Land of Lakes Ride - Self Drive Tour
8 Days / 7 Nights
Seasons -
Spring, Summer
Temperature -
40° to 80° F /
4° to 27° C
Reservations must be booked and paid in advance
Day 1 : Minneapolis Arrival
Arrive in Minneapolis – twin city to St. Paul – and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy the city that has so much to offer in every way – a good place to stop and get a feel for the Twin Cities is at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. Overnight.
Day 2 : Minneapolis - Brainerd
This morning you pick up your bike at EagleRider’s Minneapolis location and are off to ride the wide-open roads of Minnesota. From rugged shoreline, to blooming bluff tops, to rolling, rural farmlands, the state of Minnesota is a brilliant palette of wilderness greens, waterway blues, crisp autumn golds and glowing Northern Lights. You head north, following the Great River Road up to Brainerd. This medium-sized town played a starring role in that offbeat Coen Brothers movie, Fargo. Overnight.
Day 3 : Brainerd - Grand Rapids
You might want to go on a little detour to visit Millie Lacs Lake before you continue north on the Great River Road. It’s a scenic ride via Crosby, the center of Minnesota’s forgotten iron range, the Cuyuna. Today’s destination is Grand Rapids, located on the scenic portion of both the national and state Great River Road and the edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway. Overnight.
Day 4 : Grand Rapids - Virginia
Take Hwy 38 out of Grand Rapids and enjoy the scenic byway, following a route once used by voyagers and loggers through the Chippewa National Forest. Ride over rolling hills, and past bogs and fishing lakes up to the small town of Effie. Here, you head east and ride over to Virginia, located in the Mesabi iron range country, and your base for tonight. Overnight.
Day 5 : Virginia - Grand Marais
Your journey continues towards Lake Superior, and you pick up Hwy 1 to Ely, your gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Hwy 1 will take you all the way to the shores of the lake. You ride north to the beautiful town of Grand Marais – an artist community with a busy events calendar, plus restaurants, fishing and sailboat charters, and vibrant galleries with paintings and gifts that capture the color, spirit and wildlife of the rugged North Shore. Overnight.
Day 6 : Grand Marais - Duluth
You are in for a most scenic ride today, as you cruise the Northern Shore of Lake Superior. Go south, and ride via Little Marais, Silver Bay, Beaver Bay, and Two Harbors. The area bordering the largest Great Lake encompasses eight state parks and brims with natural wonder – from the ski-slopes of Lutsen to the 60-foot-high falls in Tettegouche State Park. The small shoreline towns offer restaurants serving local fish and produce, as well as unique shops and galleries. Today’s destination is Duluth, named after the French explorer Daniel de Greysolon, Sieur du Lhute, who landed on the shore of Minnesota Point in 1679. Overnight.
Day 7 : Duluth - Minneapolis
You leave Lake Superior and ride inland. Stick with the scenic back roads, which will take you along Nemadji State Forest, the small towns of Hinckley and Cambridge, back into Minneapolis. Upon arrival it will be time to return your bike at EagleRider’s Minneapolis office and transfer to your hotel. Overnight.
Day 8 : Minneapolis Departure
Today your fantastic ride through the “Land of Lakes” will come to and end with your departure flight back home.