South Bend, IN: Michigan Fruit Belt

South Bend, IN: Michigan Fruit Belt

Ride through the orchards and vineyards of southern Michigan. In the fall, the smell of Concord grapes and ripe apples fills the air.

Author:	cvb
Date:	2 Oct 2007 7:33:14 AM
Activity:	Other ActivitySearchOther
State:	Michigan (MI)
Distance:	35.42 mi (Change units)
Elevation:	Total Gain: 440 ft Total Loss: 441 ft Net Change: -1 ft
Difficulty:	5 / 10
Tags:	Berrien Center, Michigan, South Bend
Rating:	Unrated Rate it

The ride starts in the village of Pokagon just east of Michigan-51(a bit north of Niles). You’ll find parking on the streets to the south and east of the Barron Lake/Pokagon Highway intersection.

This is a good training ride with plenty of rollers but no major hills. The state of Michigan may be best known as one of the major hubs of the American auto industry, but in this neck of the woods, farmland and wineries dominate the scenery and make for a pretty nice ride, particularly in the fall. See the points of interest on Tree-Mendous Fruit (Eureka Road), Wicks (Indian Lake Road), and Crooked Lake (Sister Lakes Road) for more info about possible rest stops.

Position Format:	Datum:

Tracks

South Bend, IN: Michigan Fruit Belt

Dist: 35.42 mi	Points: 73	Calories: none
Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi

Distance	Instruction		Distance to next
0.00 mi	Straight	Head west on Pokagon Hwy./Rt. 51	Then go 1.14 mi
1.14 mi	Turn Right	Pokagon Hwy.	Then go 0.53 mi
1.67 mi	Turn Right	Indian Lake Rd.	Then go 0.06 mi
1.73 mi	Turn Left	Sommers/Indian Lake Rd.	Then go 2.32 mi
4.04 mi	Turn Left	Smith Rd.	Then go 2.66 mi
6.71 mi	Turn Right	Painter School Rd.	Then go 3.04 mi
9.75 mi	Turn Left	MI Rt. 62	Then go 0.25 mi
10.00 mi	Turn Right	Preston Rd.	Then go 1.01 mi
11.00 mi	Turn Right	W. Eureka Rd.	Then go 2.23 mi
13.24 mi	Turn Left	Brush Lake Rd.	Then go 0.49 mi
13.72 mi	Turn Right	School St.	Then go 0.96 mi
14.68 mi	Turn Left	Indian Lake Rd.	Then go 3.47 mi
18.16 mi	Turn Left	Dixon St.	Then go 0.11 mi
18.26 mi	Turn Right	Sister Lakes Rd.	Then go 1.61 mi
19.87 mi	Bear Left	Sister Lakes Rd./690	Then go 0.62 mi
20.49 mi	Turn Right	MI Rt. 152	Then go 0.85 mi
21.34 mi	Turn Right	MI Rt. 152	Then go 1.66 mi
23.00 mi	Turn Left	Garret Rd.	Then go 3.72 mi
26.72 mi	Bear Right	Garret Rd.	Then go 0.53 mi
27.25 mi	Turn Right	School St.	Then go 0.51 mi
27.76 mi	Turn Left	Sink Rd.	Then go 4.40 mi
32.16 mi	Turn Right	Edwards St,	Then go 0.79 mi
32.95 mi	Straight	Crystal Springs St./Pokagon Hwy.	Then go 0.98 mi
33.93 mi	Turn Left	Wells St.	Then go 1.01 mi
34.95 mi	Turn Right	MI Rt. 51 S.	Then go 0.30 mi
35.24 mi	Bear Left	Barron Lake Rd.

Points of Interest

Old Rugged Cross Church in Pokagon

Location: 41.912114°, -86.173840°
The final version of this famous hymn was first sung at this church, which is currently undergoing restoration.

Concord Grape Vineyards

Location: 41.943915°, -86.245594°
Smell the grapes! Closer to Lake Michigan you'll find vineyards with Chardonnay, Cabernet and all of the famous wine grapes. Here, further west, Concord grapes--an old-time standby--are more plentiful. The smell of the ripening grapes in the autumn is so wonderfully aromatic it will lift you off the ground (well, it seems that way).

Tree-Mendous U-Pick

Location: 42.000708°, -86.249199°
Tree-Mendous U-Pick: A local institution. This u-pick orchard offers a wide variety of fruits. Visit the store for more fruits, jams, waffles, and other delights.

Wicks Apple House

Location: 42.039222°, -86.201477°
Offers fresh fruit and other goodies (closed in the winter months).

Sister Lakes Area

Location: 42.074782°, -86.201134°
Several lakes are clustered together here and the route wends its way between them. There's a couple of restaurants and other small businesses near the intersection of M-152 and Sister Lakes Rd.

Dewey Lake

Location: 42.056940°, -86.189118°
One of several lakes clustered in the "Sister Lakes" area.

The Fruit Belt

Location: 41.976721°, -86.191177°
Orchard Country: Lake Michigan moderates temperatures in southwest Michigan, hence the large number of orchards. Apples abound.