Wisconsin Lake Superior Scenic Byway

Unless you live in the upper Midwest—and even if you do—your only familiarity with “the big lake they call Gitche Gumee” is likely from the lyrics of folk singer Gordon Lightfoot’s most famous song, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” Gitche Gumee, which translates to “huge water,” is the indigenous Ojibwe name for Lake Superior. 

Straddling the Canadian border above Wisconsin, Lake Superior is a long way from anywhere. As a motorcycle touring destination, though, it’s well worth the trip. 

A full lap around Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world, measures more than 1,300 miles. However, the Wisconsin Lake Superior Scenic Byway represents 70 of the most memorable miles of that circle tour. 

Offering the perfect combination of spectacular scenery and quaint small towns, you can complete this 70-mile route in just a few hours—or a few days, if you take full advantage of everything the area has to offer.