The Northwoods Route
Before the first snows of winter blanketed the Upper Midwest in the fall of 2019, we scouted more than 800 miles of potential options for the Northwoods Route. When completed, this route will be roughly 700 miles in length, primarily following gravel roads and relatively smooth two-tracks through thick forests along countless lakes of all sizes. Singletrack networks along the way will add options for riders looking for more technical riding opportunities.
The diversity of land use, scenery, and riding across northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan is magnificent. The small communities and both new and established trail systems along the way all have very unique flavors. And combined conservation and recreation visions in some areas along the way are heading in a new direction that addresses the spectrum of stakeholder needs and desires.
Interested in being one of our Route Scouts in 2020?
We're excited to invite volunteer scouts onto the preliminary Northwoods Route next year. We rolled out our Route Scouts program a couple years ago during the final stages of the Wild West Route development, and now is your chance to help out with the final stages of the Northwoods Route. See the form at the bottom of this page to sign up for more information as it becomes available in early 2020. Although extensive reconnaissance of the route has already been conducted, we are looking for a cadre of veteran bikepackers who are eager to ride the route, provide feedback, additional assessment and information about points of interest and services along the way, share photos, and potentially help out in some other ways.
As of late March, we've closed the sign-up period for Route Scouts. If you're interested in helping but, please send us an email with a bit of information about your bikepacking background, when you're considering riding some or all of the route, and how you're interested in helping out with these final stages of route development.
What's the ideal time of year to ride?
The full loop can be ridden from mid-May until late September. Sections of the route could be rideable earlier or later in the season, but the ferry connection required for the full loop only runs from late spring until mid autumn.
The diversity of land use, scenery, and riding across northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan is magnificent. The small communities and both new and established trail systems along the way all have very unique flavors. And combined conservation and recreation visions in some areas along the way are heading in a new direction that addresses the spectrum of stakeholder needs and desires.
Interested in being one of our Route Scouts in 2020?
We're excited to invite volunteer scouts onto the preliminary Northwoods Route next year. We rolled out our Route Scouts program a couple years ago during the final stages of the Wild West Route development, and now is your chance to help out with the final stages of the Northwoods Route. See the form at the bottom of this page to sign up for more information as it becomes available in early 2020. Although extensive reconnaissance of the route has already been conducted, we are looking for a cadre of veteran bikepackers who are eager to ride the route, provide feedback, additional assessment and information about points of interest and services along the way, share photos, and potentially help out in some other ways.
As of late March, we've closed the sign-up period for Route Scouts. If you're interested in helping but, please send us an email with a bit of information about your bikepacking background, when you're considering riding some or all of the route, and how you're interested in helping out with these final stages of route development.
What's the ideal time of year to ride?
The full loop can be ridden from mid-May until late September. Sections of the route could be rideable earlier or later in the season, but the ferry connection required for the full loop only runs from late spring until mid autumn.
