Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry will again be offering direct departures between Mackinaw City and St. Ignace for the 62nd Annual Mackinac Bridge Walk on September 2.
Direct service between Mackinaw City and St. Ignace will begin at 5:30 a.m. Advance tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children (ages 5–12) now through Sunday, August 25. Children under 5 are complimentary but do require a ticket for boarding. Monday, August 26 prices increase to $26 and $13 respectively.
Complimentary parking for guests riding with Shepler’s on Labor Day will be available in both Mackinaw City and St. Ignace as well as shuttle service to/from area hotels and campgrounds. In addition to regularly scheduled ground transportation, Shepler’s St. Ignace operation will also be providing transportation between the dock and Little Bear Arena where guests will then board bridge walk buses to the north base of the bridge. Guests traveling in and out of Mackinaw City will walk to the south base of the bridge from the dock and/or parking lot(s).
Tickets for the Labor Day Bridge Walk direct departures are not open-ended or round trip. Each ticket must be used for the date, time and departure location specified on the ticket.
This year’s bridge walk happens the morning of Labor Day, beginning at 7 a.m. and ending at 11:30 a.m. The Mackinac Bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic from 6:30 a.m. until noon.
To purchase tickets and for additional information, please visit sheplersferry.com.
Mackinac Bridge Double Crossers Club
Last year brought a lot of changes to the Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walk including the elimination of busing and the ability to start the walk from either St. Ignace or Mackinaw City. One exciting opportunity the new format introduced was the chance to walk the entire length of the bridge, turn around and walk back (a 10-mile circuit).
In 2018, the Mackinaw City Chamber of Commerce hosted the inaugural “Double Crossers Club” to celebrate the hardy individuals who walked the entire length of the bridge and back. In hopes of attracting the adventurous walkers again this year, the Chamber will host the second annual Double Crossers Club.
There is never a cost to participate in the Bridge Walk, but the official Double Crossers Club T-shirt is available to purchase at the Chamber of Commerce in Mackinaw City (707 N. Huron Ave), online at mackinawchamber.com or by calling 231-436-5574. Proceeds from shirt sales will directly support community programs and events hosted by the Chamber. T-shirts cost $25 (includes tax, shipping and processing fees). Order and pick up in person at the Chamber office to save $5.
Double Crossers are encouraged to start the walk promptly at 7 a.m. If any participant does not make it all the way across and back to center span by 10 a.m. they will be turned back to the nearest side and will be responsible for their own transportation across the bridge after the event ends. To be a Double Crosser you will need to keep a steady pace and know your ability. There is no transportation option available through the Chamber of Commerce, so please plan accordingly and start early! Double Crossers can purchase the shirt in advance through the Chamber and walk independently, there is no designated meeting location for the Double Crossers. Participants will recognize the shirts and be able to wave to their double crossing counterparts from the opposite shore as they cross paths near center span.