THE GREAT LAKES FULL PERIMETER RIDE

18 Days | ~7,000 km | All Five Lakes | Shoreline Focused

DAY 1 – Brampton → Kingston

Lake Ontario – The Beginning

The ride begins gently along the north shore of Lake Ontario. Leaving Brampton early, you pass through Port Credit and follow the Toronto waterfront east before escaping the 401 corridor. Prince Edward County adds the first real scenic rhythm of the trip — quiet roads, vineyards, open sky.

Kingston feels historic and intentional. Waterfront dinner. Walk the harbor. Let the trip settle in.

📍 Overnight: Kingston

DAY 2 – Kingston → Rochester (USA)

Thousand Islands & Southern Ontario Shoreline

The Thousand Islands Parkway is one of Ontario’s most underrated motorcycle roads. Water constantly beside you. Small towns. Minimal rush.
Cross into the U.S. and follow the southern edge of Lake Ontario toward Rochester.
The lake is calm here. Wide. Endless.

📍 Overnight: Rochester, NY

DAY 3 – Rochester → Buffalo → Cleveland

Niagara Power to Lake Erie

Niagara Falls is dramatic but quick — park, walk, move on. The real ride begins once you trace Lake Erie’s shoreline south and west.
Buffalo to Erie to Cleveland keeps you near water with long lake views and small harbor towns.
Cleveland surprises people. It’s a strong overnight city.

📍 Overnight: Cleveland

DAY 4 – Cleveland → Toledo → Detroit

Western Lake Erie

This is working-class America. Steel bridges. Freighters. Big sky over shallow Lake Erie.
Detroit rises across the water as you cross into Michigan.
The skyline at sunset feels earned.

📍 Overnight: Detroit Riverfront

DAY 5 – Detroit → Port Huron → Alpena → Mackinaw City

Lake Huron Begins

North of Detroit, the roads quiet down. Lexington and Port Austin are pure shoreline riding. US-23 hugs Lake Huron beautifully.
This is one of the most underrated riding days of the trip.
Crossing the Mackinac Bridge at the end feels iconic.

📍 Overnight: Mackinaw City

DAY 6 – Mackinaw → Petoskey → Traverse City

Lake Michigan Opens Up

You cross the bridge into the Upper Peninsula, then swing south toward the Michigan side of Lake Michigan.
Petoskey and Charlevoix are polished lake towns. Traverse City has energy, food, and great sunset views.

📍 Overnight: Traverse City

DAY 7 – Traverse City → Sleeping Bear Dunes → Ludington → Milwaukee

Pure Lake Michigan

M-22 through Sleeping Bear Dunes is one of the best motorcycle roads in the Midwest. Sweeping curves. Big views. Elevation shifts.
Ride south and ferry across to Wisconsin or continue toward Milwaukee.

📍 Overnight: Milwaukee

DAY 8 – Milwaukee → Green Bay → Escanaba

Climbing Back North

You ride the western edge of Lake Michigan toward Green Bay, then re-enter Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
This feels remote again. Slower. Less traffic. More sky.

📍 Overnight: Escanaba

DAY 9 – Escanaba → Marquette → Munising

Lake Superior Begins

The water changes color. The air cools.
Cliffs, forest, long empty stretches. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is unforgettable.

📍 Overnight: Munising

DAY 10 – Munising → Houghton → Copper Harbor

Keweenaw Peninsula Loop

Twisty, remote, and dramatic. This is a rider’s day.
Copper Harbor feels like the edge of the continent.

📍 Overnight: Copper Harbor

DAY 11 – Copper Harbor → Duluth

Western Superior

Long, steady Superior shoreline. Forests stretch endlessly.
Duluth appears dramatically with its lift bridge and harbor.

📍 Overnight: Duluth

DAY 12 – Duluth → Thunder Bay

Back Into Canada

Cross the border and begin the Ontario north shore stretch.
This is serious landscape riding. Cliffs and massive water.

📍 Overnight: Thunder Bay

DAY 13 – Thunder Bay → Marathon → Wawa

Remote & Wild

This stretch demands respect. Fuel planning matters. Weather can shift quickly.
But it’s arguably the most beautiful riding in Ontario.

📍 Overnight: Wawa

DAY 14 – Wawa → Sault Ste. Marie

Superior’s Final Arc

A shorter day. Let yourself enjoy it.
Stop at Old Woman Bay. Stretch. Breathe.

📍 Overnight: Sault Ste. Marie (Canada)

DAY 15 – Sault Ste. Marie → Sudbury

North Channel of Lake Huron

This is quiet, peaceful riding. The North Channel feels almost inland-sea calm.
Sudbury offers a solid reset before heading south.

📍 Overnight: Sudbury

DAY 16 – Sudbury → Parry Sound

Georgian Bay Begins

This is your adjustment — and it’s a good one.
The ride south through French River and along Georgian Bay toward Parry Sound is classic Ontario Shield riding. Rock cuts. Pines. Blue water.
It’s not flashy. It’s Canadian and honest.

📍 Overnight: Parry Sound

DAY 17 – Parry Sound → Collingwood → Southampton → Sarnia

Completing Lake Huron

This is a strong shoreline day.
Parry Sound to Collingwood hugs Georgian Bay. Continue west toward Southampton and follow the Lake Huron coast south toward Sarnia.
You’ve now officially traced Lake Huron fully.

📍 Overnight: Sarnia

DAY 18 – Sarnia → Detroit → Fort Erie → Brampton

The Final Loop – Lake Erie & Lake Ontario Closed

Cross at Detroit again, follow Lake Erie east through Ohio and New York shoreline towns, re-enter Canada at Fort Erie.
One last look at Lake Erie.
One last stretch along Lake Ontario.
Roll back into Brampton knowing you have circled all five Great Lakes.

This isn’t just mileage.
It’s geography earned.

📍 Finish: Brampton

✔ Lakes Completed

Lake Ontario ✅
Lake Erie ✅
Lake Huron (including Georgian Bay) ✅
Lake Michigan ✅
Lake Superior ✅