The 8-mile paved loop around the island is the best introduction to Mackinac and should be your first move after stepping off the ferry. By bicycle — rentable from any of several shops on Main Street at similar prices — the ride takes between one and two hours at a relaxed pace. The road hugs the shoreline for most of its length, with Lake Huron on one side and the rising wooded interior on the other. You'll pass limestone bluffs, small beaches, and the occasional roadside spring.
The most dramatic section is on the east and north sides of the island, where the bluffs rise directly from the water and the views open up across the Straits. You'll also pass Arch Rock — a natural limestone arch 146 feet above the lake — which is one of the island's most photographed features. The road is flat enough for casual cyclists and is closed to motor vehicles, so you share it only with horses, other cyclists, and the occasional pedestrian. Bring water; there are limited facilities along the route.