June 21, 2025  |  BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA
Bike Bemidji
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Celebrate biking in Bemidji by participating in the 2025 Loop the Lake Festival!  Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 21, 2025, to Loop the Lake on the longest day of the year!

The rolling start will be 7:30 - 10:00 am from South Shore Beach in Bemidji.  Please note the time change.

Bike Bemidji was created to promote outdoor physical activity, health, and clean air; encourage a bicycle-centered culture; showcase our community to visitors; provide a festive atmosphere that is family friendly; and contribute to the local economy.

Registration is now open!

Now - May 31st                                      June 1-19th                                     June 20-21st
Adult - $10.00                                         Adult - $20.00                                 Adult - $30.00
Youth -  $5.00                                         Youth -  $5.00                                 Youth - $10.00


2025 T-Shirts - $17.00 each
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Registration
Registrants can pick up their packets early on Friday, June 20th, from 4-7pm at the Tourist Information Center by Paul and Babe.
2024 PBTV Video
Click the above button and enjoy a video from Paul Bunyan TV encouraging you to participate in celebrating the Loop the Lake festival.

llf_covid_preparedness_plan_2021_draft1_signed.pdf
File Size: 6432 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

The Loop the Lake Festival Steering Committee wants to encourage our community to continue to engage in physical activity on a regular basis, while practicing social distancing.  The League of American Cyclists is promoting May as Bicycle Month.  Check out their website for more information: https://bikeleague.org/bikemonth.

We will be announcing other active events on our website, www.bikebemidji.com.

We thank our registrants, volunteers and sponsors for your commitment to this community event. 

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2019 Loop the Lake Festival Steering Committee
Front row:  Libby Underhill, Angie Clark, Jamie Anderson, Diane Pittman
Middle row:  Carla Weeks, Roxy Wallner
Back row:  Donna Palivec, John Tibstra, Muriel Gilman, Shannon Norman, Sue Olin, Pete Harrison
Not pictured:  Mark Morrissey

Festival Details

All skill levels can enjoy this bike ride around Lake Bemidji!
It is not a race but rather a festive event.  Safety is a high priority.  Wearing a helmet is strongly recommended.  Reflective bike stickers will also be available while supplies last. 


Course Map

17-mile loop (Download a PDF of the map)
Route begins at South Shore Beach, skirts the beautiful Lake Bemidji shoreline via the Westside Trail, Birchmont Dr., Birchmont Beach Rd into Lake Bemidji State Park, onto the Paul Bunyan Trail back to South Shore Beach.

Add to the enjoyment of the ride by stopping at stations along the way featuring food, music, and activities.


2024 Rest Stop Menus:  (numbers correspond to the ones on the map below)
1. Sanford Center (Start) -        3. Diamond Point Boat House -
    7:00-10:00am                                7:45-10:30am                                  

Coffee                                                     Bananas
Chocolate milk                                      Water                  
Water
Bagels                                             5. Ruttger's Birchmont Lodge -
Bananas                                              8:00-11:00am  Music by Lance Benson
Cookies                                               Coffee        Water
GF Energy Balls                                  Juice           Muffins
                                                            
6. Lake Bemidji State Park -
    8:15-12:00pm  
Music by No Rest for the Pickers

Coffee                              Potato chips
Water                               Hot dogs - plant-based hot dogs will be available   Bananas                          Hot dog buns and gluten free buns
Chocolate milk               Candies - dog shaped
Watermelon                   Cookies and GF Energy Balls
                                            
7. Whitetail Crossing on Paul Bunyan Trail -
    8:30-12:15pm

Water            Bananas
Cookies         Potato chips

9. Sanford Center (Finish) -
    10:30-1:00pm  
Music by Brock Beaulieu

Water                                   Apples
Cold Subs                            Bananas
Pizza                                     Cookies
Potato chips                        GF Energy Balls

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Want to ride longer than 17 miles? You got it! Download an alternative map to extend your biking fun.
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Delay and Cancel Decisions
Even though our steering committee has envisioned a beautiful summer day with light winds, sunshine and blue skies, we may not get what we want!  So, we will make any necessary decision to  DELAY or CANCEL the Bike Bemidji Loop the Lake Festival based on the National Weather Service (NOAA). 

DELAY:  rolling start will be delayed up to 2 hours if there is rain but the radar shows clearing within an hour or two, or if there is Watch or Warning that will expire.

CANCEL:
  If the miserable weather is “socked in” for the weekend we will cancel the event for this year. 

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Be part of this cool community event by volunteering your time.
Volunteer

Bike Rentals

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2018 Festival Slide Show
2017 Festival Slide Show
 2016 YouTube video
2015 Festival Slide Show
2014 Festival Slide Show

Updated: March 19, 2025
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This event is brought to you by many community partners: Shifting Gears, Bemidji Parks & Recreation, Visit Bemidji, Bemidji State University, Lake Bemidji State Park, MN DNR Trails & Waterways.
© Copyright 2014 Bike Bemidji. All rights reserved.