Touring Tuesday - Cycling Lake Erie Islands

Bicycles on Kelleys Island in Lake Erie (photo courtesy of A Dangerous Business Travel Blog)

Have you been dreaming of getting away from everything by going cycling on a remote island? Well, there are some islands in the Great Lakes that really aren't all that far away from central Indiana. The best known ones are Isle Royale in Lake Superior and Mackinac Island in Lake Huron, but all five lakes have islands. Here's a 2014 article about biking South Bass Island and Kelleys Island in Lake Erie.

The harbor area on South Bass Island is known as Put-In-Bay. It was the American base on Lake Erie during the War of 1812. From there, Oliver Hazard Perry led the American forces to victory at the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813. Today there is a 350 foot monument towering over the harbor, which is dedicated to Perry's victory and the peace that has existed between Great Britain, Canada and the United States since the War of 1812.

Kelleys Island is home to Kelleys Island State Park, which is located on the north side of the island. There are a couple mountain biking trails in the park. The North Shore / Alvar Loop Trail is a two mile intermediate level trail, while the East Quarry Trail is a beginner / intermediate trail that is five miles long. One sight that you will want to visit is the Glacial Grooves Geological Preserve. These grooves were carved out during the Ice Age.

To get to the islands you will need to take a ferry. There are several options:

• Kelleys Island Ferry
• Miller Ferries
• Jet Express

Here is a short video about cycling on the Lake Erie islands: