Mackinac Bridge Walk Returns for 2021: What You Need to Know
Since 1958, Labor Day in Michigan has been celebrated as the only day of the year that pedestrians can walk across the Mackinac Bridge. The coronavirus pandemic led to the event’s cancellation in 2020, but the Mackinac Bridge Walk is back on for 2021. With this epic annual event only a few months away, the Mackinac Bridge Authority recently announced details for the event. There are several options for those that wish to walk the five miles across this Michigan landmark, which we will detail below. This is the only opportunity each year to walk this section of the North Country Trail, so anyone looking to add to their #Hike100 miles should be interested! Here are some fun facts about the bridge and everything you need to know for the 2021 Mackinac Bridge Walk:
- The Mackinac Bridge is the fifth longest suspension bridge in the world
- The Mackinac Bridge opened to vehicle traffic on November 1, 1957
- The total length of the Mackinac Bridge is 26,372 feet
- The 100 millionth vehicle to cross the bridge did so in June of 1998
This year’s event will follow the same plan as 2019. The bridge will be completely closed to vehicles from 6:30 a.m. to noon on September 6th. No bus transportation will be provided as there are several options for length of bridge walk. The event begins at 7 a.m. and no one will be allowed to start their walk after 11:30 a.m. There is no fee or registration required to participate in this event. You may begin your walk from either the St. Ignace (north) side of the bridge or the Mackinaw City (south) side of the bridge and do your walk in one of the following ways:
- Walk from either end of the bridge, turn around in the middle and return to where you started
- Walk from either end of the bridge and continue to the other side. You must reach the midpoint by 10 a.m., and are responsible for your own transportation back to your starting point once the bridge opens back up to vehicle traffic
- Walk from your starting point to the other side of the bridge, then turn around and walk back to your starting point. This is a 10-mile round trip walk, and you must reach the midpoint of the bridge on your return trip by 10 a.m.
Other things to note is that there are obviously no restrooms on the bridge, and it takes an average of two hours to cross its length. Stay hydrated, be prepared, and have fun! Stay up to date with any changes by heading to https://www.mackinacbridge.org/events/walk/. As we continue to work our way back to normal, seeing one of Michigan’s marquee events return is worth celebrating! If you plan on going we hope you have fun, and be sure to tell us about your experience!
