Wisconsin's Door County

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

Wisconsin’s Door County

Overview

Join us for a memorable eight days of cycling in scenic Door County Wisconsin— a picturesque peninsula featuring 300 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and hundreds of miles of gently rolling low traffic roads. Although "Door County" sounds like a single place, the name refers to an area comprised of more than 3,000 square miles, 35 named islands, 19 delightful communities, thousands of diverse small businesses, and countless ways to spend a day, or a week.

Door County is home to five state parks, more than a dozen county parks, and eleven lighthouses. Famous for cherry orchards and the traditional “fish boil,” you’ll find restaurants, breweries, bakeries, cideries, coffee shops, and wineries for all tastes. While you won’t be climbing any mountains here, you’ll never be far from a shoreline, and Door County’s beaches, islands, lakes, forests, meadows, and nature preserves will leave your heart full.

For easy access to the beginning of the tour we start and end the ride in Green Bay, which offers a convenient regional airport. We will spend nights in each of the following cities: Green Bay, Sturgeon Bay (2), Ephriam (2), Ellison Bay (2), and enjoy a day trip to Washington Island via ferry. Our return route revisits Sturgeon Bay on the way back to Green Bay.

Known as “Titletown,” Green Bay is home to the NFL’s only publicly-owned franchise and legendary Lambeau Field. The city offers great restaurants and many other attractions including the National Railroad Museum, the Neville Public Museum, and the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and Museum. Our riverfront hotel is conveniently located downtown near the Fox River Bicycle Trail for easy access to explore the area.

Sturgeon Bay is home of the Door County Maritime Museum and Door County Historical Museum. We'll cycle along the scenic Green Bay shoreline and then climb the bluffs for a different view. Or, you may choose to ride south across the bay to visit the Maritime Museum or into Potawatomi State Park, terminus of Wisconsin's 1,000 mile Ice Age Trail, one of only 11 designated National Scenic Trails in the country.

We leave Sturgeon Bay cycling along the shipping canal toward the Coast Guard Lighthouse before turning north along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Along the way be sure to visit Cave Point County Park, known for its wave-worn limestone ledges and underwater caves. Take a break here to walk the trail or climb down to the water and dip your toes in Lake Michigan before continuing up the peninsula toward Ephraim.

From the historic harbor town of Ephraim we cycle the paved roads of beautiful Peninsula State Park where you can climb Eagle Tower for amazing views of Green Bay and visit Eagle Bluff Lighthouse before riding across the peninsula to visit Bailey’s Harbor and the Cana Island Lighthouse on Lake Michigan.

From Ellison Bay in northern Door County we’ll leave early to catch a ferry ride across “Death’s Door” (for which the county is named) to visit Washington Island for a day of cycling on some of the island’s 100 miles of paved roads. Take time to visit a lavender farm, a Norwegian Stavkirke, Schoolhouse Beach, or the Sievers School of Fiber Arts.

On our final two days we’ll begin our return by visiting the town of Sister Bay and then cycle south through scenic rural landscapes and cherry orchards on the peninsula’s central highlands. No shorelines today, but you'l enjoy miles of excellent low-traffic roads on your return to now-familiar Sturgeon Bay. On our last riding day we’ll return to Green Bay filled with memories of wonderful sights and adventures from our tour.

For more about Door County visit:  https://www.doorcounty.com/fall

Ride Rating

This tour is rated 1B, with five required riding days and three days where participants can choose their destinations or activities. All routes use rural roads popular with cyclists, and the ride leaders have ridden all of the routes. Average daily distance is about 42 miles with elevation gains averaging just over 1,100 feet per day. There are no extended climbs, but you will encounter a few short, steep hills when riding away from the shorelines. If you elect to ride every day, total mileage for the tour is about 350 miles. Our first ride includes a 6 mile section of crushed limestone bike trail rideable with 25mm or larger tires. An on-road alternative is possible for those not wanting to ride on the trail. For the layover days there will be a recommended route and sometimes also an optional route provided. Participants are free to choose either, or to take a day off from riding.

Cue sheets, maps, GPS files

All participants will be provided with a link to RidewithGPS (RWGPS) files for all of the routes six weeks prior to the tour so that you may download GPS files to your phone or navigation devices. Cue sheets and maps for all rides can be generated on RWGPS and riders who wish to use paper cue sheets and/or maps should print them at home prior to the tour and bring them along.

Weather

September is the ideal time to visit Door County. Temperatures are typically in the mid to low 70s during the day and in the 50s at night, though variations occur and rain is always possible. Participants should be prepared to ride in inclement weather if necessary. If there is rain it will feel cold. Plan to have protective rain gear. Evenings can be cool and a warm jacket is recommended.

