The Ride Around Torch 2026 is a cycling event held on Sunday, July 19, 2026. It is located at 308 Meguzee Point Rd in Elk Rapids, Michigan.
Wed, Jun 10, 2026 at 12:00 PM
NorthWest Tour is an affordable, five-day bicycle tent camping tour in and around the beautiful Traverse City and Leelanau areas of Michigan's northwest Lower Peninsula. The tour features great
scenery on good roads and trails through many small towns and tourist areas, all from the convenience of a single camping location.
Experience sand dunes and sandy beaches, lighthouses, small lakes and Great Lakes, orchards and vineyards, and the Northwest Michigan charm of resort towns like Elk Rapids, Cedar, Williamsburg, Empire, Glen Arbor, Suttons Bay, and Traverse City. This is a wonderful way to experience the area without paying for a high priced hotel and we feed you!
Daily routes typically have shorter and longer options of 30, 60+ miles. The first and last days are shorter to allow for travel time. Be prepared for hilly terrain no matter the route you take. This is a great ride to begin DALMAC hill training!
Check-in June 9 from 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Check-in June 10 from 12 :00 - 4:00 pm
Kids up to 6 years = $0
7 - 12 years = $40
13 - 17 = $160
On Sunday, ride & return to campground in time to pack and leave by 12:00 p.m. Or have breakfast, pack, and ride; return to camp to shower and leave for a safe journey home. Our campsites are in a wooded area, with clean restrooms and showers. The dining pavilion is centrally located to all campsites.
Anyone staying on a NorthWest Tour designated campsite, must be a registered participant of NorthWest Tour. Anyone not wanting to register with NorthWest tour but wanting to stay at Timber Ridge, must reserve a campsite at cost from the campground.
If you want a NorthWest Tour shirt, please order during registration. Shirts must be purchased by May 10. Shirts will not be available for sale on the tour.
Participant is responsible for all processing fees and taxes, where applicable.
Please watch for additional news and information on the Tri-County Bicycle Association website, BikeTCBA.org or the TCBA FaceBook page.
Cycling Trail
Mon, Jul 06, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Ride for Pie and Fun with Norte Youth Cycling—Don't miss out on the sweetest ride of the year! Join us for a scenic bike tour through Traverse City's charming neighborhoods on Monday, July 1, at 9
am. Start at F&M Park and get ready for a relaxed ride filled with laughter, good company, and the joyful sound of bike bells ringing. And the best part? You'll receive a voucher for a FREE slice of cherry pie from the Grand Traverse Pie Company, so come hungry! Celebrate the National Cherry Festival in style with Norte Youth Cycling, the premier youth bike organization in northern Michigan.
4 Miles Cycling
Sat, Aug 01, 2026 at 8:00 AM
15.4 km from Elk RapidsCycling Mountain Biking Relay
Fri, Sep 04, 2026 at 6:15 PM
About the Event:
Come celebrate the Boardman Lake Loop Trail! The Traverse City Track Club presents Loop The Lake, a 4-mile, 8-mile, and 2-person relay trail race around Boardman Lake, just south of
downtown Traverse City. The race will follow the Boardman Lake Loop Trail, which includes mostly pavement, as well as some gravel, bridges, and boardwalks.
The 4 mile event is open to runners and walkers. The 8 mile event is recommended for runners only.
Course closes at 8pm sharp!
Distance:
4 miles Exactly! This race has been certified by the USATF.
The individual 8 mile and relay (2 people run 4 miles each - 1 at a time) will be slightly over 8 miles.
Giveaway:
Everyone receives a Loop The Lake Racetracker Technical Run-Dri Running Cap along with some snacks and beverages.
Awards:
The top 3 overall and top 3 masters (40+) for male and female in the 4-mile and 8-mile event will receive a custom plate hand-crafted at ClaySpacetc just down the road!
Age group top 3 (5-year age groups to 80 and up) for the 4-mile and 8-mile event will receive a custom clay Loop The Lake 2025 medal.
Relay awards for top male team, female team, coed team, masters* male team, masters* female team, and masters* coed team.
*Masters teams are a combined age of 100+
About the Course:
The race will follow the Boardman Lake Loop Trail, starting and finishing in Hull Park on the north side of the lake. The east side is a heavily wooded segment featuring gentle curves and a mix of pavement, boardwalk, and some gravel surface. The southern end features two bridges over the Boardman/Ottway River and an extended boardwalk over the Boardman Lake Cove (pictured above). The west side is pavement, and the northern end features one bridge over the Boardman River.
Check out the map here! We will be running in a clockwise direction.
The course will be open to the general public; however, the upcoming race will be heavily announced and signage provided for the public's awareness.
Start Details:
The race will include a wave start at Hull Park. Runners will be asked to line up according to their estimated finish time.
Wave Starts:
We want to ensure a safe and great experience for all participants. We will utilize a wave start on an honor basis (participants will line up according to their expected finish time) to distribute runners and walkers on the trail. Volunteers will be on hand to help determine waves.
