1 Roll Through Downtown Big Rapids

Right on Elm, right on S. State, right on Maple — downtown unfolds around you. Catch the mural on the historic Fairman Building, a nod to Big Rapids’ lumber-era roots, and pass Michigan Ave, where downtown shops, restaurants, and wellness businesses are worth circling back for. Stay straight on Maple past the historic Comstock House before crossing the Muskegon River.

Pit stop: top off your tank and grab road snacks at Currie’s Gas Station, just over the bridge.

2 Fuel Up Local

Right at the light past the Amoco station onto S. Third Ave. A little over a quarter mile down, turn left onto Colburn Ave, where Eastside Market makes a handy landmark and snack stop.

3 Into the Country

Colburn Ave becomes 16 Mile Road as the buildings thin out, passing the Michigan Army National Guard station, the Big Rapids Radio Network, and the Big Rapids Eagles. Cranhill Ranch is several miles further on — about 5 miles past the Eagles — at 160th Ave.

4 Chippewa Lake Comes Into View

About 10 miles in, the road curves sharply left — follow it about 3 more miles until Chippewa Lake opens up on the horizon. The Rooster Saloon, on 4th and Dwight, is a solid dining detour before you roll on through Chippewa Lake Township.

5 Barryton

Left at the T onto Chippewa Lake Road, which becomes 20 Mile Road, heading for Barryton — Amish markets line the way. By the village limits, you’re about 20 miles into the loop. Half a mile past the limit sign, turn right onto M-66; the Sunoco station will be on your left at the stop sign.

Worth a stop: Williams Café for a bite, and Memaw’s Mystery Shop for a browse through their ever-changing finds.

6 Remus

Stay on M-66 for about 11 miles, passing Martiny Lake and crossing into Sheridan Township, before you reach the M-20/M-66 intersection in Remus. Turn right onto M-20. Downtown Remus brings Remus Tavern and Remus Antiques & More. A quarter mile past downtown, Gwin Girls Winery and Tasting Room sits on the right at 9 Mile Road — M-20 and 9 Mile Road are the same road through here, so don’t let the two names throw you off.

7 Wheatland Country

About 2 miles past the Remus junction, 50th Ave splits off to the south — a worthwhile side quest if you have time. Wheatland Music Organization sits 2.5 miles down (you won’t see it from the main road), home to 2nd-Saturday jamborees and the Wheatland Music Festival every September. Staying on M-20/9 Mile Road, Hearty Harvest is a great stop for fresh produce, a pumpkin patch, apple cider, bounce houses for the kids, and one of the prettiest fall-photo backdrops on the whole loop.

8 Studio & Sculpture Stop

Continue straight at the curve to head onto 9 Mile Road (M-20 splits off here), and watch for Robert Barnum’s Sculpture Park on the left as you enter Morton Township — a scenic reason to slow down before reaching School Section Lake Campground.

9 Canadian Lakes

9 Mile Road Ts at School Section Lake Campground — take a left onto 90th Ave, then right onto Buchanan Road. CL Pizza is at the four-way stop; continue on for Hixson’s Family Market and Antler’s Fireside Grill. Golfers, take the detour: a left at the sign leads to Tullymore Golf Resort, one of Michigan’s top-rated public courses.

Don’t miss Highland’s Castle, tucked above The Highlands golf course, with some of the best panoramic fall-color views on the whole loop. There’s no street address for it — tap its pin on our interactive map, or plug in 43.60383, -85.32327 directly into your GPS.

10 Head for Home

From the Castle, wind out through Canadian Lakes on Golf Port Drive, Lost Canyon Drive, and Red Feather Trail — a scenic stretch through the community’s residential streets, past lakeside homes and mature trees that makes for one of the prettiest, quietest legs of the whole loop. From there, follow 120th Ave out to McKinley Road, then 157th Ave and 15 Mile Road, before joining M-20 for the homestretch back to Big Rapids.

Click to open the interactive tour map — see every stop, then tap any pin and hit Directions to start turn-by-turn navigation right from your phone.