biking events – Top of Michigan Trails Council

Lake to Lake Tour 2019

Trails Council — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 04:00:00 +0000

“I am fairly new to the sport of bicycling. The Lake to Lake Tour this fall was my first time riding for any distance and I was a bit nervous before starting this event. I have to say that I plan on going back every year from now on. The Trails Council was so organized and helpful. Our group was so impressed with how well they thought of every little detail. They were waiting for us at every checkpoint with water and trail mix. We felt safe and looked after. The trails were absolutely beautiful. Our group made such precious memories. My favorite part was the personal touch in each small town. The meals were fabulous and the hosts were so proud and happy to show off their communities. This trip was the highlight of my fall. Thank you Trails Council for making us feel so special.”

Kathy Dennison Adrianse, Grand Rapids, MI, 2018 tour participant

This is our third year of offering this unique tour. Participants have the opportunity to ride from Lake Huron to Lake Michigan, primarily on dedicated bike trails.

19 Bike Tour Registration and Waiver

19 L2L brochure

The 2019 Lake to Lake Tour will begin on Friday morning, September 13 at Petoskey’s Bayfront Park. From there, you, your gear and your bike will be transported to Alpena where you will dip your back tire in Lake Huron. The tour will follow the North Eastern State Trail to a lunch stop in Metz, then on to the Nettie Bay Lodge (Hawks) where you’ll spend the night in a rustic hunting/fishing lodge. On Saturday the tour follows the NEST to Cheboygan, where lodging will be provided at the Best Western hotel, and you’ll enjoy a reception featuring local beer, followed by dinner on your own in Cheboygan. On Sunday, the tour will follow the North Central State Trail to Mackinaw City at the very top of the lower peninsula of Michigan and then its south on the North Western State Trail through Pellston and Alanson to just outside of Petoskey, where you will end the day by pedaling on the Little Traverse Wheelway for three miles to Bayfront Park. There you will celebrate your successful trip by dipping your front tire in Lake Michigan.

Included in the tour cost are lodging, transportation to Alpena, day-to-day transport of any gear you don’t carry on your bike, SAG support, and volunteer riders to assure you a safe and enjoyable ride. Meals included in the registration price will be lunch and dinner on Friday, breakfast and lunch on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday. The total number of riders, exclusive of volunteers, will not exceed 35. The cost for the tour is $525+ (varies depending on your occupancy choice). Your deposit will be counted as your annual membership donation. All funds in excess of actual costs will be credited as a donation to the trail advocacy efforts of TOMTC.

See links above for brochure and registration form.

Kids Biking Club 2018 – Oden Fish Hatchery

Trails Council — Wed, 25 Jul 2018 13:00:00 +0000

This is the third in a series of outings for kids ages 7 – 12 this July! This outing will originate at the Packy Offield Trail Center, 1687 M 119 in Petoskey. Kids may bring their own bike helmets, but will use a bike from our fleet of kids bikes. Before they ride they will be fitted for a bike and helmet, learn a number of bike safety rules, and learn about their route by studying a map of the route to their destination.

For this outing, the group will pedal from the Top of Michigan Trails Council headquarters along the North Western State Trail. After 3.5 miles, they’ll reach their destination: the Oden State Fish Hatchery. Staff there will give the group a tour, followed by a break with a healthy snack and water before the trip back to the Trail Center. Overall, this trip will be about 7 miles round trip.

This program is carefully and thoughtfully planned by our Kids Biking Coordinator, Cindy Okerlund. Adult volunteers accompany kids on these outings. If you have questions, please feel free to email Cindy. Don’t wait to register–these sessions fill up fast!

Parents can register their kids here

Kids Biking Club 2018 – Exploring Bay View

Trails Council — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 13:00:00 +0000

This is the first of a series of outings for kids ages 7 – 12 this July! For this summer’s series of kids’ outings, we will meet at the Bay View Boys’ and Girls’ Club Site (Swift Field). These outings are open to Bay View kids and kids from the community (first come, first served).

