Cycling in our National Lakeshore

[Gerald Wilgus]

Yesterday we had breakfast out then hopped on the Heritage trail in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. It goes through wooded and hilly terrain past recreation opportunities and historic areas. One hill, a 13% grade, I need my granny gear to crank up with.

On the trail with my spouse ahead of me.


Approaching the main dunes.


The dune climb this is the first ridge of seven one must climb over to get to Lake Michigan.


The newly renovated Sleeping Bear Inn in Glen Haven. Now open for business.


The National Park store across the street from the inn. This was once the house of DH Day, a lumber baron.

 

[Mary Terry]

I've read that the beach at Sleeping Bear is wonderful. Most people think of beaches as being along oceans, but the Great Lakes beaches are freshwater beaches. Beautiful!

 

[Gerald Wilgus]

I've read that the beach at Sleeping Bear is wonderful. Most people think of beaches as being along oceans, but the Great Lakes beaches are freshwater beaches. Beautiful!

Exactly. The beaches on our unsalted coast running from the Indiana Dunes to the Strait of Mackinac are lovely. In some places like Nordhouse Dunes one may camp at the treeline to enjoy an expanse of beach all to yourself.

Many people do not realize that our Great Lakes are inland seas and people from drylands or living on ponds where you can see the far shore do not have respect for the power of these lakes and some die from their foolishness.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

Or die in commercial ship sinking. A lot of them.

 

[Gerald Wilgus]

Or die in commercial ship sinking. A lot of them.

Just off an area I hike are the wrecks of the old sailing vessels the Menominee and Marinette which were converted to barges and under tow when a storm blew them across the lake in 1917 from near Wisconsin when the hawsers broke. They were broken apart when they grounded on the outer sand bar and pounded by waves with loss of life.

I have great respect for the lifesaving service on our great lakes whose motto was “You have to go out, but you don't have to come back.” Such bravery!

 

[Aspychata]

Thank you for sharing. Perfect day, no doubt about it.

 

[Au Naturel]

Used to live in Michigan. Sleeping Bear is a gorgeous area.

 

[Shevek]

On my first bike tour I took the ferry across Lake Huron from Tobormory to Manitoulin island. The ferry was 300' (90 m) long, It was a far rougher crossing than any of the dozens of the ferries I took around southern BC. I doubt that BC ferries would have sailed, and the Halifax/Newfoundland line would have definitely tied the cars down. The whole time I was vacationing the ferry was being patched up from being blown into the dock on the return trip. My return, with the harbour-safe wind direction was also wild. Spray was getting all the way to the stern end of the top deck, and up in the bow, the cars were rising and falling on their springs about a foot (30cm) as I danced over the crests under about .1g to get a snack from my bike. I also got to see an island in a lake on an island in a lake. There are lots of wrecks to dive on all over the Great Lakes.

 

[Au Naturel]

I also got to see an island in a lake on an island in a lake. There are lots of wrecks to dive on all over the Great Lakes.

Let's see if I remember this correctly...

Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world.
Isle Royale is the largest island on the largest freshwater lake in the world.
Siskiwit Lake is the largest lake on the largest island in the largest freshwater lake in the world.
Ryan Island is the largest island on the largest lake on the largest island in the largest freshwater lake in the world.
And on that island, there is a seasonal lake known as Moose Flats. It is rumored to have a boulder (Moose Rock) that sticks up as a tiny island, though I've never seen it on a map or Google Earth.

If that is true, it would be the largest island on the largest lake on the largest island on the largest lake on the largest island on the largest freshwater lake in the world.

 

[Judge]

Looks like a great place for cycling.

 

[Gerald Wilgus]

On my first bike tour I took the ferry across Lake Huron from Tobormory to Manitoulin island. The ferry was 300' (90 m) long, It was a far rougher crossing than any of the dozens of the ferries I took around southern BC. I doubt that BC ferries would have sailed, and the Halifax/Newfoundland line would have definitely tied the cars down. The whole time I was vacationing the ferry was being patched up from being blown into the dock on the return trip. My return, with the harbour-safe wind direction was also wild. Spray was getting all the way to the stern end of the top deck, and up in the bow, the cars were rising and falling on their springs about a foot (30cm) as I danced over the crests under about .1g to get a snack from my bike. I also got to see an island in a lake on an island in a lake. There are lots of wrecks to dive on all over the Great Lakes.

As you experienced, conditions on the Great Lakes can be pretty bad and that is why we refer to them as inland seas. Conditions depend on the speed and wind direction. When I kayak on lake Michigan, I pay attention to the wind. With hundreds of miles of fetch in a north or south wind, I will not even attempt to launch, or head out from protected bays.

 

[Au Naturel]

As you experienced, conditions on the Great Lakes can be pretty bad and that is why we refer to them as inland seas. Conditions depend on the speed and wind direction. When I kayak on lake Michigan, I pay attention to the wind. With hundreds of miles of fetch in a north or south wind, I will not even attempt to launch, or head out from protected bays.

 

[Gerald Wilgus]

I remember the Fitzgerald, and dangerous Novembers are a thing on our inland seas. The Maritime Sailors Cathedral I passed many times. It is right next to the entrance to the Detroit - Windsor tunnel.

 

[tlc]

Thanks for posting this. I'm a couple hours away. Only time I've been to the dunes is 1987 for my 5th grade class trip. I hear nowadays it's a madhouse, but I'd like to go back sometime when it's not busy. Don't think I'd accomplish the climb this time lol. The bike trail would be nice.

 

[Gerald Wilgus]

@tic There are plenty of places in the Lakeshore and nearby where things are not a madhouse. South of Frankfort/Elberta there is Greenpoint Dunes and Baldy trails which are wonderful hikes and at Greenpoint I have taken friends there where we have had the beach to ourselves. The Betsy River Pathway is also a nice Bike trail running from Frankfort to Beulah.