1515:
198:
winter, and travel up the
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway in the spring. Depending on speed of travel, the route can take as little as two months, but more typically it takes about a year to complete the trip. The route may also be completed in segments. The current record time for completing the great loop is 19 days, 19 hours, and 50 minutes. This run took place between June 15 and July 6, 2024, and was completed by Scott Flowers, Mike Bailey, and Scott Swerdfeger.
22:
131:
473:
The
America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association (AGLCA) assists Great Loop cruisers by sharing safety and navigational and cruising information, while providing a networking platform for Loopers through its members-only discussion forum. Boaters can exchange information about topics such as marinas,
197:
There is no single route or itinerary to complete the loop. To avoid winter ice and summer hurricanes, boaters generally traverse the Great Lakes and
Canadian waterways in summer, travel down the Mississippi or the Tennessee–Tombigbee Waterway in fall, cross the Gulf of Mexico and Florida in the
1361:
474:
locking through, water depth, hazards, repairs, fuel prices or dinner reservations and sight seeing. The AGLCA also hosts twice-yearly gatherings for
Loopers currently on the Loop and those planning a Great Loop trip.
1409:
1331:
169:
is a system of waterways that encompasses the eastern portion of the United States and part of Canada. It is made up of both natural and man-made waterways, including the
Atlantic and Gulf
1321:
201:
Loopers can begin at any point along the route, and when they return to their starting point, they are said to have "crossed their wake" and to have finished the Great Loop.
1449:
1464:
1351:
1209:
1146:
276:. Because of issues such as heavy barge traffic, lack of marinas and scarcity of fuel sources on the Lower Mississippi River, most Loopers opt for the
1371:
1079:
1202:
1486:
483:
1141:
659:
1501:
1399:
807:
1128:
1491:
1419:
1376:
345:
The Loop continues up the ICW along
Florida's Atlantic Coast, through coastal Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. To reach
105:
533:
1469:
218:
1543:
1366:
1356:
354:
43:
358:
86:
1326:
1316:
443:
Lake Huron is a destination for all Looper boats, regardless of route and any side-trips. All boats have to transit the
269:
186:
58:
1197:
39:
1548:
1192:
1106:
65:
32:
1183:
1158:
1151:
858:
331:
1558:
1280:
652:
330:, Looper boats eventually have to cross the Gulf of Mexico to the main part of Florida. The ICW continues from
257:
1434:
1538:
1459:
1404:
1101:
817:
72:
1439:
1341:
1084:
1030:
837:
447:
at the top of
Michigan's Lower Peninsula and enter Lake Michigan. Optional side-trip is going through the
265:
1479:
1290:
1235:
1000:
967:
429:
323:
170:
54:
1300:
1275:
1035:
366:
1553:
1346:
1336:
1295:
1116:
1096:
1072:
645:
444:
385:
1474:
1285:
1214:
1067:
853:
832:
822:
350:
253:
1454:
1394:
1163:
868:
401:
327:
296:
281:
246:
242:
226:
210:
182:
1424:
901:
774:
744:
238:
230:
1136:
1062:
942:
916:
885:
873:
800:
389:
335:
312:
304:
300:
292:
261:
222:
541:
416:. Many others — especially those too tall for the Western Erie Canal Bridges — take the
79:
1429:
1260:
1250:
1240:
1178:
977:
863:
812:
739:
734:
724:
370:
346:
308:
273:
234:
252:
Traveling down the inland rivers such as the
Mississippi River, a Looper travels past
1532:
1230:
1168:
1111:
1057:
1050:
1045:
1040:
1020:
972:
703:
693:
612:
563:
503:
425:
374:
316:
285:
214:
1519:
1444:
1270:
1255:
1245:
1173:
962:
957:
952:
937:
878:
795:
779:
719:
698:
632:
437:
421:
417:
381:
362:
339:
458:
or
Michigan coasts as they make their way south on Lake Michigan back to Chicago.
237:. The Illinois River travels west, through several locks, then southward, through
1496:
1265:
982:
921:
827:
729:
668:
174:
21:
637:
1025:
906:
769:
688:
413:
397:
291:
Traversing the 184 mile length of
Kentucky Lake, Looper boats continue up the
277:
178:
1362:
Great Lakes–Saint Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement
1089:
947:
911:
683:
455:
448:
405:
400:, however. Shorter height boats may choose to travel the entire canal to
393:
433:
409:
357:. Cruising north through Chesapeake Bay, Loopers eventually reach the
130:
467:
627:
118:
System of waterways in the eastern United States and part of Canada
264:, boaters must decide whether to continue down the Mississippi to
641:
189:. The entire loop stretches about 6,000 miles (9,700 km).
