Tour de TART

TART Trails is thrilled to be hosting the annual Tour de TART family-friendly bicycle ride on Friday, July 19, 2024! Tour de TART is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network.

Riders of all ages and abilities are invited to hit the TART and Leelanau Trails for an evening ride that begins in Traverse City and ends at North Park in the Village of Suttons Bay.

Participants may begin anytime between 4 pm and 6:30 pm from Darrow Park in Traverse City. Riders will enjoy two food stops along the 17-mile ride, a bayside meal at North Park in Suttons Bay, a cash bar with local wine and microbrews, and then a relaxing bus ride back to Traverse City. Return bus service begins at 6 pm and the last bus departs at 9 pm sharp. All bikes are transported back to Traverse City in a safe and secure moving truck. Bikes will be monitored by volunteers until owner and bike are reunited. All participants will receive a numbered wrist band at check in that corresponds to the number assigned to their bike. 

When
Friday, July 19, 2024
Rolling start between 4:00 - 6:30 pm (riders can start anytime within that window of time!) until 9:00 pm

Where
Start | Darrow Park, 1025 Bay Street, Traverse City
Finish | North Park, 601 Front Street, Suttons Bay, M

Route
Riders begin on the TART, which transitions to the Leelanau Trail at the Caboose on Carter Road. The ride is about 17 miles along a paved trail that takes users through rolling hills, forests, orchards and meadows and past streams, lakes and ponds. There are two aided food and water stops along the route at Fouch Road and Bingham Road respectively. 

Parking & Bathrooms
Parking for Darrow Park is available at the following locations:

• Bayview Building, 10850 E Traverse Hwy – in the back. Please DO NOT park in the front lot facing the bay.
• Larkin Group, 13900 S Bay Shore Dr
• Traverse Bay Methodist, 1200 Ramsdell St
• PLEASE DO NOT PARK ON MONROE, MADISON, ELMWOOD or SPRUCE–these side streets are for residential parking only.

Bathrooms can be found at the Cherry Bend Road trailhead, DeYoung Natural Area trailhead, Bingham Road rest stop, Suttons Bay pond/lagoon area, Suttons Bay Fourth Street trailhead, Suttons Bay beach by the marina, and at North Park in Suttons Bay.

Return Transportation
Riders will be transported back to Traverse City by school bus. Buses leave when full, with the first bus leaving around 6 pm and the last bus leaving at 9 pm sharp. Bikes will accompany the busses on trucks.

Pre-Event Shuttle
Riders who wish to start and finish in Suttons Bay will have the opportunity to park at North Park and take the pre-ride shuttle from Suttons Bay to Traverse City to begin the ride at Darrow Park in Traverse City. The pre-ride shuttle leaves North Park in Suttons Bay at 4 pm sharp, so please arrive early for bike loading. 

PLEASE NOTE This is not the post-event shuttle back to Traverse City. The post-event shuttle is available for all participants who started in Traverse City and finished in Suttons Bay.

WEATHER CANCELLATION 
In the event of inclement weather (thunder, lightning, threatening rain), we may postpone or cancel Tour de TART. Please check emails the morning of the event for updates. In the event of cancellation or postponement, you registration fee is non-refundable, but will be considered a tax-deductible donation to TART Trails.