Great Lake to Lake Rail Trail Tour, Bay City Start

Our new for 2026 Rail Trail Tour is right here in Michigan! 200 miles of all-paved riding from Lake Michigan to Bay City, including over 160 miles on sidepaths beween Holland and Grand Rapids, plus most of the traffic-free White Pine Trail and Pere Marquette Trails, plus some minor city streets to reach hotels, and about 20 miles of county roads between Midland and Bay City. This tour is as close to traffic-free as we can find. Did we mention it’s 100% paved?

You’ll arrive in Bay City on Sunday, where we have an optional ride to Lake Huron where you can dip your front tire into Lake Huron. On Monday we send you via motor coach across the state to Holland where you dip the rear wheel in Lake Michigan before enjoying optional afternoon rides, your choice of distance up to 40 miles or more! Attentive students will immediately recognize how we got the time-bandits out of the way early (wheel dipping & motor coach ride).

Tuesday we take a collection of local paved trails and sidepaths on our way to Comstock Park. You’ll ride through Grand Rapids and enjoy lovely views of the Grand River before riding through the heart of the downtown on our way to Comstock Park.

Wednesday you’ll set out on the White Pine Trail, north to Big Rapids for the night. Big Rapids is home to Ferris State University. We’ll probably have a presentation from the Friends of the White Pine Trail. They have a great story of engagement in securing the infrastructure of the trail for us.

Thursday is our biggest day and your best chance to make a Metric Century, 100 kilometers, on our way to Clare and the famous Daugherty Hotel.

Friday we close the tour after we finish the Pere Marquette Trail in Midland at the Tridge, and then continue back to Bay City.

No one else offers a tour like this in Michigan. You should come along for the fun of it!