15:
584:
311:. Some boaters choose to continue up the Tennessee River to
1332:
Great Lakes Basin Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Program
622:
617:
260:. At the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers at
470:, and those who have completed the loop fly a gold one.
284:. Leaving Paducah, boaters soon lock up to the level of
334:. Loopers may choose to either cross South Florida via
466:
Those boaters who are on the loop often fly a white
1387:
1322:
Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers
1309:
1223:
1127:
1013:
993:
930:
894:
846:
788:
762:
753:
712:
676:
396:, Canada. Most Loopers traverse all or part of the
369:, all but the smallest boats have to travel in the
155:
147:
142:
123:
46:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
424:. This option allows Loopers to either take the
295:and turn off onto the Tenn-Tom Waterway, near
268:, or go up the Ohio River on the more typical
213:, area, "Loopers" have the option to take the
1352:Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory
653:
454:Loopers have the option to follow either the
388:. Here, some Loopers keep going north on the
299:. A series of locks lower boats to the Lower
8:
628:What to Expect Cruising America's Great Loop
585:"America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association"
428:to Lake Erie or to cruise along the scenic
151:Eastern portion of United states and Canada
759:
660:
646:
638:
618:America's Great Loop Cruiser's Association
613:What is the Great Loop? NOAA Ocean Service
589:America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association
129:
527:
525:
106:Learn how and when to remove this message
623:Ron and Eva Stob's Raven Cove Publishing
495:
120:
484:Inland waterways of the United States
7:
44:adding citations to reliable sources
1400:Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac
384:in New York, boats travel up it to
633:Moving boats around the Great Loop
14:
1147:Isle Royale National Park Islands
365:. After crossing Delaware Bay to
1513:
534:"The Great Loop By Pontoon Boat"
209:Assuming one is starting in the
20:
245:, the Illinois River joins the
219:Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal
31:needs additional citations for
1367:International Joint Commission
1357:Great Lakes Fishery Commission
355:Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal
322:Continuing eastward using the
1:
359:Chesapeake and Delaware Canal
349:, boats have a choice of the
159:6,000 mi (9,700 km)
1327:Great Lakes Areas of Concern
1317:Alliance for the Great Lakes
451:and visiting Lake Superior.
270:Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway
187:Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway
1193:Province of Ontario Islands
392:and do a side-loop through
303:, which eventually reaches
1575:
338:or sail around it via the
137:to complete the Great Loop
1510:
1465:Museum and historic ships
1198:State of Michigan Islands
504:"What is the Great Loop?"
361:and travel through it to
128:
1281:Midcontinent Rift System
332:St. Petersburg southward
258:Cape Girardeau, Missouri
1102:Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal
1450:Marine protected areas
1440:Lake Michigan Triangle
1342:Great Lakes Commission
1085:Sault Ste. Marie Canal
412:, eventually reaching
307:, a major port on the
280:and motor upstream to
266:New Orleans, Louisiana
229:. The waterway passes
171:Intracoastal Waterways
1544:Intracoastal Waterway
1291:Nipissing Great Lakes
1236:Glacial Lake Iroquois
1142:Detroit River Islands
1107:Trent–Severn Waterway
574:|CaptainJamesLowe.com
430:Trent-Severn Waterway
324:Intracoastal Waterway
233:and soon becomes the
1301:Wisconsin glaciation
1276:Last Glacial Maximum
1036:Great Lakes Waterway
367:Cape May, New Jersey
40:improve this article
1435:Lake Michigan–Huron
1347:Great Lakes Compact
1337:Great Lakes Charter
1296:Scotch Bonnet Ridge
1097:Straits of Mackinac
1073:St. Lawrence Seaway
445:Straits of Mackinac
386:Waterford, New York
135:Two possible routes
1286:Niagara Escarpment
1215:Potawatomi Islands
1203:Lake Huron Islands
1068:St. Lawrence River
854:Grand Traverse Bay
833:St. Joseph Channel
823:Potagannissing Bay
436:, Canada to reach
351:Dismal Swamp Canal
1549:Mississippi River
1526:
1525:
1455:Marysburgh vortex
1164:Manitoulin Island
1159:Lake Erie Islands
1009:
1008:
869:Little Bay de Noc
532:Schulte, Brigid.
