very good starting point for further customization.