Upper Peninsula Adventure Trail (UPAT - 1250 miles)

[Simple.]

Sounds good!. I will know more in Jan. or Feb. when we see how much snow is up there this winter. Im going to shoot for May sometime, but I will keep you posted. Post some of those photos!

Jon

Originally Posted by Zaboo65

Jon, I rode some of the UPAT this fall with a '09 KLR650. I rode from Wakefield to Copper Harbor and then to Marquette and K..I. Sawyer before heading back towards home. I did the big bike route and found only had a couple places where I thought I might have some problems. Looking back those where the fun stuff. I had one section of deep, deep sand that was a struggle but I made it through. I had all my camping gear loaded and the bike did great!

I hope to return next spring or early summer with some friends to ride more of it again. Post on here (or PM me) when you are going if you are looking for some company.

I need to remember to post some photos!

[Idahosam]

Originally Posted by Cannonshot

Thanks Sam. I'm glad you are enticed by the route. I think you will be very pleased if you ride it.

As long as you are coming this way, consider knocking off the Northern Wisconsin Adventure Trail as well. Something similar, but no big bike go-arounds.

Cool, something I will give serious consideration to next summer. My old Army bud lives in New Holstein, I think. So my 06 Tiger doable?

[Cannonshot]

Originally Posted by Idahosam

Cool, something I will give serious consideration to next summer. My old Army bud lives in New Holstein, I think. So my 06 Tiger doable?

No Tiger on the NWAT. No problem on the UPAT if you take the big bike go-arounds (there is a separate big bike version that takes out some stuff that is not Tiger friendly.)

[Idahosam]

Originally Posted by Cannonshot

No Tiger on the NWAT. No problem on the UPAT if you take the big bike go-arounds (there is a separate big bike version that takes out some stuff that is not Tiger friendly.)

Good stuff there. Well I sure am not riding my DRZ 1700 miles over there that's why I asked. I think the UPAT is the one I'm interested in. My Army bud use to tell me about a "Lake of the woods" or something like that in the UP so I've always been intrigued. Have a great Holiday.

[Cannonshot]

Originally Posted by Idahosam

Good stuff there. Well I sure am not riding my DRZ 1700 miles over there that's why I asked. I think the UPAT is the one I'm interested in. My Army bud use to tell me about a "Lake of the woods" or something like that in the UP so I've always been intrigued. Have a great Holiday.

You'll be very satisfied with the UPAT on your Tiger. I think your pal was referring to Lake of the Clouds. Nice area over there.

[Endurochamp]

Originally Posted by Simple.

How did the F800 do?, Did you do the Big bike go-arounds? I'm a pretty experienced rider, and I am planning to run the UPAT in May with my '12 KLR 650. I am wondering what I will be up against with my bike and all the gear for camping strapped to it? I plan to trailer it up to a friends cabin in Mackinaw city, leave my truck, then slab it to the UP to cut down on my vacation time from work....

Jon

Jon,
The 800 did great. You will have no problem with the KLR 650. I only did one big bike go around and that was the Moss Lake single track. The trail was too tight with my paniers. The biggest obstacle with the 800 and big bikes is the soft sugar sand, but if you take your time , and you being an experienced rider you will be alright. I carried camping gear also and had no issues.
You will enjoy the route as it has a mixture of just about everything the UP has to offer other than Drummond Island rocks. Good luck!

[Cannonshot]

Originally Posted by Endurochamp

Jon,
The 800 did great. You will have no problem with the KLR 650. I only did one big bike go around and that was the Moss Lake single track. The trail was too tight with my paniers. The biggest obstacle with the 800 and big bikes is the soft sugar sand, but if you take your time , and you being an experienced rider you will be alright. I carried camping gear also and had no issues.
You will enjoy the route as it has a mixture of just about everything the UP has to offer other than Drummond Island rocks. Good luck!

I'll bet that was a handful on some of the whoopy sandy stuff. Some of the segments I put big bike by-passes in for can sometimes be a chore to ride even on a smaller bike loaded with gear while in the whoops. Takes a good rider to be able to handle the deep sand with a loaded bike for sure. Glad you were able to enjoy the track!

[Simple.]

Great stuff, thanks for the reply! I should have noted that im pretty experienced on street but ive been on alot of single track... just not on my 650. That sand is killer no doubt. I used to ride the orv trails in northern lower with a klr 250, and have started hitting them again on my 650. Its hard work and since I havnt been on a dual sport for a few years prior to this year, im starting find out how out of shape im in throwing that bike around.... and picking it up! Im used to riding mostly light terrain/street on my curent bike so I may stick to the go-arounds unless i can whoop myself back into shape this winter lol. Ill be camping the whole time so I may stretch it out for 5 days and take my time.

Jon

[Endurochamp]

Originally Posted by Cannonshot

I'll bet that was a handful on some of the whoopy sandy stuff. Some of the segments I put big bike by-passes in for can sometimes be a chore to ride even on a smaller bike loaded with gear while in the whoops. Takes a good rider to be able to handle the deep sand with a loaded bike for sure. Glad you were able to enjoy the track!

