The Thumb Loop — Ride Plan
Two-day, two-up motorcycle ride around Michigan's Thumb, May 30-31, 2026. Rochester -> Bay City (optional) -> Caseville -> Port Austin overnight -> Harbor Beach -> Lexington -> Port Huron -> Rochester. Includes every locked stop, every lighthouse on the route, every Eagle aerie along the way, and three routes: Saturday Option I (Lakeshore Run), Saturday Option II (Edson Run), and the Sunday return. Coordinates are approximate; verify each address before riding.
FreshCoastMoto
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Full ride plan

Rochester, MI (Start/End)
Depart Saturday 10:00 AM; home Sunday ~3:30 PM.
Start

USS Edson - Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum
1680 Martin St, Bay City, MI. Option II anchor stop. Self-guided destroyer tour ~1h45. (989) 684-3946.
Museum

Colwood Bar
4990 Colwood Rd, Unionville, MI. Cash only. Saturday quick stop ~40 min (Option I) or optional ~30 min (Option II).
Bar

Beachy's - Caseville (LUNCH)
6567B Main St, Caseville, MI. Saturday lunch ~1:00 PM (Option I) or ~2:30 PM (Option II).
Restaurant

Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse
7320 Lighthouse Rd, Port Hope, MI. Drive-up + museum. 1857 tower, Michigan's first female lighthouse keeper (Catherine Shook). Saturday afternoon (Option I) or Sunday morning (Option II).
Lighthouse

Grindstone City, MI
Old grindstone harbor at the tip. Scenic stop near Pointe aux Barques.
Scenic

85ten Boutique Hotel (OVERNIGHT)
8510 Lake St, Port Austin, MI. LOCKED. One night, king bed, $249 cash. (989) 738-8510.
Lodging

The Garfield Inn (Backup stay)
8544 Lake St, Port Austin, MI. Alternate / backup. (989) 768-9099.
Lodging

The Farm Restaurant (SAT DINNER 8:00 PM)
699 Port Crescent Rd, Port Austin, MI. LOCKED bar seats 8:00 PM, kitchen till 10. (989) 874-5700.
Restaurant

St. Michael Church - Port Austin (SUN MASS 10:30 AM)
8661 Independence St, Port Austin, MI. Catholic (Annunciation of the Lord Parish). 10:30 Sunday Mass. (989) 738-7521. Sat 4:00 PM vigil if plans shift.
Church

Harbor Beach, MI
Sunday coast ride waypoint. Walk the breakwall for the lighthouse view.
City

Port Sanilac, MI
Sunday coast ride waypoint. You ride directly above the Sanilac Shores Underwater Preserve (Regina wreck site).
City

The Cadillac House - Lexington (SUN LUNCH)
5502 Main St, Lexington, MI. Tapestry-by-Hilton tavern. Sunday lunch ~12:45. (810) 359-7201.
Restaurant

Port Huron 1913 Storm Memorial
Pine Grove Park, Port Huron, MI. Optional last coastal stop honoring the Great Storm of 1913 victims.
Memorial

The Bank 1884 Food and Spirits (Backup A)
8646 Lake St, Port Austin, MI. Sat dinner backup, open till 9. (989) 738-5353.

Simms Still and Stogies (Backup B)
Inside the Garfield Inn, 8544 Lake St, Port Austin. Fri/Sat 4-10. (989) 738-0019.

Days on the Lake (Backup C)
Port Austin waterfront. Sat dinner backup, open till 9. (989) 738-7665.

Huron Street Cafe (Sun lunch alt - opens 8 AM)
Lexington, MI. Earlier alternative to the Cadillac House.

Windjammer (Sun lunch alt - noon+)
Lexington, MI. Opens noon Sundays.

Saginaw River Rear Range Light
Bay City, MI. 1876 range light, Option II side-trip.
Lighthouse

Charity Island Lighthouse
Big Charity Island, Saginaw Bay. 1857. BOAT ONLY - spot from the Caseville shore.
Lighthouse

Port Austin Reef Light
~2.5 mi off the Port Austin tip. 1878, rebuilt 1937. View from the breakwall.

Harbor Beach Lighthouse
Harbor entrance, Harbor Beach. 1885. View from shore or marina tour (1 Ritchie Dr).

Port Sanilac Lighthouse
On M-25 at the harbor, Port Sanilac. 1886, now a private residence. View from the road.

Fort Gratiot Lighthouse
2802 Omar St, Port Huron, MI. 1829 - Michigan's OLDEST lighthouse and first on Lake Huron. Drive-up, climb the 94-step tower. The grand finale.

Bay City Aerie - Fraternal Order of Eagles
350 River Rd, Bay City, MI. On the Option II Edson leg.
Bar

Caro Aerie
1440 W Caro Rd, Caro, MI. Inland thumb detour.
Bar

Caseville Aerie
7017 E Park St, Caseville, MI. On route, just past Beachy's.

Croswell-Lexington Aerie
50 Wells St, Croswell, MI. Minutes from the Cadillac House.

Port Huron Aerie #3702
2645 Howard St, Port Huron, MI. End of the loop; open daily from 10 AM.

Imlay City Aerie
170 S Almont Ave, Imlay City, MI. On the M-53 ride home.

Lapeer Aerie
3565 Davison Rd, Lapeer, MI. Inland alt route home.

Lake Orion Aerie
317 Clarkston Rd, Lake Orion, MI. Closest to home, a nightcap on the way back.

Saturday I - The Lakeshore Run
Rochester to Port Austin via the full thumb coast, no ship. Calm coastal day with the lighthouse in good afternoon light.
Rochester (depart 10:00 AM)
Colwood Bar, Unionville (~11:45)
Beachy's, Caseville (lunch ~1:00)
Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse
Grindstone City
85ten, Port Austin (check in ~5:30)
The Farm Restaurant (dinner 8:00 PM)

Saturday II - The Edson Run
Rochester to Port Austin via Bay City and the USS Edson, then the bay-side coast. Trades the leisurely Caseville afternoon for the destroyer tour.
Rochester (depart 10:00 AM)
USS Edson, Bay City (arrive ~11:30)
Colwood Bar (optional ~1:50)
Beachy's, Caseville (lunch ~2:30)
85ten, Port Austin (~4:40)
The Farm Restaurant (dinner 8:00 PM)

Sunday - Service and the Coast Home
Port Austin to Rochester via the Lake Huron coast. Mass at St. Michael, then south through Harbor Beach, Port Sanilac, Lexington (lunch), and Port Huron before turning inland.
85ten, Port Austin (lazy morning)
St. Michael Church (Mass 10:30 AM)
Harbor Beach
Port Sanilac
Cadillac House, Lexington (lunch ~12:45)
Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, Port Huron
Rochester (home ~3:30 PM)