7 Motorcycle Tours for Fall
Fall Road Trips
Fall is the perfect time of year to rev up the motorcycle and tour some of Wisconsin’s best highways and back roads. Don’t miss out on the brisk air and brilliant fall color that accompanies these fantastic scenic drives during autumn.
1. Door County, WI Motorcycle Tours in Fall
Bordered by Lake Michigan on the east and Green Bay on the west, Door County has 300 miles of picturesque shoreline, more than any other county in the United States. It also has the most lighthouses, with 11 – many over a century old – and five state parks. Door County’s many cherry and apple orchards also make it a top spot for roadside produce stands. During the crisp autumn months, Door County’s maple, birch, oak and sumac trees burst into brilliant shades of fall color. Door County’s lodging facilities are many, from full-service resorts to charming B&B’s to camping in the scenic outdoors – perfect for relaxing after a day of touring the state by motorcycle.
2. Kettle Moraine Motorcycle Tours in Fall
Winding its way on country roads from Elkhart Lake to Whitewater Lake, the 120-mile Kettle Moraine scenic drive connects the Northern and Southern units of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. Glacial movement more than 10,000 years ago formed geological features such as gumdrop-shaped hills, steep ridges and shimmering lakes, creating a unique landscape. On Highway 167, near the mid-point of this drive, is Holy Hill, a historic national shrine with a chapel built in 1858. From this vantage point, more than 1,400 feet above sea level, visitors can see miles and miles of southeastern Wisconsin countryside, making it a popular pilgrimage during peak months of fall color. As you continue your ride south, don’t miss the opportunity to stop at Old World Wisconsin located in Eagle. Fall is the perfect time to visit this 600-acre re-creation of working farmsteads and settlements, with more than 65 buildings from the late 1800s-early 1900s. Autumn on the Farm events add to the abundance of things to experience on your visit to this one-of-a-kind Wisconsin historic site. Motorcycle tourists can look to the Greater Milwaukee area or Lake Geneva to the south, for a wide selection of premium lodging options.
3. Lake Michigan Circle Tour in Fall
Motorcyclists can follow the brown and white signs of the Lake Michigan Circle Tour and discover coastal villages, 35 distinctive lighthouses and the spectacular seascapes of Lake Michigan. History buffs will enjoy touring the restored buildings of Pioneer Village near Port Washington. In Sheboygan, a marina flanks beautiful beaches and the city offers a refurbished downtown complete with galleries, shops and restaurants. Kohler-Andrae State Park is another scenic gem on the shore of Lake Michigan with wooded campsites, 2.5 miles of sandy beach and a 200-acre wildlife refuge is adjacent to the almost 1,000-acre park.
4. Lake Michigan Maritime Tour in Fall
Forty miles of scenic Lake Michigan shoreline, rolling hills and quaint fishing villages along Highway 42 in Manitowoc and Kewaunee counties make the Lake Michigan Maritime Tour a popular motorcycle tour during the fall season. Visitors can step back in time at Two Rivers’ Rogers Street Fishing Village, tour the WWII-era Tug Ludington in Kewaunee or sample fine wine at the von Stiehl Winery in Algoma. Visitors can view the colorful coastline display while chasing a trophy salmon or trout on an exciting charter fishing trip, available in all three communities.
5. Great River Road Motorcycle Tours in Fall
Among the state’s top scenic motorcycle tours in fall is the Great River Road. This National Scenic Byway follows Wisconsin’s western border for 250 miles from Prescott to Potosi on Hwy. 35. Nestled between the mighty Mississippi River on one side and tall, rugged bluffs on the other, it offers wonderful vistas of the river valley and fall colors. Travelers have many lodging choices from historic inns to romantic B&B’s in one of the 33 quaint and historic river towns along the way. Other attractions include two wildlife refuges and several historic sites.
6. Great Divide National Scenic Byway Motorcycle Tour in Fall
Another memorable motorcycle tour in fall is the Great Divide National Scenic Byway that takes travelers through the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in northern Wisconsin. This 29-mile route from Hayward to Glidden on State Hwy. 77 is a spectacular drive for nature lovers. The tall pine forest is home to abundant wildlife and gives travelers the opportunity to immerse themselves in Wisconsin’s majestic Northwoods. Travelers looking for overnight accommodations will find that Hayward offers a variety of lodges, resorts and spectacular camping. The National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame is another not-to-miss attraction in the area.
7. Rustic Roads for Motorcycle Tours in Fall
Wisconsin’s Rustic Roads program preserves scenic, lightly traveled country roads for leisurely enjoyment including motorcycle tours of the countryside. The routes are numbered and marked by brown and yellow signs. Rustic roads are bordered by outstanding natural features, such as rugged terrain, native vegetation and wildlife, or wide, open spaces with breathtaking views of the fall colors.