Parking:
Loop the Lake is an Urban Trail race. While there will not be parking available within Hull Park, there are many parking options nearby within walking distance, including multiple parking decks. Please do not park at any apartment complexes or within the Brick Wheels parking lot.
Packet Pickup/Late Registration - Hull Park:
Packet Pickup begins at 4pm on Friday, September 4th right at Hull Park! Online registration will be open up until 5:45pm on race day. QR codes will be available to signup online at the event. No cash or paper registration available.
Background:
"This beautiful and highly anticipated Loop is the product of meaningful, high-impact collaboration, years of support, gumption, and hard work from many facets of the community. Thanks to the passion and persistence of countless individuals and trail project partners, the Loop is now a reality and serves as the crown jewel and centerpiece of the TART Trails network. We are thrilled to share this monumental moment with the community" (TART Trails website).
The Boardman Lake Trail is owned by the City of Traverse City, Grand Traverse County, and Garfield Township. TART Trails works with the City, County, and Township to support the development and maintenance of the trail.
4 Miles 8 Miles Gravel Run Trail Walk
Sat, Sep 12, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Tour Overview
Satisfy your senses in one of the premier cycling destinations in the USA!
This isn’t just any tour, it’s a voyage guiding you through the Leelanau Peninsula, taking you on a one-day
journey through the countryside with stunning Grand Traverse Bay and Lake Michigan views. Enjoy your choice of 18, 38, 56, and 70 mile beautifully curated routes on quiet and scenic roads. Regardless of which effort you ride, all routes finish at the waterfront in Suttons Bay where you can savor a picnic provided by the VI Grill. Family friendly, with all levels of cycling skills welcome! For your safety and convenience, all the routes are well marked, accompanied by roadside support vehicles, and “Ride with GPS” turn-by-turn instructions.
Post-Ride Picnic Lunch
North Park in Suttons Bay has full restroom and hand washing capabilities on site. Your picnic lunch will be located overlooking beautiful Suttons Bay on the waterfront with accompanying music. The picnic runs from 11:00 to 4:00 so all riders will need to time their departures appropriately.
Ride Fees
$65 - (3/1/26 - 5/31/26)
$75 - (6/1/26 - 9/9/26)
$85 - “Day of Ride” registration (9/12)
$40 - children 16 and under
*fee and sales tax (where applicable) applied at checkout
Ride Details
Highlights
Well-marked roads on all routes
Detailed route maps with cue sheets provided
Roving SAG support vehicles for emergencies
Food stops with toilet facilities
Pre-ride tech support provided by Suttons Bay Bikes
All classes of e-bikes are welcome
Food Stops
Rest stops on all routes are located at beautiful locations. Each rest stop has toilet facilities and handwashing stations.
Suttons Bay Township Park on Stony Point for all participants (Mile 13.1)
St Wenceslaus Church for 38 Mile participants (Mile 25.5)
Northport Marina Park for 56 and 70 Mile participants (29.3)
St Wenceslaus Church for 56 Mile participants (Mile 43.8)
St Wenceslaus Church for 70 Mile participants (Mile 57.6)
Safety
Helmets must be worn by all riders
Riders are to obey all traffic rules and laws and to ride in a courteous and safe manner. Michigan law requires cyclists to ride as close to the right as practicable and not more than two abreast
Children 15 and under must be accompanied by a cycling adult
Packet Pick-up
Registration check-in is 8:00 am to10:00 am at the Suttons Bay HIgh School (500 South Elm Street).
Earlier registration check-in is not available.
Parking is available at Suttons Bay High School (500 South Elm Street).
PLEASE NOTE
For liability reasons, riders may not begin the course until 8am. We suggest 70 mile riders begin by 9am, and all riders must complete the routes by the SAG times indicated on their respective route maps.
This event is an all-volunteer event - as such, services such as food stops, SAG and lunch availability will only be provided during the times indicated on the supplied map. Please gauge your ride times accordingly.
Your wristband is your admission to food stops, the picnic, and SAG support.
This is a rain or shine event.
Start Location
All routes start at the Suttons Bay High School located 16 miles north of Traverse City at 500 South Elm Street, Suttons Bay, MI. The finish is at the waterfront in Suttons Bay at North Park.
REFUND POLICY
The bike tour is a rain or shine event. Individuals may cancel their registration and request a refund up to August 15th.
Additional Information
Questions may be directed to [email protected] or by using the Contact Event tab near the top of this page.
For information on hotel, motel, and camping options and area attractions, please use these links: Leelanau County, Traverse City, Pure Michigan. Local camping options include theLeelanau Pines Campground and Lake Leelanau RV Park both on the west side of Lake Leelanau.
Our two, one-day tours, the Ride Around Torch and the Leelanau Harvest Tour have enabled the CCCC to conduct a productive and meaningful grant program that supports bicycling projects that contribute to achieving our mission of promoting bicycling as part of a healthy lifestyle. Since 1999 the CCCC has proudly granted over $450,000 to local organizations seeking to do projects like this.
Cycling