Lake to Lake Tour

For Brochure Click Here.        To Register complete this form.

With the completion of the North Western State Trail in 2016, the possibility of traveling from one Great Lake to another on a series of rail trails became a reality. This bicycle tour gives participants the opportunity to dip their back wheel in Lake Huron and two days later to dip their front wheel in Lake Michigan.

The tour will begin on Friday morning, September 22 at the headquarters of Top of Michigan Trails Council, 1687 M 119 in Petoskey. From there, you, your gear and your bike will be transported to Alpena where you will dip your back tire in Lake Huron. Then the group will ride on the Alpena Bi-Path for 1 1/2 miles to the new trailhead on Woodard near Alpena’s Event Complex (APlex). From there you will begin riding on the North Eastern State Trail (NEST) for 37 miles at your own speed. you will have the opportunity to stop at Metz for lunch (lunch is on your own). The trailhead at Metz has a wonderful display of historic markers commemorating the fire of 1908 that claimed 37 lives. A local historian will give further details regarding the fire.

Your destination will be Nettie Bay Lodge, about a mile off the trail. Nettie Bay Lodge offers comfortable rustic cabins on Nettie Lake, which is well-known for its loons. Dinner will be in the Lodge’s dining room. After dinner a local naturalist will give a presentation on the local loon poulation.

Saturday will begin with breakfast at the Lodge and then back to the NEST and a scenic 41-mile ride to Cheboygan. You will go through Millersburg where you may stop at the depot-turned-museum, and then on to Onaway, Tower, and Aloha. Lunch can be purchased at the Aloha village store. The day will end in Cheboygan where the group will stay at the Best Western. A group dinner is being planned at Pier 33 and, if our plans work out, you’ll be transported to the restaurant by boat. Matt Friday will provide an overview of Cheboygan’s history during the dinner.

Sunday will begin with breakfast on your own in Cheboygan before you ride the North Central State Trail and North Western State Trail for 50 miles (through Mackinaw City, Pellston, Brutus and Alanson). Lunch will be on your own at one of several restaurants along the NWST. The tour will end in Petoskey, where you’ll celebrate by dipping your front tire in Lake Michigan. The conclusion of the ride will be close to where your car is parked.

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Included in the tour cost is transportation to Alpena, day-to-day transport of any gear you don’t carry on your bike, SAG support, and volunteer riders to assure you a safe and enjoyable ride. Lodging will also be included. Meals included in the registration price will be dinner on Friday and breakfast and dinner on Saturday. The total number of riders, exclusive of volunteers, will not exceed 25.  The cost for the tour is $425.

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Questions about the tour can be directed to our office via email or by calling (231) 348-8280. Registration form can be found here.