A buddy and I are thinking about a trip. Leaving from the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, then east across Wisconsin and the UP to Sault Ste. Maire. From there we head into Canada and up around Lake Superior to Thunder Bay and back to the Twin Cities. Anyone have any advice for this trip? Where to stop, stay and sightsee. Think we can do it in 4-5 days?

 

Pretty aggressive trip to do in 4-5 days. Lake Superior is HUGE (obviously why it's named: Superior)...

I've done the trip across Da U-P and WI along the 'northern route'a couple of times. Last trip I visited a buddy in buddy in Rice Lake, WI (actually Cameron, Wi--Good bardowntown)I took US-8 across from Norway, MI. I rode in a misting rain the entire trip. Dude....There is nothing but fish camps and pine trees along that route. And a few gas stations. But that was in 1998 so it's been almost 10 years...But I don't think that the area could be much different now.

As far as Da You-Pee goes (eh...),and since you wanna run the southern lake shore of Superior, you gotta run M28 across. There are a couple of decent side tracks: Bond Falls (it's sort cool), then hit, since it's a short trip;Picture Rock andTahqumenon Falls. Then on to Sault Ste Marie...Take the boat trip through the locks. Don't loose a bunch of $$$ in the Indian run casino up there...It's HUGE. You can cross into Canada and then take the reverse trip on 17/61...But it's rural...I haven't been up that way in YEARS...So maybe a local Canadian can help...

Oh, and when you cross the border: No guns. No drugs. No contraban of any nature. You may very well be 'searched'. Bring YOUR PAPERS....If you've got a passport (even though it isn't required for vehicle transit....Yet) it will help getting back into the Ol' US of A.

There are lots of state and US Forest Service campgrounds in Da UP...But...The mosquitoes are huge, and the black flies are even bigger. And then you get into the whole issue of Black Bears, Mutant Racoons, wolves (they're baaaack)and other campground 'scroungers'. My advice: Plan your stops and stay in a motel or 'cabin' for the evening. Don't leave anything that resembles food on or in your bikes... The 'coons or bears will tear your bags apart to get to it. Also...Do not...I repeat...Do not ride after dusk/dark. Deer...Many, many deer....You ain't gonna win in a collision. And it can be a long...long trip to the nearest ER.

 

this site might help with travel info across the U.P. http://exploringthenorth.com/There is some pretty cool stuff and out of the way places on it. As far as Canada goes, it seems to be getting tougher to get in. Make sure you have a passport or a birth certificate. You must have some way other than a drivers license to prove you are a US citizen or they can refuse you admission to Canada. I went trough hell a couple weeks ago at the boarder with all that. Tons of deer, tons of bears andcheck forroad construction.