Mishigami Challenge

The Mishigami Challenge is a 1,121-mile (approximately 1,804-kilometre) road loop around Lake Michigan, passing through four US states — Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin — on quiet roads along one of the world's largest freshwater lakes. The route is entirely on tarmac, predominantly flat, and follows the lake's perimeter through a mix of small lakeside towns, sandy beach roads, forested shoreline, and agricultural midwest landscapes. Mishigami is the Ojibwe name for Lake Michigan, meaning large lake, and the event takes its name and spirit from the indigenous heritage of the Great Lakes region. The self-supported format makes navigation, resupply, and pacing the primary challenges rather than terrain or elevation — flat ultra races have their own particular demands, requiring sustained consistent effort without the natural rhythm-breaking of climbs and descents. The lake is an almost constant presence on the route, appearing and disappearing behind dunes, trees, and towns, and the light on the water in the early morning and late evening is a consistent reward for riders covering the distance. The event is now managed under the Midwest Ultra Cycling umbrella, which also hosts the Driftless Dagger and other regional ultra events. Completion typically requires 7 to 12 days of riding.

Date to be confirmed: 2026 (exact date on registration page)