Lodging & Meals

We will stay in a variety of lodgings during the week—a riverfront hotel in downtown Green Bay, a modern waterfront resort in Sturgeon Bay, and modest family-owned inns in the villages of Ephraim and Ellison Bay. Note that it will not always be possible to have your bike in your room due to lodging restrictions. We are planning three group dinners. Breakfast is provided our starting and ending hotel in Green Bay, but not at other lodgings; however restaurants are available nearby.

Logistics

The tour starts and ends in Green Bay Wisconsin at the Hampton Inn Green Bay Downtown (phone: 920-437-5900). We will meet on Tuesday, September 2nd at the hotel for introductions and a welcome meeting at 5:00 pm. Last riding day is Wednesday, September 10 and departure day is Thursday, September 11. Early departure on Wednesday afternoon is possible. We recommend flying into Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB) which is a short taxi or uber ride to the hotel. Those driving to Green Bay will be able to park at the hotel for free. Bike boxes can be stored in Green Bay during the tour. A van will be available to transport luggage and supplies.

Participants are expected to complete the required rides as the luggage van will not serve as a sag vehicle. Tandems and e-bikes are acceptable, however bike storage or access to electricity for charging may provide challenges due to lodging restrictions. Talk with the leader about this before signing up. Rental Bikes: Ride leaders are not coordinating bike rentals. Participants are responsible for their own arrangements. There is one bike shop in Green Bay that offers a limited number of rental bikes. If interested, contact Pete's Garage (phone 920-857-1690) for details. Though less convenient to our starting point, there is also a bike shop in Sturgeon Bay (a 50 minute drive from Green Bay) that rents road, hybrid, and e-bikes. Contact Nor Door Sport & Cyclery (phone 920-818-0803) for information. Participants are responsible for pick up and drop off of rentals.

Health and Safety

Participants are expected to come to the tour in good health and ready to ride. All participants should be vaccinated for covid and boosters are recommended. Participants may be asked to provide verification. Should someone's health become compromised and the group’s health and safety placed in jeopardy, protocols will be developed by the ride leader(s) and communicated to all participants. Participants who become ill or test positive for Covid but are still able to ride their bike can stay on the tour with precautions in place. This may involve required masking, social distancing, or isolation from the group. Participants who test positive for Covid or become ill and are unable to ride must isolate in place. That may mean departing the tour or arranging one’s own transport to subsequent hotels on the tour, and protocols for isolation will be necessary. The expectation is for the group to work together to mitigate any spread of infection or illness as a means to ensure the tour can continue as planned.  

Cost & Administration

The estimated cost of the tour is $1,550 per person double occupancy for 9 nights lodging, 8 happy hours, 3 group dinners, ferry passage to Washington Island, and all administrative costs including scouting of routes, preparation of GPS files, luggage van, and driver. After the tour we will provide a report of expenses and return any money that remains after expenses have been paid. There is an initial deposit of $800, with an additional final payment of $750 due on May 1st, 2025.

Singles and Solos Policy

We encourage single riders who are willing to share a room, and recommend that singles try to find their own roommates. The Ride Leader can assist by attempting to match singles who apply for the ride, but singles must make their own rooming decision. Singles will be asked to stay on the pending list until they secure a roommate. There will be a limited time-frame to do so if there are more BAC members on the wait list.

We have not reserved solo rooms and will only offer a solo option if the tour does not fill within a few months. In that case, the solo supplement would be $830 due by March 1, 2025, and details for making solo supplement payments by check or Zelle will be shared with solo riders as needed.

Cancellation Policy

The BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fees are not refundable unless the entire tour is canceled because the number of participants registered is less than the minimum established for the tour. Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations. If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the canceling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed. If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the canceling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour. BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

Ride Participant Responsibility

Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support. Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles. All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour. We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from the Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and cleanup. Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour. Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you might have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

Insurance Statement

Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. BAC maintains insurance that covers expenses related to accidents. This coverage applies when touring inside the US, regardless of your nationality. It’s assumed that members’ personal insurance will cover medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected sickness, so these have not been included in the BAC policy. Coverage is subject to a $1000 deductible. You may want to consider personal coverage for emergency evacuation, as this is not included. The costs of treatment or quarantine for Covid and other unexpected illnesses are not covered. You should ensure that your vaccinations are up to date. 

Sign-up

To submit a request to join this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC website to digitally accept the terms of Release of Liability (ROL) and pay the non-refundable BAC fee and tour deposit of $800 by credit card. As soon as your deposit has been processed your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. Final payment of $750 is due no later than May 1, 2025. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by “clicking” the name at the top of this Ride Description.