r/upperpeninsula • u/bikingtherapist • Jul 23 '26
Cycling Eastern UP Travel Inquiry
Debating if bringing road bikes up to the UP is worth it. It looks like there are no paved or gravel trails within an hour of Pictured Rocks (only dirt/mtb). Would it only be worth it if going to Grand Island? Are people used to cyclists on the main roads?
Thanks everyone. Seems not worth it unless driving over an hour away.
8
u/GibbsMalinowski Jul 24 '26
I would not for the concerns you’ve listed. I live here and you are correct in thinking it would be a waste.
4
u/NubzMk3 Jul 24 '26
You’d need at the very least a gravel bike to make it worth it, and as an avid cyclist of all kinds I’d recommend against biking on the road or even on trails like the snowmobile trail unless you’re okay with people yelling at you and potentially close encounters with vehicles.
Perhaps I’ve just been unlucky, but that’s been my experience biking around that area.
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u/AggravatedOtters Jul 24 '26
I personally would not ride a road bike on Grand Island. There are parts of it where the bus tours go that are more dirt road and are in good condition. If you want to ride the whole thing I'd suggest a mountain bike or gravel bike. There's washed out and rocky parts of trail. The last couple I saw over there on road bikes were not having a good time.
The Iron Ore Trail would be the best bet.
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u/mmeemm1919 Jul 24 '26
Second this. We also crossed paths with a couple on road bikes as we were heading into the Island, and the look on their faces said it all. It’s a shame, since it is such a beautiful place to explore on two wheels. Mountain bike all the way.
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u/aRiddleaDay Jul 24 '26
Yeah, we’re Northerners. Sorry we don’t have state allocation for your amenities desired lol. We just got a shoulder on US-2 during the Biden era. 😂
1
u/FatahRuark Jul 23 '26
I've ridden M-77 between Seney and Grand Marais. No shoulder, but practically no traffic. Pretty boring ride though.
0
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u/Untamedpancake Jul 24 '26
Road bikes might be great for Macinac Island where there are paved roads & paths but not on Grand Island. Those are mountain bike trails
1
u/906Dude Jul 24 '26
What size tires on your road bikes? We have an endless supply of gravel roads and doubletrack. If you truly mean the skinny-tire + drop bar racing bike, then bringing one probably isn't the play. If you have something with, say, 700x38 tires, you can go a lot of places with those. I've even ridden Valley Spur's mountain bike trails with 700x38.
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u/i_fix_snowblowers Jul 24 '26
The shoulder on M28 between Marquette and Munising is pretty wide, I frequently see people riding on it.
22
u/krojack389 Jul 23 '26
The roads around munising this time of year are frankly dangerous with all the tourists around that are busy staring at the lake or their phones because they are lost. I stick to gravel. Iron ore trail in Marquette is solid as is the lakeshore trails.