$2995
/person
When you tip-toe through the humble origin near Lake Itasca, you will never believe this trickle of water will be the “Mighty Mississippi” emptying into the Gulf of Mexico some 2552 miles downstream.
Your cycling journey will take you from the headwaters of the Mississippi along the borders of eleven states. The tour is southbound, but not all down-hill.
Indulge in cuisine varying from Wall-eyed Pike and wild rice, St. Louis-style Ribs to Crawfish Etouffee and powdered Beignets.
Along your route, enjoy the scenery on the 150-mile paved Paul Bunyan Trail, urban trails in Minneapolis, St. Louis, Memphis and the levee trails in Louisiana. Take in the rollers along the farmlands of Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois. Relax or take in the sites of Anheuser Busch, The Arch or a day cruise on a riverboat in St. Louis. If you are a history buff, Memphis, Vicksburg and New Orleans will fill your head with facts on American, Native American and Civil War history. The impeccably maintained plantation houses of Louisiana will provide luxurious accommodations.
The Mississippi Bike tour is conveniently divided into 4 stages for those who cannot commit to the full 33-Day trek. The stages start and stop in major cities, making it easy to join any leg of the tour.
Starting Date
September 9, 2023
Registration is Open
Active – Advanced
2,057 miles
All lodging is included
All inclusive of meals on riding days, hotels, mechanic, guide and van support. No camping and no self supported options. Other details coming soon.
September 9 – October 12, 2023
Minneapolis Airport – pick up at 11 am; shuttle to Bemidji; bike fitting and Orientation Dinner
Shuttle to Headwaters – Bemidji – Paul Bunyan Trail – Walker
63.2miles / 1407 ft elevation
Highlights: Headwater, Paul Bunyan Babe Statues
Walker – Brainerd
71.8 Miles / 1695 ft elevation
Highlights: Paul Bunyan Trail
Brainerd – St. Cloud
77.2 miles / 1000 ft elevation
Highlights: Charles Lindbergh Museum
St. Cloud – Coon Rapids
62.4 miles / 1457 ft elevation
Highlights: Beaver Island Trail, Coon Rapid Dam
Coon Rapids – St. Paul
32.6 miles / 1076 ft elevation
Highlights: Extensive Urban Trail systems
OFF DAY – Airport pick up, St. Paul by 2 pm
Start of Stage II (712 miles / 22,400 ft elevation)
Highlights: Downtown Minneapolis / St. Paul
St. Paul – Red Wing
54 miles / 1693 ft elevation
Highlights: St. Paul waterfront
Red Wing – Wabasha – La Crosse, WI
98.2 miles / 2259 ft elevation
Highlights: Lake Pepin, Kellogg, River crossing
La Crosse – Prairie du Chien
59.8 miles / 1640 ft elevation
Highlights: History of PDC, Interpretive displays, Views from bluffs
Prairie du Chien – Dubuque, IA
77.7 miles / 4274 ft elevation
Highlights: Rural county roads, Potosi – catfish capital of Wisconsin, Dickeyville, River crossing
Hotel: Holiday Inn (450 Main St, Dubuque, IA)
Dubuque, IA – Fulton, IL
64.2 miles / 3364 ft elevation
Highlights: National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, rural riding, small towns
Fulton, IL – Davenport, IA
41 miles / 649 ft elevation
Highlights: Bellevue State Park
Davenport, IA – Burlington, IA
77.5 miles / 1781 ft elevation
Burlington, IA – Keokuk, IA
48.6 miles / 1730 ft elevation
Highlights: Riverfront trails, Rural roads, Ft Madison, Hopewellian Mounds
Keokuk, IA – Hannibal, MO
62.1 miles / 1535 ft elevation
Highlights: Rolling Hills, Rural routes, MRT
Hannibal, MO – Pere Marquette, IL
80.2 miles / 2387 ft elevation
Highlights: Mark Twain Hometown, Louisiana MO and cross MR into IL
Pere Marquette, IL – St Louis, MO
48.9 miles / 1088 ft elevation
Highlights: Chain of Rocks Bridge, cross MR back into MO, riverfront trails in St Louis
OFF DAY in St Louis; 2pm Airport pickup
Start of Stage III (395 miles / 13,460 ft elevation)
Highlights: Gateway Arch, Budweiser Tour
St Louis, MO – St. Genevieve, MO
67.6 miles / 3687 ft elevation
Highlights: Arch, Mural, Wall, Rt 66, Pevy, St. Genevieve history and interpretive displays
St. Genevieve, MO – Cape Girardeau, MO
68.4 miles / 3375 ft elevation
Highlights: Historic downtown Cape Girardeau, Dexter BBQ
Cape Girardeau, MO – Union, TN
94.0 miles / 1806 ft elevation
Highlights: Floodwall murals, Fruitland, rural routes, Louis and Clark expedition, Ferry to Kentucky
Union, TN – Ripley, TN
99.6 miles / 2234 ft elevation
Highlights: Reelfoot lake, MRT, Landscapes changes
Ripley, TN – Memphis, TN
65.4 miles / 2401 ft elevation
Highlights: Serious rural routing on the MRT
OFF DAY in Memphis
Start of Stage IV (623 miles / 9880 ft elevation)
Highlights: Riverfront attractions, Mud Island, Beall Street, local cuisine
Memphis, TN – Helena, AR
92.5 miles / 1325 ft elevation
Highlights: Arkansas, Horseshoe Lake, Levee Wall Murals, Blues Heritage Trail
Helena, AR – Greenville, MS
102 miles / 1127 ft elevation
Highlights: Moon Lake, Temple Mound, Rural Routing
Greenville, MS – Vicksburg, MS
102.5 miles / 762 ft elevation
Highlights: Rural – Flat riding
Rest Day in Vicksburg
Highlights: Guided tour at Vicksburg Battlefield National Park, Murals, Historic Downtown
Vicksburg, MS – Natchez, MS
82.1 miles / 4184 ft elevation
Highlights: Natchez Trace Parkway, Emerald Mound
Natchez, MS – New Roads, LA
85 miles / 491 ft elevation
Highlights: Riverfront views from the bluffs, flat easy riding into Louisiana
New Roads, LA – Baton Rouge, LA
59.8 miles / 1080 ft elevation
Highlights: Downtown Baton Rouge, Levee trails
Baton Rouge, LA – Darrow, LA
43.3 miles / 236 ft elevation
Highlights: Levee trails, LSU campus, Plaquemine ferry and locks, elegant plantation hotel settings
Darrow, LA – New Orleans, LA
75.8 miles / 500 ft elevation
Highlights: Levee trails, views of metro New Orleans, Audubon Park, Lafayette Cemetery, Garden District; bonus miles the following morning with an in-town tour
Vim quando recteque at, vel amet utinam intellegam ut, quo deleniti democritum ut. Petentium omittantur ad duo, cu phaedrum deserunt.
Cycle of Life Adventures is a boutique-style bicycle and active vacation company, focused on providing excellent service to intimate groups. We are a very personal business with the singular goal of creating exceptional trips for all of our guests at an incomparable value.