402:Buffalo, New York
328:Florida Panhandle
297:Iuka, Mississippi
282:Paducah, Kentucky
247:Mississippi River
243:Grafton, Illinois
227:Des Plaines River
211:Chicago, Illinois
205:Route information
163:
162:
116:
115:
108:
90:
1566:
1520:Lakes portal
1518:
1517:
1516:
1425:Lake-effect snow
1224:Historic geology
902:Hamilton Harbour
775:Presque Isle Bay
760:
671:of North America
662:
655:
648:
639:
600:
599:
597:
595:
581:
575:
573:
571:
570:
560:
554:
553:
551:
549:
540:. Archived from
529:
520:
519:
517:
515:
500:
326:(ICW) along the
319:as a side-trip.
133:
121:
111:
104:
100:
97:
91:
89:
48:
24:
16:
1574:
1573:
1569:
1568:
1567:
1565:
1564:
1563:
1559:Tennessee River
1529:
1528:
1527:
1522:
1514:
1512:
1506:
1383:
1305:
1219:
1184:Treasure Island
1137:Apostle Islands
1123:
1080:St. Marys River
1063:St. Clair River
1005:
989:
943:Chequamegon Bay
926:
890:
886:Manitou Passage
874:Porte des Morts
842:
801:Nottawasaga Bay
784:
755:
749:
713:Secondary lakes
708:
672:
666:
609:
604:
603:
593:
591:
583:
582:
578:
568:
566:
564:"Inland Rivers"
562:
561:
557:
547:
545:
531:
530:
523:
513:
511:
502:
501:
497:
492:
480:
464:
440:on Lake Huron.
404:, then through
390:Champlain Canal
336:Lake Okeechobee
313:Chattanooga, TN
301:Tombigbee River
293:Tennessee River
262:Cairo, Illinois
223:Cal-Sag Channel
207:
195:
138:
136:
119:
112:
101:
95:
92:
49:
47:
37:
25:
12:
11:
5:
1572:
1570:
1562:
1561:
1556:
1551:
1546:
1541:
1539:Illinois River
1531:
1530:
1524:
1523:
1511:
1508:
1507:
1505:
1504:
1499:
1494:
1489:
1484:
1483:
1482:
1472:
1467:
1462:
1457:
1452:
1447:
1442:
1437:
1432:
1430:Lake freighter
1427:
1422:
1417:
1412:
1407:
1402:
1397:
1391:
1389:
1388:Related topics
1385:
1384:
1382:
1381:
1380:
1379:
1372:Municipalities
1369:
1364:
1359:
1354:
1349:
1344:
1339:
1334:
1329:
1324:
1319:
1313:
1311:
1307:
1306:
1304:
1303:
1298:
1293:
1288:
1283:
1278:
1273:
1268:
1263:
1261:Lake Frontenac
1258:
1253:
1251:Lake Algonquin
1248:
1243:
1241:Lake Admiralty
1238:
1233:
1227:
1225:
1221:
1220:
1218:
1217:
1212:
1207:
1206:
1205:
1195:
1190:
1189:
1188:
1187:
1186:
1179:Lake Mindemoya
1176:
1171:
1161:
1156:
1155:
1154:
1144:
1139:
1133:
1131:
1125:
1124:
1122:
1121:
1120:
1119:
1109:
1104:
1099:
1094:
1093:
1092:
1087:
1077:
1076:
1075:
1065:
1060:
1055:
1054:
1053:
1043:
1038:
1033:
1028:
1023:
1017:
1015:
1011:
1010:
1007:
1006:
1004:
1003:
997:
995:
991:
990:
988:
987:
986:
985:
980:
978:Batchawana Bay
970:
965:
960:
955:
950:
945:
940:
934:
932:
928:
927:
925:
924:
919:
914:
909:
904:
898:
896:
892:
891:
889:
888:
883:
882:
881:
876:
871:
866:
864:Big Bay de Noc
856:
850:
848:
844:
843:
841:
840:
835:
830:
825:
820:
815:
813:Munuscong Lake
810:
805:
804:
803:
792:
790:
786:
785:
783:
782:
777:
772:
766:
764:
757:
751:
750:
748:
747:
742:
737:
732:
727:
722:
716:
714:
710:
709:
707:
706:
701:
696:
691:
686:
680:
678:
674:
673:
667:
