Lake Superior trip

W

willyt

Well-known member
I'm planning a trip for the first 2 weeks in July. I was thinking about travelling up the east side of Superior on #17 and coming back down the west side via the States. Any advice or tips would be welcome.

Thanks, WillyT
 
Wawa to Thunder Bay is a great ride. I'm not sure this is a two week trip though unless you plan on staying in a couple of place for some extended time.
 
Two weeks sounds like too much time for such a relatively short trip. Just circumnavigating Great Lakes will be pretty boring too, Unless you plan to make some detours and spend more time in a few places. Northern shore of Lake Superior has some amazing places to stop and smell the roses at. I would go through Manitoulin Island to skip the boring part to Sudbury. Prepare to ride the speed limit on Trans-Can...
 
Thanks for the tips. I don't plan on spending the whole two weeks on the Superior trip but I would like to ride around the lake. I was hoping that someone may have some tips on lodging or any must see sights. I'd also like to hear from anyone that has followed the lake back down through the American side.
Thanks, WillyT
 
Lodging is relatively easy to find, I actually wouldn't worry about it. Every little town has a cadre of hotels / motels, I wouldn't worry about reservations at all. Just decide when you want to stop riding, point at a dot on the map and aim for it. You'll be fine. I was.

I would prepare for weather. The weather on the North shore of Superior is quite unpredictable. Rain, cold, you name it - even in the middle of the summer. Though it is beautiful up there, the roads are nothing to write home about - from a motorcycling perspective, it's not a super ride, but if you've not done it before, why not.
 
I will be watching this thread because I am considering the same trip. I have driven around the north side of Superior many times, but have never come back through the US.

The suggestion to cross over to Manitoulin Island would also be part of my planned trip, since I could head straight north from Orangeville. If you are going after June 22nd, be sure to have a reservation for the ferry. You can book online here: http://www.chicheemaun.com/ontarioferries/english/fares.html.
 
oomis said:
I would prepare for weather. The weather on the North shore of Superior is quite unpredictable. Rain, cold, you name it - even in the middle of the summer. Though it is beautiful up there, the roads are nothing to write home about - from a motorcycling perspective, it's not a super ride, but if you've not done it before, why not.
Click to expand...

Second that. I had a pretty miserable evening and next morning with 14 degrees, pouring rain and dense fog in the middle of July last year. Roads would be fantastic if you could ride them at fun speeds. In the absence of that, enjoy the scenery and stop to smell the roses.

Sunny, but not for long:
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This is what you can get into:
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I wouldn't count on swimming here. the air temp is 14 and the water is much colder.
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This would be an awesome ride pretty much anywhere else except in Ontario. Speed limit on trans-Canada is 80.
IMG_8650.JPG
 
I came back from Manitoba via 17 four years ago. Scenery is great. Gas availability is OK but don't let get too low unless you know the turf. Deer and moose can happen. Some restaurants have weird hours so carry a few granola bars and water bottles just in case. Lousy shoulders on the roads in a lot of places. Cell reception spotty. Apparerntly the stretch from the Sault to Sudbury is OPP hunting grounds.

Relaxing ride until I got south of Barrie. I wonder why.

Stayed in Wawa (Algoma Inn?) older but clean, OK blue collar restaurants nearby.
 
Did this last year, and I wasn't pushing it at all and had it done in 7 days, with quite a lot of stopping for pics.
From TO though I'm sure you have further to go. From London you just head up to the Sault thru Michigan.

North Shore in Canada was much more interesting, but also quite a bit more $$$ than travelling in the US.

You could check some of the pics in here.

http://www.gtamotorcycle.com/vbforum/showthread.php?145480-Lake-Superior-circumnavigation
 
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Thanks to everyone for the tips and the amazing pics. I've toured Great Britain, Europe, N Africa and the east coast of Canada and the States, but this will be my first solo tour. I'm looking forward to a relaxing cruise and some great scenery.
Thanks again, WillyT.
 
The Northern part is the best for scenery and some wildlife spotting. Between the Soo and Wawa we saw a couple of moose and a bear. The most dangerous thing was folks pulling off or stopping right in front of you to look at the wildlife. It was also pretty on the US side between Thunder Bay and just before Duluth. It got boring from there on the way back, but if you are a history buff there is lots on the south shore with all the mining and shipping.

Not sure where you are starting from, but if from the GTA you can make Wawa (a long day) and stay at the Motel mentioned above, there are few to pick from in Wawa. We made Thunderbay for the next night, at a big Hotel, I forgot the name now, but nothing special. You can make Marquette for the next night, it is a big place and lots of motels/hotels to choose from. Gas, food, hotels are cheaper in the US.
I found the view better doing the tour in the clockwise direction. The lake is on your right that way and you can pull in some of the scenic points quickly. The weather can change very quickly. I woke up in a downpour in Wawa, and within an hour it was sunny and humid for the rest of the day. Then froze the next morning leaving Thunder bay. So be prepared for the weather change as the cold wind blows off the lake.

Any time I have a chance to go out West, I always try to include going around Superior, anything to miss Chicago. Anything within 200 miles of that city is wild.

Good luck with your planning.
 
if your leaving the first of july, I am heading that way on the way to Vancouver. we could ride together if you want up untill thunder Bay. PM if your interested.

Edit: i have driven south of superior and it is fairly straight and boring not sure if there are better roads further south in the same line, but the road i drove was .. Zzzzzz...

Cheers,
Geoff
 
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Did the trip to Thunder Bay last year! Really enjoyed it! Make it a point to stop at the "Wood Carvers" near WAWA, very biker friendly! We were wet from rain when we got there, he offered free coffee, a place to dry your gloves, etc. and a dry place to sit and wait out the rain! We had no problem finding motels, etc. The Comfort Inn in T-Bay let us park bike in front of office so they could keep an eye on it, although it didn't seem to be a problem at all! I have driven in my truck the trip from T-Bay down through Duluth, MN and have been accross hwy 2 towards michigan a few times, some places are pretty desolate, so watch your fuel. Of course if your that far out---might as well make the trip to J&P in Iowa and spend some more money! LOL Then cut back across to above Milwalkee and take the ferry over to Ludington Michigan! That way you avoid the Chicago traffic - get a nice rest and still have good ride home! hope this helps! I'm going to east coast this year, but plan on that trip mabey next year again!
 
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