General Overview of the Northwoods Route

The ~600-mile-long Northwoods Route is a circumnavigation of the western half of Lake Superior, primarily following gravel roads, relatively smooth two-tracks, rail trails, and short sections of pavement through thick forests and along countless lakes of all sizes. This loop has been created to be inviting to riders on both mountain or gravel bikes, and riders will find that resupply options are relatively frequent along the way. Singletrack alternates and trail networks along the way offer options for riders looking for more technical riding opportunities - loaded or unloaded - and to experience the many unique trail systems built near communities along the way. 

The loop is closed by utilizing the passenger ferries that travel to Isle Royale National Park to cross Lake Superior. This connection requires some planning since the ferries do not run daily, and the lake crossing will require an overnight stay on Isle Royale (see the FAQ below for more information on these ferries; note that bikes are not allowed anywhere on Isle Royale other than at the docks and main campgrounds). We also encourage riders to spend an extra day or more on Isle Royale to experience some of the many miles of hiking trails.

Route development made possible in part with generous support from

The way that we speak of the land is constrained by the English language. To begin with a land acknowledgement would lead me to be misunderstood; it is to the best of my ability that I recognize and honor the ancestral stories woven atop the land traversed by the Northwoods Route by sharing some stories.
 
This is my home; this has been the home to my relations going back many, many lifetimes. Before we called this home, it was home to the Cree, Dakota, Fox, Menominee and others.
 
-- Alexandera Houchin, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe

One of the chapters in the Northwoods Route guidebook shares the aforementioned stories that provide an important but seldom-heard perspective on the lands across which we ride and a very brief glimpse into colonialism in this region and the tremendous impact on Indigenous groups. We urge everyone to read these short stories before setting out on the Northwoods Route.

Click on the route or alternates in the map above for more detailed views; note that the waypoints included here are a small subset of the full ~350-waypoint dataset available with the route guidebook

Northwoods Route guidebook, downloads, and updates

To learn more about and download the most up-to-date  Northwoods Route GPS data and the guidebook, please visit the Northwoods Route resources page.

For any route updates, please refer to this page.

The Northwoods Route at a Glance

The Northwoods Route is broken down into segments that are bounded simply by state boundaries - Minnesota (Segment 1), Michigan (Segment 2), and Wisconsin (Segment 3). All segments can be traveled in either direction, but segment descriptions are presented for clockwise travel.

Northwoods Route segments overview

• Segment 1 (Minnesota): Duluth to Grand Portage
  • 217 miles / 7,600’ elevation gain
  • Average physical difficulty* (1-10): 4-5
  • Average technical difficulty* (1-10): 3-4
• Segment 2 (Michigan): Copper Harbor to WI border at Ironwood
  • 226 miles / 8,000’ elevation gain
  • Average physical difficulty* (1-10): 4-5
  • Average technical difficulty* (1-10): 4-5
• Segment 3 (Wisconsin): MI border at Ironwood to MN border at Duluth
  • 189 miles / 4,000’ elevation gain
  • Average physical difficulty* (1-10): 4-5
  • Average technical difficulty* (1-10): 3-4

Northwoods Route Alternates
Jackpot singletrack alternate (Minnesota)

• Detours to include the relatively new Jackpot Trail. This trail is rated moderate.
• 35 miles / 2,700’ elevation gain
• 4 miles shorter and 1,900' more climbing than the main route
• Roughly 50% of the alternate is singletrack
• Dispersed camping is available along much of this alternate.

Duluth Traverse singletrack alternate (Minnesota and Wisconsin)

• Detours to include the impressive Duluth Traverse singletrack. Most of the trails on this traverse are rated easy to moderate.
• 62 miles / 3,300’ elevation gain
  
• 44 miles longer and 3,000' more climbing than the main route
  
• Roughly 60% of the alternate is singletrack
• Camping opportunities are limited along this alternate.

CAMBA singletrack alternate (Wisconsin)

• Detours to include the Ojibwe-Dirt Candy-Danky Dank-Treasure's Trace-Hildebrand-Rock Lake sequence of trails. These trails are all rated moderate to difficult and are all part of the much larger Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association (CAMBA) trail network.
• 25 miles / 1,600’ elevation gain
  
• 10 miles longer and 1,000' more climbing than the main route
  
• Roughly 90% of the alternate is singletrack
• Dispersed camping is available along much of this alternate.
  
  

Twin Lakes alternate (Michigan)

• Detours to a public beach and Agate Beach Campground on the Lake Superior shoreline. The entirety of this alternate is paved or gravel.
• 22 miles / 800’ elevation gain
• 11 miles longer and 600' more climbing than the main route
• Dispersed camping is available along several sections of this alternate.
  