Yes, the sand was definately taxing. I must say that I contemplated a few of the by passes, but I would start in with the option to turn around, and then figured I was already mostly through so I would continue. I never new what to expect as several areas you had listed as really soft sand was not that bad. They seemed to be pretty compacted. and then other areas were really soft. I also must state that I was riding on stock tires that are 90% road and 10% off road and I am a pretty experienced off road rider competing in enduros and hare scrambles. I wanted to see how the stock tires would do since I didn't want to put on my TKC's for the 700 mile plus ride to the bridge and back from Indiana. Stock tires did really well other than the sand and a few bull rides due to no traction.
Thanks again Cannonshot

Originally Posted by Simple.

Great stuff, thanks for the reply! I should have noted that im pretty experienced on street but ive been on alot of single track... just not on my 650. That sand is killer no doubt. I used to ride the orv trails in northern lower with a klr 250, and have started hitting them again on my 650. Its hard work and since I havnt been on a dual sport for a few years prior to this year, im starting find out how out of shape im in throwing that bike around.... and picking it up! Im used to riding mostly light terrain/street on my curent bike so I may stick to the go-arounds unless i can whoop myself back into shape this winter lol. Ill be camping the whole time so I may stretch it out for 5 days and take my time.

Jon

Sorry for the late reply. I had not been to the site in a while.
The nice thing about Cannonshots map is you can start into the sections and if it is too much you can turn around or even in a couple of instances the trail crosses forest roads or two tracks and you can get back over to the go arounds with your GPS. I did the whole route in 7 days with 5 days being the UP route. I went from daybreak to dusk and even into dark a couple of times not stopping very much. I kept a real aggresive pace, with not a lot of down time, and it took me about 4 and 1/2 days to go 1497 miles.
Did I mention great scenery no matter what time of year. Good Luck!

[Cannonshot]

Glad you enjoyed it so much EC. As you know, the sand can be better or worse depending on how wet it is. Some dry years even the stuff in the woods gets soft. A little rain can make a big difference.

[Simple.]

Man this is going to be a long winter waiting to take the trip. I have been all over the UP and ive never been bored with the scenery! I am putting a set of track masters on this winter along with some new suspension, so that should help a bit in the sand.


Cannonshot, thanks for putting this route together in great detail for everyone to enjoy! Also going to run the superior loop this next summer with my wife. Looks like a lot of fun.

Jon

[Cannonshot]

Originally Posted by Simple.

Man this is going to be a long winter waiting to take the trip. I have been all over the UP and ive never been bored with the scenery! I am putting a set of track masters on this winter along with some new suspension, so that should help a bit in the sand.


Cannonshot, thanks for putting this route together in great detail for everyone to enjoy! Also going to run the superior loop this next summer with my wife. Looks like a lot of fun.

Jon

Indeed, it will be a long winter for me too!

You'll really enjoy the UPAT. Lots of great riding mixed with scenery and interesting places to visit.

That Lake Superior Loop is a great ride too, one that can be done over and over. There is a lot to choose from on that track. Beautiful scenery.

Once you knock those off, don't overlook the Northern Wisconsin Adventure Trail - but don't do it alone.

Looking forward to reading about your travels!

[FireMedicATL]

Originally Posted by Simple.

Man this is going to be a long winter waiting to take the trip. I have been all over the UP and ive never been bored with the scenery! I am putting a set of track masters on this winter along with some new suspension, so that should help a bit in the sand.


Cannonshot, thanks for putting this route together in great detail for everyone to enjoy! Also going to run the superior loop this next summer with my wife. Looks like a lot of fun.

Jon

Hey Jon, I am planning on doing this sometime this spring/summer. Let me know when you are planning to head up. I will be on the big GS.
I will be in Munising sledding next weekend, I can't wait for bike season to come back around though.

[Simple.]

Sounds good! My brother is interested in doing it on his DR 650, and Zaboo65 mentioned he may want to meet up for some upat riding as well. Maybe we could all meet up and do the ride, I will make a thread in the central region section when I have the dates set in stone.

Jon

Originally Posted by FireMedicATL

Hey Jon, I am planning on doing this sometime this spring/summer. Let me know when you are planning to head up. I will be on the big GS.
I will be in Munising sledding next weekend, I can't wait for bike season to come back around though.

[BubbaMcCranky]

Thanks for putting up such a great route and RR, Cannon.

My brother and I are planning to do part of the UPAT this summer, starting from our parents house a bit south of St. Ignace. We'll have 4 days to ride, needing to return to St. Ignace by the end of the 4th day. I was wondering what part of the route you'd suggest that we do. We're considering the following options:

1) Go north from St. Ignace, hopefully making it to Marquette, connect with the southern part of the trail and head back to St. Ignace.

2) Go north from St. Ignace and follow the trail all the way up to Copper Harbor. Come back on roads as needed to make time on the return, jumping on some sections of the lower part of the trail on the way back if we have time.

3) Go west from St. Ignace and explore the southern part of the loop, returning when we run out of time.

I love pictured rocks and lake superior, so I'm inclined towards (1) or (2) but I've really never explored the southern part of the UP, so I'd be open to that if it's great riding.

I don't have a good sense of how many miles we can cover each day. We're a couple of 40-something guys in pretty good shape, on the beginner side of intermediate with offroad riding (I've completed the RawHyde course in CA, my brother had a dirt bike he rode in CO for a few years). We'll be riding 650 dual sports (a V-Strom and a BMW G650 XCountry).

Thanks for any advice you could offer. We're really looking forward to this trip.