The Sleeping Bear S’more, September 15-19: join us for four days of camping in one of the most beautiful (and underrated) areas of the US: Sleeping Bear Dunes, in Michigan. This will be the perfect way to celebrate the end of Summer: riding wonderful roads through quaint villages, tubing down the Platte River, laying on the beach (fingers crossed for the weather), eating cherries in Traverse City, drinking wine in the Leelanau Peninsula.
This is a return to the origins for our group: the first CAMP S’more, back in 2019, was in this very same campground, and we haven’t been back as a group ever since.
The plan, in a nutshell, is the following:
Thursday, September 15: we will arrive on Thursday afternoon to the Platte River Sleeping Bear Dunes campground. This is right by where the Platte River meets Lake Michigan. Saying that this location is breathtakingly beautiful is an understatement.
If you cannot make it for Thursday night, no stress, you can join us on Friday night. There will be a welcome dinner for CAMP members both on Thursday and Friday - these are optional. Free s’mores every night, of course, for everyone.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday you will be able to choose among several activities: you can join daily group rides lead by one of our members along routes we have prepared for you; you can ride solo following one of the itineraries we will share with you in advance; or you can do whatever other activity you want - hiking the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, going to a wine tasting in Traverse City, rent a boat, tube down the Platte River while sipping on a drink.
On Monday morning we will go back home (but you can leave on Sunday, if you prefer).
Possibility for Chicagoland CAMPers to have their bike transported there and back for a fee - see below.
The event is capped at 25 participants.
Every participant will receive a Rider’s Book with curated rides and relative GPX files, things to do, logistics.
WHERE
Our base will be the Platte River Sleeping Bear Dunes campground. Flushable toilets, showers, proper bathrooms, water are all available. Our campsite will not have electricity - plan accordingly.
HOW MUCH
You only pay for your camping spot and for dinner on Thursday and Friday (if you want them). GPX files with curated roads and a riders’ info pack with things to do in the area will be sent to all participants.
$50: camping spot for the four nights in total (not per night - this is TOTAL, per person)
$10 per dinner on Thursday (including drinks)
$10 per dinner on Friday (including drinks)
Please note that the cost is PER CAMPer, not per tent. If two CAMPers share a tent, you need to buy two spots. Please note the price of your camping spot is the same whether you stay three or four nights, and it is the same whether you tent-camp or hammock-camp.
Please note: CAMP S’mores are open to members only. If you are not a member, please add your membership to your cart together with your S’more ticket. Your reservation will not be complete unless you are a member, and your spot will not be secured.
You don’t want to ride your motorcycle to/from there and you are in the Chicagoland? Good news: we can transport 2 motorcycles from the Chicagoland to destination and back for $200 per motorcycle, first come / first serve. If you are interested, please make a comment about this in the form at check out and we will follow up.
Please note we will be camping in bear country - there are no grizzlies, only black bears: bear-proof storage is provided at the campground. We will send out information that will help you to familiarize yourself about what to do when camping in bear country ahead of time.