665:
664:
657:
650:
642:
636:
635:
630:
625:
620:
615:
608:
607:External links
605:
602:
601:
576:
555:
521:
494:
493:
491:
488:
487:
486:
479:
476:
463:
462:Looper culture
460:
371:Atlantic Ocean
347:Chesapeake Bay
309:Gulf of Mexico
274:Gulf of Mexico
235:Illinois River
206:
203:
194:
191:
161:
160:
157:
153:
152:
149:
145:
144:
140:
139:
134:
126:
125:
117:
114:
113:
28:
26:
19:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1571:
1560:
1557:
1555:
1552:
1550:
1547:
1545:
1542:
1540:
1537:
1536:
1534:
1521:
1509:
1503:
1500:
1498:
1495:
1493:
1490:
1488:
1485:
1481:
1478:
1477:
1476:
1473:
1471:
1468:
1466:
1463:
1461:
1458:
1456:
1453:
1451:
1448:
1446:
1443:
1441:
1438:
1436:
1433:
1431:
1428:
1426:
1423:
1421:
1418:
1416:
1413:
1411:
1408:
1406:
1403:
1401:
1398:
1396:
1393:
1392:
1390:
1386:
1378:
1375:
1374:
1373:
1370:
1368:
1365:
1363:
1360:
1358:
1355:
1353:
1350:
1348:
1345:
1343:
1340:
1338:
1335:
1333:
1330:
1328:
1325:
1323:
1320:
1318:
1315:
1314:
1312:
1310:Organizations
1308:
1302:
1299:
1297:
1294:
1292:
1289:
1287:
1284:
1282:
1279:
1277:
1274:
1272:
1269:
1267:
1264:
1262:
1259:
1257:
1254:
1252:
1249:
1247:
1244:
1242:
1239:
1237:
1234:
1232:
1231:Champlain Sea
1229:
1228:
1226:
1222:
1216:
1213:
1211:
1208:
1204:
1201:
1200:
1199:
1196:
1194:
1191:
1185:
1182:
1181:
1180:
1177:
1175:
1172:
1170:
1169:Lake Kagawong
1167:
1166:
1165:
1162:
1160:
1157:
1153:
1150:
1149:
1148:
1145:
1143:
1140:
1138:
1135:
1134:
1132:
1130:
1126:
1118:
1115:
1114:
1113:
1112:Welland Canal
1110:
1108:
1105:
1103:
1100:
1098:
1095:
1091:
1088:
1086:
1083:
1082:
1081:
1078:
1074:
1071:
1070:
1069:
1066:
1064:
1061:
1059:
1058:Nipigon River
1056:
1052:
1049:
1048:
1047:
1046:Niagara River
1044:
1042:
1041:Chicago River
1039:
1037:
1034:
1032:
1029:
1027:
1024:
1022:
1021:Detroit River
1019:
1018:
1016:
1012:
1002:
999:
998:
996:
992:
984:
981:
979:
976:
975:
974:
973:Whitefish Bay
971:
969:
966:
964:
961:
959:
956:
954:
951:
949:
946:
944:
941:
939:
936:
935:
933:
929:
923:
920:
918:
915:
913:
910:
908:
905:
903:
900:
899:
897:
893:
887:
884:
880:
877:
875:
872:
870:
867:
865:
862:
861:
860:
857:
855:
852:
851:
849:
845:
839:
836:
834:
831:
829:
826:
824:
821:
819:
818:North Channel
816:
814:
811:
809:
806:
802:
799:
798:
797:
794:
793:
791:
787:
781:
778:
776:
773:
771:
768:
767:
765:
761:
758:
752:
746:
743:
741:
738:
736:
733:
731:
728:
726:
723:
721:
718:
717:
715:
711:
705:
702:
700:
697:
695:
692:
690:
687:
685:
682:
681:
679:
675:
670:
663:
658:
656:
651:
649:
644:
643:
640:
634:
631:
629:
626:
624:
621:
619:
616:
614:
611:
610:
606:
590:
586:
580:
577:
565:
559:
556:
544:on 2011-10-26
543:
539:
535:
528:
526:
522:
509:
505:
499:
496:
489:
485:
482:
481:
477:
475:
471:
469:
461:
459:
457:
452:
450:
446:
441:
439:
435:
431:
427:
426:Welland Canal
423:
419:
415:
411:
407:
403:
399:
395:
391:
387:
383:
380:Entering the