Kids bring their own bikes and helmets, and before they ride they learn a number of bike safety rules, have their bikes inspected, learn to adjust their helmets, and learn about their route by studying a map of the route to their destination. This first outing will offer kids a chance to do a pedaling parade through Bay View, a distance of about 3 miles. Even Bay View kids will learn something new about this neighborhood!

This program is carefully and thoughtfully planned by our Kids Biking Coordinator, Cindy Okerlund. Adult volunteers accompany kids on these outings. If you have questions, please feel free to email Cindy. Don’t wait to register–these sessions fill up fast!

Parents can register their kids here

A flyer describing our summer outings: 18 KidsBiking flyer

Kids Biking Club 2018 – Destination: East Park

Trails Council — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 13:00:00 +0000

PLEASE NOTE: This session is full! There are openings for the July 25 outing to Oden Fish Hatchery.

This is the second in a series of outings for kids ages 7 – 12 this July! For this summer’s series of kids’ outings, we will meet at the Bay View Boys’ and Girls’ Club Site (Swift Field). These outings are open to Bay View kids and kids from the community (first come, first served).

For this outing the group will depart from Swift Field and wind down to cross US 31 at the traffic light at Stafford’s Bay View Inn. From there they’ll ride the Little Traverse Wheelway out to East Park for a nature scavenger hunt game. A light healthy snack and water will be provided before pedaling back to Bay View. The length of this outing will be approximately six miles round trip.

A flyer describing our summer outings: 18 KidsBiking flyer

Lake to Lake Tour 2018

Trails Council — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 04:00:00 +0000

“We thoroughly enjoyed the Lake to Lake tour during the fall of 2017. We appreciate all those who took the time to provide us with such a memorable weekend of riding, local history and hospitality. Thanks for a bike trip that was special, because my family and I were able to enjoy an outdoor activity with other cyclists that I now call my friends.”

–David M, Rochester 2017 participant

Last year’s tour was a huge success, so we’re doing it again in 2018. This bicycle tour gives participants the opportunity to ride from Lake Huron to Lake Michigan, all on dedicated bike trails.

18 Bike Tour Registration and Waiver

18 L2L brochure

The 2018 Lake to Lake Tour will begin on Friday morning, September 14 at Petoskey’s Bayfront Park. From there, you, your gear and your bike will be transported to Alpena where you will dip your back tire in Lake Huron. The tour will follow the North Eastern State Trail to a lunch stop in Metz, then on to the Nettie Bay Lodge (Hawks) where you’ll spend the night in a rustic hunting/fishing lodge. On Saturday the tour follows the NEST to Cheboygan, where lodging will be provided at the Best Western hotel, and you’ll travel by boat to dinner on the river. On Sunday, the tour will follow the North Central State Trail to Mackinaw City, to the northern terminus of the North Western State Trail. Then it’s south to Petoskey, where you’ll ride the Little Traverse Wheelway to dip your front tire in Lake Michigan at Bayfront Park.

Included in the tour cost are lodging, transportation to Alpena, day-to-day transport of any gear you don’t carry on your bike, SAG support, and volunteer riders to assure you a safe and enjoyable ride. Meals included in the registration price will be dinner on Friday and breakfast and dinner on Saturday. The total number of riders, exclusive of volunteers, will not exceed 30. The cost for the tour is $450. Your deposit will be counted as your annual membership donation. All funds in excess of actual costs will be credited as a donation to the trail advocacy efforts of TOMTC.

Boyne Trails Celebration

Trails Council — Sat, 26 Aug 2017 04:00:00 +0000

Come out and ride the new mountain bike trails in Boyne City! Top of Michigan Mountain Bike Association will be showing off their School Forest Trail (nine miles of trails built by TOMMBA volunteers), and there will be a ribbon cutting for the Avalanche Trail (nine miles of professionally built, sustainable trails with beginner, intermediate and expert trails). Family friendly — Bring your kids!