  

* Click here to view the BPR route rating scale

Segment-by-Segment descriptions of the Northwoods Route

Segment 1: Minnesota - Duluth to Grand Portage
The North Shore of Lake Superior is an especially beautiful landscape - cobbly beaches, long clifflines, narrow canyons, and the uplands that climb away from the shoreline. This segment begins in the city of Duluth on paved recreation path before climbing inland and out of town on a series of quiet paved and gravel roads. Duluth features numberous public transportation options and any and all services one could need before embarking on a trip. Farther up the North Shore from Duluth, the route drops back down to the coast and follows paved recreation path past numerous state parks. At Silver Bay, riders will head inland once again, climbing into the highlands on primarily gravel roads, some rougher than others, and past countless small lakes. North of Finland, the route enters Superior National Forest, and dispersed camping opportunities become plentiful between there and the final miles of Segment 1. Riders will back to Lake Superior at the bustling town of Grand Marais before heading inland once again toward Devils Track Lake and the Canadian border on some of the roughest roads of the segment. The final miles of the segment cross the Grand Portage Reservation of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe, and the segment ends at Grand Portage (Gichi-Onigaming). Here, riders can take either the Voyageur II or Sea Hunter II ferry to Isle Royale National Park. (Photos below courtesy of Kurt Stafki.)

Segment 2: Michigan - Copper Harbor to Wisconsin border at Ironwood
The Michigan segment traverses ancient but still-rugged mountain belts and is the most demanding (and arguably scenic) segment of the Northwoods Route. For riders coming across from Isle Royale National Park on the Isle Royale Queen IV ferry, Copper Harbor is the starting point for Segment 2 (riders coming across on the Ranger III ferry will land in Houghton). Copper Harbor is nestled on the northernmost end of Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula, and from this small touristy community, the route winds its way south on logging roads, a few short but steep sections of 4x4 tracks, and gravel roads. Closer to Calumet, the riding becomes easier on rail trail toward the small city of Houghton. Continuing south, pleasant gravel roads, more rail trail, and short sections of pavement lead toward the mountains around Greenland. The rockiest, most rugged section of the entire route sits between Greenland and Rockland, but beyond Rockland, the forest roads become smoother once again. Reaching the Lake Superior shoreline again, the route enters the beautiful Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Nearly the entirety of the riding from there to the end of the segment near Ironwood is paved. The only alternate along this segment is the Twin Lakes Alternate, a short paved and gravel option that takes riders out to a beach and campground on the coast.

Segment 3: Wisconsin - Michigan border at Ironwood to Minnesota border at Duluth
Wisconsin is the shortest, least rugged, and most remote of the Northwoods Route segments. The vast majority of the riding is on gravel roads (aside from between Solon Springs and Duluth),  services are relatively far apart, and natural water sources are a bit less frequent. Leaving Ironwood, Michigan, the route crosses into Wisconsin and enters the mostly undeveloped Ashland County Forest lands. The roads get rougher and narrower before gradually becoming better again toward the Chequamegon National Forest boundary. Once in the national forest, the topography  becomes much more challenging as the roads climb over and squirm around ridges and hills of glacial deposits. The small town of Cable, a mountain bike destination due to the local CAMBA trail system, is the first community along this segment. North of Cable, the riding becomes faster and smoother all the way to Solon Springs, although short sections can be quite sandy when dry. North of Solon Springs, the route zigzags toward Superior and Duluth on mostly paved backroads. The CAMBA Alternate offers a challenging singletrack option east of Cable, and the Duluth Traverse Alternate turns off the main route south of Superior to reach the southern terminus of the Duluth Traverse singletrack. (Photos below courtesy of David Schlabowske.)