378:
376:
375:New York City
372:
368:
364:
360:
356:
352:
348:
343:
341:
337:
333:
329:
325:
320:
318:
317:Knoxville, TN
314:
310:
306:
302:
298:
294:
289:
287:
286:Kentucky Lake
283:
279:
275:
272:route to the
271:
267:
263:
259:
255:
250:
248:
244:
240:
236:
232:
228:
224:
220:
216:
215:Chicago River
212:
204:
202:
199:
192:
190:
188:
184:
180:
176:
172:
168:
158:
154:
150:
146:
141:
132:
127:
122:
110:
107:
99:
88:
85:
81:
78:
74:
71:
67:
64:
60:
57: –
56:
52:
51:Find sources:
45:
41:
35:
34:
29:This article
27:
23:
18:
17:
1445:Lake surfing
1414:
1271:Lake Stanley
1256:Lake Chicago
1246:Lake Agassiz
1174:Lake Manitou
1031:French River
963:Superior Bay
958:Pokegama Bay
953:Keweenaw Bay
938:Au Train Bay
879:Sturgeon Bay
796:Georgian Bay
780:Sandusky Bay
592:. Retrieved
588:
579:
567:. Retrieved
558:
546:. Retrieved
542:the original
537:
512:. Retrieved
507:
498:
472:
465:
453:
442:
438:Georgian Bay
422:Lake Ontario
418:Oswego Canal
382:Hudson River
379:
363:Delaware Bay
344:
340:Florida Keys
321:
290:
251:
208:
200:
196:
166:
164:
102:
93:
83:
76:
69:
62:
55:"Great Loop"
50:
38:Please help
33:verification
30:
1497:Third Coast
1460:Megalopolis
1420:Lake breeze
1405:Circle Tour
1266:Lake Maumee
1152:Isle Royale
1117:First canal
983:Goulais Bay
968:Thunder Bay
922:Wellers Bay
917:Toronto Bay
838:Thunder Bay
828:Saginaw Bay
808:Lake George
745:Couchiching
669:Great Lakes
183:Mississippi
175:Great Lakes
1554:Ohio River
1533:Categories
1487:Shipwrecks
1415:Great Loop
1026:Erie Canal
1001:Anchor Bay
907:Humber Bay
770:Maumee Bay
677:Main lakes
594:14 January
569:2023-09-14
548:14 January
514:14 January
490:References
414:Lake Huron
398:Erie Canal
278:Ohio River
181:, and the
179:Erie Canal
167:Great Loop
124:Great Loop
66:newspapers
1480:Laurentia
1410:Crossings
1210:Populated
1090:Soo Locks
1014:Waterways
994:St. Clair
948:Huron Bay
912:Sodus Bay
859:Green Bay
740:Winnebago
735:St. Clair
725:Nipissing
508:NOAA FAQs
456:Wisconsin
449:Soo Locks
420:north to
406:Lake Erie
96:June 2024
1502:Treaties
931:Superior
847:Michigan
756:channels
754:Bays and
704:Superior
694:Michigan
478:See also
394:Montreal
254:St Louis
193:Overview
148:Location
1129:Islands
895:Ontario
720:Nipigon
699:Ontario
434:Ontario
410:Detroit
408:, past
353:or the
225:to the
221:or the
143:Details
80:scholar
1492:Storms
1475:Region
1377:Cities
730:Simcoe
538:BoatUS
510:. NOAA
468:burgee
305:Mobile
239:Peoria
231:Joliet
177:, the
173:, the
156:Length
82:
75:
68:
61:
53:
1470:Ports
1395:Basin
1051:Falls
789:Huron
689:Huron
241:. At
87:JSTOR
73:books
763:Erie
684:Erie
596:2017
550:2017
516:2017
315:and
256:and
217:and
185:and
165:The
59:news
432:in
373:to
42:by
1535::
587:.
536:.
524:^
506:.
377:.
342:.
288:.
249:.
661:e
654:t
647:v
598:.
572:.
552:.
518:.
109:)
103:(
98:)
94:(
84:·
77:·
70:·
63:·
36:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