Event flyer:

Kids Biking Club 2017 – Sanctuary Island

Trails Council — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 13:00:00 +0000

Bike from the flowing artesian well in Conway, all the way to Alanson for a self-propelled ferry ride to explore the Sanctuary Island Park. Bring your bike and helmet, and meet up with the group in Conway, where you’ll learn a number of bike safety rules, have Your bikes inspected, learn to adjust your helmets, and learn about the route by studying a map of the route to your destination. A special treat on the way back – a stop for ice cream! This will be a 10-mile round trip.

This program is carefully and thoughtfully planned by our Kids Biking Coordinator, Cindy Okerlund. Adult volunteers accompany kids on these outings. Don’t wait to register–these sessions fill up fast!

Event flyer here

Parents can register their kids here

Kids Biking Club – Bear River Recreation Area

Trails Council — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 13:00:00 +0000

Kids Biking Club – Biking to the Bear

Kids ages 7 – 12 are invited to this FREE morning activity. Bring your own bikes and helmets to the Packy Offield Trail Center. Before the ride you’ll learn a number of bike safety rules, have your bikes inspected, learn to adjust their helmets, and learn about your route by studying a map of the route to your destination. This week’s outing is to the Bear River Recreation Area–about a 5-mile round trip. After you get to your destination you’ll be challenged by a nature scavenger hunt.

This outing is led by our Kids Biking Coordinator, Cindy Okerlund. Adult volunteers accompany kids on these outings. Don’t wait to register–these sessions fill up fast!

Parents can register their kids here

Big Cut Bike Rally

Trails Council — Sat, 15 Jul 2017 14:00:00 +0000

Rogers City Racing Club is hosting the Big Cut Bike Rally on July 15. It is NOT a race but rather an opportunity for families to hit the North Eastern State Trail and enjoy a SAG supported ride from Millersburg to Hawks (8.9 miles one way) and back to Millersburg.

Rogers City Racing Club will support the bike riders from the trailhead to Hawks with snacks, water and assistance on the trail. Bikers are not expected to complete the distance unless they desire. The first flight leaves the Millersburg Trailhead at 10:00 a.m. then the second at 10:20 a.m. with lunch served upon return to Millersburg.

This is the perfect summertime event to get some exercise, a great lunch and explore our local history.

Participation fee for the rally is $25.00 per person, $40.00 for a couple and $15.00 for participants under 18 years of age. This includes three lunch choices from Three Cedars Restaurant in Millersburg of a Mex-Veggie wrap, a Chicken Ranch wrap, or a BLT wrap. This further includes an assortment of chips, fruit and non-alcoholic beverages. Lunch will be served between 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 pm. After lunch many will want to tour the Millersburg Depot Historical Museum and see the only depot left on the Detroit & Mackinaw Railway line.Registration forms are available in Rogers City at Presque Isle Athletic Club and in Millersburg at Pine Lumber and all five branches of Presque Isle County Libraries. For additional information call Gary Rickard at (989) 734-0008.

Registration forms are available with the link below. They can also be picked up in Rogers City at Presque Isle Athletic Club and in Millersburg at Pine Lumber and all five branches of Presque Isle County Libraries. For additional information call Gary Rickard at (989) 734-0008.

Registration form: Big Cut Bike Rally

Kids Biking Club 2017 – Bikes and Books

Trails Council — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 13:00:00 +0000

This is the first of a series of outings for kids ages 7 – 12 this July! Kids bring their own bikes and helmets, and before the ride they learn a number of bike safety rules, have their bikes inspected, learn to adjust their helmets, and learn about their route by studying a map of the route to their destinations. This first outing is to McLean & Eakin Bookstore, about a five-mile round trip. At the bookstore we’ll look over a collection of books about bikes and biking.

Parents can register their kids here