The Sault Saint Marie Tour is an exciting 6 day tour of Northeast Wisconsin and Michigan's Eastern Upper Peninusula. This area is steeped in history of the logging, fishing and mining industries that led to the development of this region. The history, coupled with the natural beauty of the area make this a memorable journey.
Total Approximate Distance: 1,200 Miles
Total Estimated Riding Time: 27 Hours
Road Surface: Paved
Day 1: Baraboo to Oconto, WI: Starting in Baraboo, WI, this route heads North through Lake Delton, Wisconsin Dells, and Friendship, WI, before turning East towards Coloma. Stretch your legs at Ship Rock Wayside where the rock formations seem out of place among the surrounding farmlands. After Coloma, the route angles northeast and takes you past Rustic Road 102. We have identified this Rustic Road, but since it includes some gravel, our route bypasses it. Continuing along this route takes you to Dale (best town name ever) before turning straight north, over Rustic Road 61 to Shawano, then Oconto Falls and Oconot.
Day 1: 200 miles, 5 hours
Lake Delton: Grotto, Timme’s Mill
Wisconsin Dells
Coloma: Ship Rock Wayside
Rustic Road #102 - Gravel
Rustic Road #48 - Paved
Wild Rose: Springwater Saxeville Covered Bridge
Oconto: Copper Culture State Park
Day 2: Oconto, WI to Mackinaw City, MI. Day 2 follows the shoreline of Green Bay and Lake Michigan north and east for the entire day. There are museums and points of interest all along the entire route including the Great Peshtigo Fire Museum. In Menominee, MI, you can see ships being outfitted in the Menominee river. Towards the end of the day, the route follows the Lake Michigan shoreline offering many amazing viewpoints. This day’s ride finishes with the Mackinac Bridge crossing into Mackinaw City.
Day 2: 220 miles, 4.5 hours
Oconto: Beyer Home Museum, North Bayshore Co. Park.
Rustic Road #109 - Paved
Peshtigo: Peshtigo Fire Museum
Marinette: Marinette Logging Museum
Menominee: River Park Campground
Escanaba: Delta Co. Historical Society, Sandpoint Lighthouse, House of Ludington
Gladstone: Van Cleve Park
Naubinway: Cut River Roadside Park and Bridge
St. Ignace: Wooden Observation Tower
Mackinaw City: Mackinac Bridge, Colonial Michilimackinac, Fort Michilimackinac
Day 3: Mackinaw City to Sault Saint Marie. Starting out in Mackinaw City, this route crosses the Mackinac Bridge back to the Upper Peninsula and then follows the Lake Michigan shoreline all the way East to De Tour then on to Sault Ste. Marie. Day 3 was designed to be a shorter riding day to allow more sightseeing time in Sault Saint Marie.
Day 3: 120 miles, 2.75 hours
Mackinaw City: Mackinac Bridge, Colonial Michilimackinac, Fort Michilimackinac
St Ignace: Wawatam Lighthouse, Ste Anthony’s Rock, Museum of Ojibwa Culture, Castle Rock
Cedarville, Les Chaneaux Maritime Museum
De Tour: De Tour Historical Museum, Drummond Island Ferry
Sault Ste. Marie: Soo Locks, Soo Locks Visitor Center, Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge, Valley Camp Ship Tour, Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society, Saint Mary’s Falls Power Plant, Soo Locks Boat Tours
Day 4: Sault Saint Marie to Munising. Leaving Sault Ste Marie, the route hugs the Lake Superior shoreline to Paradise, MI and on to Whitefish Point. At Whitefish point there are scenic views of Lake Superior as well as museums and shops. To stay on paved roads, the route returns to Paradise before turning west. Outside of Paradise you can stop and view the Lower and Upper Falls on the Tahquamenon River. The next point of interest is the town of Grand Marais, MI where there are views of Lake Superior, a lighthouse and museum, Sable Falls, and a historic log slide location. After Grand Marais, it is another short ride to Munising where you can see Alger Falls, Wagner Falls, more historic sights and views of Lake Superior and Grand Island.
Day 4: 225 miles, 5 hours
Brimley: Point Iroquois Light Station
Paradise: Whitefish Point Lighthouse, Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, Tahquamenon State Park & Lower Falls, Tahquamenon Upper Falls,
Grand Marais: Lighthouse Keeper Museum, Gitche Gumee History Museum, Giant Pickle Barrel
Seney: Sable Falls
Munising: Alger Falls, Wegner Falls, Munising Front Range Lighthouse
Day 5: Munising to Crandon. On day 5 this route continues along the Lake Superior shoreline to the city of Marquette, MI. In Marquette, there are several historic sites and the beautiful Presque Isle Park. After Marquette, it is a short ride down to K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base. This is a really cool place to visit because they have static displays of several jet aircraft including a B-52 Bomber!! From K.I. Sawyer, the route weaves South and West to end the day in Crandon, WI.
Day 5: 200 miles, 4.75 hours
Munising: Bay Furnace Ruins
Au Train: Scott Falls
Marquette: Lakenenland Sculpture, Marquette Regional History Center, Former Holy Family Orphanage, Lower Harbor Ore Dock, Maritime Museum, Harbor Lighthouse, Presque Isle Park, Black Rocks, Sunset Point, Presque Isle Lookout
Laona: World’s Largest Soup Kettle, Lumberjack Steam Train
Crandon: Crandon Deer Park
Day 6: Crandon to Baraboo. The last day of this ride begins in Crandon, WI and follows scenic Highway 55 back to Shawano. After Shawano, it is a short ride to Little Falls. This is a neat spot on the Little Wolf River where there is a roadside park, some old foundations and a deer farm. Continuing South you pass through Waupaca, Wautoma and Montello to get to Portage. From Portage it is a short ride back to Baraboo and the end of the loop.
Day 6: 210 miles, 4.75 hours
Keshena: Keshena Falls, Menominee Veterans Park,
Rustic Road #23
Marion: Little Falls
Waupaca: Historic Train Station
Montello: John Muir County Park
Portage: Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters, Historic Indian Agency House
Baraboo: Circus World Museum, International Clown Hall of Fame
Sault Saint Marie Tour
If you are riding with a group, we ask that every person using our route for navigation purchase their own copy.
In order to encourage this, we are happy to offer a discount for group purchases. Please contact us after purchasing 1 item at full price, and we will set up a coupon code that will give everyone in your group 50% off of the same item.
Our digital routes are designed to operate in most GPS devices. In addition to GPSs, our routes should work with several smartphone apps. They will NOT work on Google Maps or Apple Maps.
If you plan on using a smartphone app, we recommend the REVER app. REVER will work with both Android and iOS and in addition to navigation it has many other great features.
For best results in REVER, download the route to your computer first, then import into your smartphone. Turn by turn may not work, so we recommend that you utilize the "Follow the Line" option.
You can get 20% off your first year’s subscription to REVER by following THIS LINK.
AND using this coupon code at checkout: Driftlessforless.
By using this link and coupon code a portion of your subscription fee will go to support Driftless Roads USA.