11th Annual Lakeshore Harvest Ride
Saturday, September 17, 2022
“It’s a Harvest for your senses.”
ABOUT
Welcome to the one Michigan bike tour that lets you see, touch, smell and taste the riches of this breathtaking region. The Lakeshore Harvest Ride glides you through the rolling countryside of Southwest Michigan. You can visit wineries, cider mills, family farms, orchards and art studios along the way. And there are individual bike routes for every rider, ranging from 15 to 62 miles in length.
CAUSE
The Blue Star Trail is a 20-mile paved, non-motorized recreational trail that connects people and communities from Saugatuck to South Haven, Michigan. The Trail improves safety, wellness, economic health, and our environment. Friends of the Blue Star Trail is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promote and fund construction of the Trail. We act as a catalyst to promote and fund the Trail, in partnership with our local communities. Friends raises money for engineering, local match funding required for state/federal matching construction grants, and ongoing maintenance. Local communities prepare and submit applications for state/federal matching grants and own those sections the Trail.
CLIMATE
This is the best time for a Michigan bike tour. September graces Southwest Michigan with dryer, cooler weather. The summer crowds have ebbed, but our harbor towns of Saugatuck/Douglas and South Haven are still bustling with fun activities and cultural events.
HIGHLIGHTS
Shopping: Unlike other Michigan bike tours, you don’t just pass by scenic farms and vineyards, you can stop to shop. Better yet, we deliver your purchases to you at the end of your ride. We recommend bringing some cash for purchases, not all tour stops except credit cards.
Destinations: Visit art studios, wineries, cider mills, family farms and orchards along the way. Learn more about these tour stops.
Routes: Choose to begin the ride in Douglas or in South Haven, Michigan. Each starting point has four routes for varying abilities ranging from 15 to 62 miles in length. Learn more about our bike routes.
Terrain: Most of the routes are on flat to rolling terrain. The 60 and 62-mile routes have some hilly sections. All routes are on paved roads and paths except for a small section of hard packed trail near the Kal-Haven Trailhead and some driveways to our tour stops.
Refreshments: The tour includes lunch, snacks, water and Gatorade.
Destinations: Visit art studios, wineries, cider mills, family farms and orchards along the way. Learn more about these tour stops.
Routes: Choose to begin the ride in Douglas or in South Haven, Michigan. Each starting point has four routes for varying abilities ranging from 15 to 62 miles in length. Learn more about our bike routes.
Terrain: Most of the routes are on flat to rolling terrain. The 60 and 62-mile routes have some hilly sections. All routes are on paved roads and paths except for a small section of hard packed trail near the Kal-Haven Trailhead and some driveways to our tour stops.
Refreshments: The tour includes lunch, snacks, water and Gatorade.
Here’s another reason to love the Ride: We now offer a GPS app that guides you along your route.
Track every turn, know your mileage and even see the grade of your route from your phone.
Track every turn, know your mileage and even see the grade of your route from your phone.
LODGING
Come for the Ride and stay for the weekend. For information about lodging, restaurants and other events during the weekend of the Ride, click on the links below. Some B&B’s and hotels are offering special discounts to our Riders.
STARTING POINTS
Kal-Haven Trailhead | 66 Bailey Ave. | South Haven, MI 49490
Schultz Park | Schultz Park Dr | Douglas, MI 49406.
The Friends of the Blue Star Trail coordinate the Lakeshore Harvest Ride in cooperation with the Saugatuck-Douglas Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the South Haven Visitor Bureau, the Lakeshore Harvest Country and Blue Coast Artists groups.
©2021 FRIENDS OF THE BLUE STAR TRAIL |
LAKESHORE HARVEST RIDE
PO BOX 464 DOUGLAS, MI 49406 FOTBST@gmail.com
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