Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail Update

If you haven’t checked out the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail there’s even more reason to head out and enjoy a walk or bike ride (or ski in the winter). The trail now runs all the way from Glen Arbor to Empire, with an addition of approximately 5 miles opening last weekend (this new section starts at about mile 4.5 on the route map below). Until this newest section opened, the trail coursed 4.5 miles through the woods & dunes from Glen Arbor to the Dune Climb. The length of the entire trail now is a shade over 9.5 miles (editor’s note: the trail does stop about a mile or so before Empire, but it ends at Lacore Road which runs right into town).

The newly opened trail to Empire feels hillier than the original section (& appears that way based on the elevation profile below), but there were plenty of casual riders out on their cruiser bikes chugging up the hills. Maybe my legs were constricted by all the spandex I was sporting. Next time out I’m going with tube socks and cargo shorts. The trail also crosses North Bar Road so you can bike to North Bar Lake without having to deal with the tiny parking lot full of tourist type folks.

Additionally, BATA is again offering their Bike and Ride program this summer. For the normal fare of $3 you can pack your bike on the bus and take it up to Empire and Glen Arbor, ride the trail one way (or both), and then hop back on the bus afterwards (stay tuned to this blog for more info on that program soon).

I can’t say enough about how beautiful it is along the trail. It changes between the backwoods of the National Lakeshore; grassy, flower-covered hills; and sandy, rolling dunes. And to be able to get a solid cycle in (19 miles for an out and back) without putting your wheels on a road is pretty sweet. For our ride last weekend we started in Glen Arbor and rode the entire length to Empire before turning back. On the return we hopped off the trail at the Dune Climb (at mile 15 on the route map above) and hugged Little and Big Glen Lakes before cruising into Glen Arbor. Post ride chow at Joe’s Friendly Tavern in Empire and then a bonfire at Empire Beach made for a pretty great northern Michigan day.

Empire Beach Sunset by Bonfire

Cycling OMP

Unfortunately it took me a couple decades to learn that I live in an area that has amazing cycling routes to explore. I spent my youth running around and banging heads with other helmeted individuals instead of enjoying the blissful feel of the wind on my face as I cruised along on my bike with my drive-train humming beneath me. It wasn’t until I’d accumulated a number of injuries & could barely walk until I looked to the bicycle, the world’s greatest invention, as an activity. And now I’m obsessed. Granted, I spend more of my time on the wooded trails, but it’s tough to beat a nice ride along one of our beautiful lakeside roads.

There’s always going to be a debate as to which peninsula is the better ride, Old Mission or Leelanau, not to mention the roads around Torch Lake in Antrim County and countless other routes. All of these areas are worth your time to head out and explore. Bluff Road in particular on the east side of Old Mission Peninsula has some amazing views of East Bay that are tough to beat. Rides on OMP are as easy or difficult as you want to make them. An out and back cruise along either bay is relatively flat or criss-cross back and forth between bays to add some challenging elevation changes. If you’re up for a longer ride, the roads towards the north end of OMP are more remote and offer some great scenery.

After a long winter the weather has finally turned the corner so I definitely recommend taking advantage of it with a cruise out OMP. It’ll be 20 degrees and snowing before you know it!

Roll out along East Bay to Bluff Rd, cross on Gray, then back on Peninsula Dr.

East Bay along Bluff Road