by Theresa Cobb

Created on: February 25, 2009   Last Updated: May 22, 2010

Experience one of the most intriguing, intoxicating and challenging rides a motorcyclist can take in the Great Lakes Region. Whether you ride a little Honda or cruise on a 1500cc Goldwing, the Tunnel of Trees, on Scenic M119 north of Harbor Springs, Michigan can take you on an all day excursion of discovery, wonder and breathtaking beauty.

The ten mile drive, on M119, into Harbor Springs, a small little village that sits on the shores of Little Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan, acts as the prelude to your cruise. It takes you past panoramic views of Little Traverse Bay, grand million dollar homes lining Main Street, unique shops and seemingly right up to the front steps of the historic Holy Childhood Catholic Church that sits in the center of town.

At the intersection just before the white pristine church, the motorcyclist takes a sharp right turn, riding past hidden shops, a small town post office and begins a curvy ascent up a small hill. It's not long before you'll see spectacular views overlooking the church steeple, rooftops and the sparkling blue waters of Little Traverse Bay. Painters, photographers and lovers alike have been known to stop on the side of the road and stare in reverence at the views that extend south of Harbor Springs all the way across the bay to Petoskey, Michigan.

Winding along the shoreline, past premier golf courses, gated estates and century old farms, Picturesque vignettes of the shoreline stretch south to Charlevoix for as far as the eye can see. Within minutes, the road narrows to a very lean two lanes, evoking a sense of old European country roads and trails. The road winds, dips, turns and curves quickly, without warning, slowing you down to a little more than a crawl in some places. Vehicles, large and small, appear as if from nowhere.

To your left the vista is intoxicating. The visual song it creates can seduce even the most experienced rider to take his or her eyes off the road, for a moment. As the road begins to climb higher above the lakeshore, majestic, century old trees line up, their roots tucked under the edge of the pavement, like sentry on guard. Their outstretched limbs and leaves offer solace and protection, blocking the sunlight and create the illusion of a series of quiet green tunnels. Hairpin turns become more frequent. Guardrails warn of sudden drop offs to the summer homes and water below. Intermittent bare sandy spots on the shoulder give testament to many a driver having to squeeze to the side to allow a much

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