17th ANNUAL GGTA NORTH SHORE BIKE RIDE
The 17th Annual Gitchi-Gami Trail Association North Shore Bike Ride will take place on Saturday, August 19, 2017, on the spectacular Gitchi-Gami State Trail and connecting roads.

And we’re celebrating 17! The gravel road (the West Road) will finally be paved this year—connecting the 14.1-mile trail from Gooseberry Falls State Park to Beaver Bay, to the 2.3-mile trail from the West Road to Silver Bay. A short ride on the Hwy 61 shoulder across the bike lane on the Beaver River Bridge, being rebuilt this year, means we will now have 17 miles of continuous, paved trail! And we’re also “celebrating family” this year – with our first-ever family ride. Riders 17 and under will ride FREE with a paid adult.

So, in addition to the familiar 28-, 37-, and 55-mile ride options, we are adding a new 8-mile ride option for families. Once again, the starting point for all rides is at Gooseberry Falls State Park. The 8-mile family ride option follows the Gitchi-Gami State Trail for 4 miles from Gooseberry to a new rest stop at Twin Points wayside, where there will be treats and special events for families. There are also trails to explore there, vistas from the “twin points,” and a rare expanse of pink rhyolite pebble beach encompassed in Iona’s Beach Scientific and Natural Area (SNA). The SNA is named after Iona Lind, who was the owner of Twin Points Resort, where the parking lot is now. AND, the SNA was established in 2001, so we’re celebrating its 17th year! The ride returns on the GGST to Gooseberry.

The 28-mile ride option is also entirely on the GGST, from Gooseberry through historic Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, continuing to the rest stop at the Beaver Bay Wayside, and returning on the trail. Because it is an “out-and-back” ride, bikers can turn around at any time to return to the starting point.

The 37-mile ride option heads north on Co Rd 4 from the rest stop, follows Forest Rd 11/Penn Blvd into Silver Bay, then returns to Beaver Bay on the trail between Silver Bay and the newly paved West Road, down to the highway and across the Beaver River to the rest stop. The route returns to Gooseberry on the trail.

The 55-mile ride option follows the GGST to Beaver Bay Wayside and adds a loop north on Lake Co Rd 4 and the Lax Lake Road to Hwy 1 and the Eckbeck rest stop, to Hwy 61, to Penn Blvd and Silver Bay, and back to Beaver Bay on Penn Blvd and Co Rd 4 (or, for a slightly shorter option, on the GGST and West Road), then back to Gooseberry on the trail.

The ride begins at 9:00 am. Riders are requested to depart by 10:30 am. Parking for the ride is in a lot inside Gooseberry Falls State Park. Vehicles will need an annual state park vehicle sticker or a daily vehicle pass (a daily pass will be provided by the GGTA as part of the registration fee). The daily permit is also good for entry to other state parks (there are 8 along the shore) on this day only. Refreshments will be provided at rest stops and post-ride. Mechanical, emergency and sag support will be provided. All adult riders will receive t-shirts, and younger riders will receive water bottles. All riders must sign waivers and wear helmets.

Registration can be completed online (through secure PayPal payment) or by mail, using the links on this page. Registration completed online or postmarked by August 1 is $40. Registration thereafter is $45. All kids and teens 17 and under ride FREE with a paid adult.

Members of the GGTA receive a $10 discount from these prices! Anyone who joined the GGTA after August 1, 2016, or this year is a member. If you are not a member, and would like to support the work of the GGTA in building and promoting this North Shore gem (and, of course, to receive the discount), you can join through the Membership page on this website. Online, you can join at the same time as you register and will qualify for the discount. If registering by mail, enclose the membership form together with the registration form. Don’t know if you’re a member? You can contact us at membership@ggta.org.

Questions? Contact us at annualride@ggta.org.

HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE 19th!