Frequently Asked Questions

• What kind of bike should I ride? This route can be comfortably ridden on a mountain bike or a gravel bike with moderately wide tires (45 mm width would be great). A mountain bike will be a bit slower on all the paved and smooth gravel roads, and a gravel bike will make the rocky and rough sections in northernmost Minnesota and in Michigan a bit more challenging and uncomfortable. Any bike will be a compromise in one place or another.
• Can I ride the loop in either direction? Yes, most certainly so, and from any starting point.
• What’s the ideal time of year to ride this loop? The riding season for the Northwoods Route is long, generally from early May to early October (or perhaps a bit longer in some years depending on weather and snowmelt). Mid-summer can be especially hot and humid, and nights in May and October can be quite chilly. Biting flies and mosquitoes are generally less of an annoyance in the shoulder seasons. And finally, the Isle Royale ferries typically run from mid-May to late September, so for riders planning on riding the loop in its entirety, those ferry schedules obviously control the beginning and end of the riding window.
• How long will the loop take to ride? The full loop likely will take most riders 9-12+ days to complete (without any of the alternates). At a pace of 60 miles per day, the riding would take ~10 days. But beyond that, the hop across Lake Superior via Isle Royale requires two ferries and an overnight stay on Isle Royale, adding about a day and a half to the riding time.
• How do the Isle Royale ferries work? There are four ferries that travel to Isle Royale, two to/from Grand Portage, MN to Windigo on the southern tip of Isle Royale, one to/from Rock Harbor to Houghton, MI, and one to/from Rock Harbor on the northern tip of Isle Royale to Copper Harbor, MI.  It will require two ferries to cross Lake Superior, an overnight stay on Isle Royale (likely at the Rock Harbor campground), and a bit of planning based on ferry schedule since they do not operate on daily schedules. All carry bikes for an additional fee, and the total cost for tickets/fees is around $200 per person for the crossing (plus a small daily use fee and camping fee at Isle Royale National Park). We strongly recommend calling the ferry services in advance to make reservations and ensure that there is space for your bikes.
  • Voyageur II ferry: Runs from Grand Portage, MN to Windigo and then along the coastline of Isle Royale to Rock Harbor. This ferry is required to connect from one end of Isle Royale to the other. Operates annually from mid-May to the end of September. Riders can connect to Michigan on either the Queen IV ferry to Copper Harbor or the Ranger III ferry to Houghton.
  • Sea Hunter II ferry: Runs from Grand Portage, MN to Windigo. Operates annually from early June to early September. Riders using this ferry would need to also connect with the Voyageur II ferry to reach Rock Harbor and then the Queen IV or Ranger III ferry to reach Michigan. 
  • Queen IV ferry: Runs from Copper Harbor, MI to Rock Harbor on most days of the week during peak season. Operates annually from mid-May to the end of September. Riders using this ferry will need to then arrange a trip on the Voyageur II ferry to reach Grand Portage.
  • Ranger III ferry: Runs from Houghton, MI to Rock Harbor two days per week. Operates annually from late May to mid-September. Riders can connect to the Ranger II to connect to Grand Portage.
• I didn't think bikes were allowed in Isle Royale National Park. You're correct - they're not, except for at the dock areas and in the two main campgrounds. Bikes are not permitted on any trails in the park, and the National Park Service requests that riders walk their bikes between the dock and campground.
• Is there much water out there? Yes! Much of the route has plentiful natural water sources along the way. The Wisconsin segment is the driest. Many of the dispersed camping opportunities along the way do not have water sources immediately nearby, so riders should plan to have water carrying capacity to accommodate dry camps.
• How far apart are resupplies and towns? Generally, resupply options are encountered nearly every day.
• What should I expect for weather? Riders should be prepared for sub-freezing overnight lows during the shoulder seasons and warm temperatures and high humidity during the summer months. Average high temperatures for Duluth are 56, 66, 74, 73, and 64 °F for the months of May through September, but high temperatures can reach 90+ °F during the summer.
• How do I follow the route? The route is not marked on the ground in any way. We recommend that riders utilize the GPS data downloadable from the Bikepacking Roots website and a GPS such as the Garmin eTrex series or a mobile phone and mapping app. If riders want to carry paper maps, the best option for a network of this size is to photocopy pages from the state gazetteers from DeLorme or Benchmark.
• Is it easy to find places to camp? Yes and no. The route crosses long stretches of public lands in some areas where dispersed camping is permitted (such as in national and county forests). These areas are identified on our route segment overview maps that are included in the guidebooks. In Michigan, camping is also permitted in some of the private commercial forest lands (also noted on the maps). State park campgrounds obviously offer camping in most cases, but most of these campgrounds operate on a reservation system and fill up months in advance. And for the remainder of the route through private lands, private campgrounds are the only camping option. Please do not camp illegally (i.e., stealth camping) on private lands.
• Will there be bears? Or bugs? Yes and yes. Black bears are found along the entirety of this route, so please use responsible bear-camping practices. And biting insects (black flies, mosquitoes, and other biting flies) can be common along the route. We strongly recommend carrying a shelter that will keep those pesky swarms at bay.
• Do I need any special permits? No permits are needed for riding on this route.
• Why didn’t you include x road/trail/area in these routes? There are infinite possibilities for creating routes and adventures through this region. Our route choices include a broad range of considerations after extensive reconnaissance of different potential options and incorporating feedback from several dozen members of our Route Test Team who test rode sections of the route.
  
• Are you going to organize a race on any of the routes? We are not. Bikepacking Roots does not offer or endorse any competitive events.