"The Circle Tour" ride around Lake Superior

[Mazo EMS2]

Have many from S/L done this ride? I'm considering it for this coming fall.... maybe. Already planning to do Spyderfest and Deadwood, so we'll see how things shake out. This ride allows us to take the bike the whole way without trailering at all. Haven't even really talked to the Mrs about it. Curious how many days you allowed to do it in and where you wish you would have spent more time. We're in southern WI. so we'd likely go up around from the west and around. Is a week long enough to take in the sights? Just looking for some ideas I guess....

[ARtraveler]

The western route is best. The prime area of the ride is MN North Shore and Canadian North Shore. The return trip (HWY 2) is not anywhere near the Lake, but offers some good views of the UP. Fall is the most beautiful time with the colors on. It can be cool though. Lake Superior never gets any warmer than 40 degrees and an off lake breeze acts like an air conditioner being turned on. Enjoy

PS. On your way there, you may take HWY 13 to Ashland. Keep going NW across the top of the Bayfield Peninsula. That will give you some beautiful views of Lake Superior's South Shore that others do not get to see.

At least a week is good. Lodging may be an issue if you go during fall prime.

[GOZFST]

Figure 4-5 days to allow for sight seeing. Stop at Aerostich in Duluth and if Betty's Pies is still there stop there it's near Two Harbors. Split Rock Lighthouse is cool and take a ride out on the Gun Flint Trail and stop in Tower and see the Tower Sudan Mine tour. You go down an old open elevator at an angle that will make your stomach drop. The open pit miners are interesting as well.

[vrodrjs]

My wife and I did the Lake Michigan Circle. We went up to the southeastern part of Superior for a night and the next day. Take plenty of mosquito spray for sure.

[DGoebel]

yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, what they said, we've not gone all the way around, but we've done the UP around the west end back just past Thunderbay splitting it in different trips though, Duluth to Silver Islet, ON and have done SSTM to Copper Harbor on separate trips, each of those trips took 4 days really enjoying all the sightseeing and things like the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore boat tour, or the re-enactments at Grand Portage National Monument. From GP to SSTM looks like a great ride as well.

[Mad Mac]

The western route is best IMO. I have done this on a GW back in 2007 and the only issue that I remember was I d/n fill up in WAWA and it was a long way for fuel. My advise is to fil up in WAWA and you should be able to make it into Sault Stmarie without any issues. Also watch out for moose, a trucker hit one in front of us outside of Thunder Bay and I had steaks hanging from my hi-way pegs! P.S. Blood is real slick when it's fresh on the pavement also. Have Fun! Mad Mac

[Indyron]

See
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/s...=Lake+Superior

for more details.

[ARtraveler]

yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, what they said, we've not gone all the way around, but we've done the UP around the west end back just past Thunderbay splitting it in different trips though, Duluth to Silver Islet, ON and have done SSTM to Copper Harbor on separate trips, each of those trips took 4 days really enjoying all the sightseeing and things like the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore boat tour, or the re-enactments at Grand Portage National Monument. From GP to SSTM looks like a great ride as well.

Pictured rocks is right on. Worth the time and $$.

[Indyron]

See
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/s...=Lake+Superior

for more details.

We round tripped from Petoskey MI and took 11 days. Total miles was about 1,350. Ride from Wawa to the Sue was the best.

[rustynail51]

have enjoyed many trips around lake superior and lake Michigan both are great rides plan your trip according to how much you want to see you can't see it all in just a few days. if all you want to view is the scenery from the seat of your spyder you can do the trip in three or four days comfortably if you want to stop at any of the attractions in Duluth or state parks along the north shore plan on some hiking time the trip isn't about how many miles you put on but about enjoying the beauty the great lakes have to offer enjoy

[JP58]

We did it last July with 2 other couples and spent 7 days. Sunday thru Saturday. about 250 miles a day average. We seen a few sights in Canada. A gorge and a nice waterfall. There is a Indian trading post retail shops. Make sure you get gas there. Not many gas stations out of the big city's. Only took 2 days from Sue to Thunder bay. You see some water but not much of the lake unless you get off the main road. Most of the sights are in the north shore of MN. We live near Madison WI. also. Make sure you book Hotel's They fill up fast June thru Sept. We stayed in Sault Sainte Marie Canada side and Marathon Canada. Than a casino in Grand Portage MN. Even the ones in the USA were hard to find so book now. Fun trip.

[PrairieSpyder]

This ryde is on my bucket list.

I'm curious though. Does "around from the west" mean clockwise?

[Indyron]

This ryde is on my bucket list.

I'm curious though. Does "around from the west mean clockwise?

Ride clockwise, that way Superior is always on your right.

[rustynail51]

there are many pull outs and attractions along Minnesota's north shore it is much easier if you have the lake on your right side easy off easy on traffic is at times heavy especially during tourist season so anything that makes your trip easier will also make it more enjoyable.

[jnt]

Have done the tour several times. Once in 2 days, but prefer taking longer. We prefer th clockwise run. Several to many stops/side trips depending on tastes. Rainbow Falls, between Thunder Bay and Marathon, is well worth a stop, get off and short hike.

Oh, if you haven’t been to High Falls (MN/Canada border) also worth the short hike.

[ARtraveler]

This ryde is on my bucket list.

I'm curious though. Does "around from the west mean clockwise?

Yes.

[bscofield84]

Did that trip a couple of years ago with some friends. Had a great time and great scenery. From my place in Aitkin MN round trip, I had about 1650 miles. We went the 1st full week of August, Saturday thru the following Saturday. Will the cooler temps off the lake, we rode with long sleeves/sweatshirt or light jacket everyday. Went up thru Duluth up to Grand Portage to enter Canada. We had a couple short days, and a couple longer days. Depending what our sight seeing plans were. If you type in Circle Tour for Superior, they give great references and places to see. Could have taken two days off for some of the dinging around we did, but for the first trip it was a good run. The one wish I had if I do that trip again is to have a GoPro camera for the helmet. Some of the sights I would have like photo's on, were out of sight before there was a safe place on the road to stop. Good luck on your plans.