Events

Plan your day and have fun! The Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore Chapter is NOT organizing any group hike for this event, this information is provided to assist you in the making of your plans.

The walk starts at 7am. It takes between 1.5 hours to 2 hours to walk across the whole bridge. You don’t have to start at 7am but don’t wait too long as your options for enjoying the day will be reduced as time passes that morning.

The Bridge will re-open to traffic at noon so plan for lunch accordingly — it may take an extra hour or two to drive back across if you start back at noon.

You can still walk the whole bridge, and you can hike south to north as well as north to south. There are several opportunities available to bridge walkers.

Option 1: The ‘over and back’ also known as the ‘Double Crosser’ (10 miles). If walking from Saint Ignace to Mackinaw City, start walking early enough to arrive in Mackinaw City by 9am and turn around and hike back north. You will need to reach the top (midpoint) of the bridge no later than 10am to avoid being turned back south. About that time they will begin ‘shortening’ the route to make sure that those who start at that time will finish their walk by noon so the ‘across walkers’ won’t be able to continue across after that time. At the end of your walk, you’ll be on the same side of the Bridge as your vehicle. Mackinaw City sponsors a ‘Double Crosser’ club, selling t-shirts before the bridge walk. Look for them around August 1st as they sell out well before the event.

Option 2: Walk Across (5+ miles). Start before 8:45am to make sure you get all the way across. There are options for getting back to your vehicle:
(a) Spot a vehicle on the opposite side of the bridge from your start point to provide return transportation.
(b) exchange keys with someone walking the other direction. (You should probably be acquainted with them and coordinate your crossing . . .)
(c) Take the ferry to Mackinac Island and then to the opposite mainland where your vehicle is parked.
(d) Ferry companies also may offer limited options for service between Mackinaw City and Saint Ignace. See Shepler’s Ferry and Arnold Transit Ferry. The direct ferry service, if available, has limited departures that morning. You may want to ride a ferry first and then hike back to your car. Shepler’s will take you to Mackinac Island where you can then board a ferry to Mackinaw City

Option 3: The “half-way out and back” (up to 5 miles) that returns you to your vehicle. Some people walk about 1/4 of the way across and turn around. This option allows you to decide how long a walk you want if you aren’t sure you can complete 5 miles.

NOTE: For 2025, the Saint Ignace shuttle bus from the Little Bear Arena to the north end of the bridge will NOT be running. Park at the Bridge View park off the Boulevard or as close as you can to the north end of the bridge. There WILL be a private shuttle offering rides to the Little Bear in Saint Ignace for a fee. Contact Northern Transport and Shuttle at 906-430-5337 for the north end of the bridge. In years past, several Saint Ignace hotels provided free shuttle service to or from the Bridge to their guests. Check with the hotel desk when you make your reservation.

Other creative options include kayaking or paddle boarding or parasailing or water skiing back to the side where your car is parked. These challenges and the resulting opportunities are similar to those faced by day-hikers on the North Country Trail every day.

Official website for the Labor Day Bridge Walk
Other websites: City of St. Ignace and St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce
Check these sites for any updates.