6 Must See Sites While Biking Mackinac Island

When people think of Mackinac Island, often the iconic Main Street lined with shops and bustling with horse and carriages and bicyclists, or the magnificent Grand Hotel, come to mind. While these are certainly must sees while visiting, there are also so many other amazing sites to explore - many of which can be found in the interior of the island. If you plan to visit some (or all) of these places, the best way to do so is on a bike. We rented ours for 24 hours during our last visit which gave us the freedom to get up early and explore before the crowds arrived on the ferries and catch the best views of the sunset late in the evening. Completing the iconic 8.2 mile bike ride around the island is also a must do, but if you're looking to avoid crowds and see some of the unique geographic features keep reading. 

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Arch Rock

This is easily the most famous rock formation on Mackinac Island. ​The arch is more than fifty feet wide and can be viewed from the top as well as below while biking the perimeter of the island. Be sure to climb to the second observation deck for views of the coastline. This is a great spot to watch the sunrise over Lake Huron and it's best to get there early in the morning to beat the crowds as this is a stop on many of the carriage tours. 

Sugarloaf

From Arch Rock, you'll ride a gorgeous trail through the forest to reach your next stop - Sugarloaf. This rock formation is the tallest limestone stack on the island and stands 75 tall. It is believed to have been formed as the high waters of Lake Algonquin drained away and eroded the surrounding rock. Unlike Arch Rock, you can get up close to Sugarloaf and even touch it (no climbing). If you're looking for more of a hike, take the stairs to nearby Point Lookout which is one of the higher points on the Island and provides a different view of the rock from above.

Fort Holmes

​Our next stop required parking our bikes and climbing (a lot) of stairs to reach the highest point on the island which is home to Fort Holmes as well as views of the Mackinac Bridge, light houses, and Round Island. The fort was originally constructed by British soldiers in 1814 during the War of 1812 and was recently restored. This historic site is free and open to the public May through October. 

Skull Cave 

This stop is easily accessible off the side of the road and a neat piece of Michigan's history. Skull Cave was believed to have once been a Native American burial group as well as the hiding place for English fur trader Alexander Henry during Pontiac’s Rebellion in 1763. 

Crack in the Island

This is a lesser known geologic formation, but still a fun stop. You'll find Crack-in-the-Island Trail located on State Road near the airport. This stop does require a short hike through the forest and the trail was a bit muddy. Crack in the island is just like a sounds - a giant crack in the middle of the island where the limestone base has split. It's so wide in some spots you can actually climb down inside it. On this trail, you'll also pass Cave of the Woods which is another shallow cave carved out of the surrounding rock.

Sunset Rock

This stop will require you to rent your bikes overnight, or bring your own, if you plan to visit when then sun sets after the bike shops have closed. It was too cloudy during our visit, but you can imagine how the sunset would look from here on a clear day. This stop is a bit tricky to find as on the map it appears to be on the perimeter of the island. However, to reach it you'll want to head toward The Woods restaurant which is located on the back nine of The Jewel. From here you'll walk toward The Inn at Stonecliffe and head around the left side of building through the backyard of the property where you'll find a trail through the forest. Follow this southwest toward the water until you reach the bluff, turn right and keep following the trail and eventually you'll see a set of old stone stairs that will take you up to Sunset Rock.