We’ll shuttle riders from Glacier International Airport (FCA) to Great Northern Cycles in Whitefish. We will have lunch and time to explore downtown Whitefish while our team fits guests on rental bikes and builds guest bikes. 

We will take the backroads from Whitefish to West Glacier and get our first glimpse of Glacier National Park. Post-ride guests will have time to settle into Glacier Guides Lodge; we will stay here for the next two nights.

Today’s ride:

Arrival day spin

Route: 30 miles, 1,300′

We decided one day in the park was not enough, so we added another section. The route will bring us to Glacier National Park’s lesser-known entrance on the Flathead River North Fork. The final miles mix pavement and hard-packed, heavily oiled gravel roads. The gravel sections feel like pavement, and the bonus miles will be worth the Huckleberry Bear Claws at The Polebridge Mercantile. In Polebridge, mile 28, we will have lunch. Post-lunch, guests can decide to make it an out-and-back ride back to West Glacier and The Glacier Guides Lodge. Another option is to do a hike before shuttling back. 

Today’s ride:

North Fork
Route: 28-56 miles, 2,000-3,000′

Going to Sun Road is a bucket list ride with some of the best views you will ever see from the bicycle seat.  The road crosses the Continental Divide topping out at Logan Pass. The view from Logan’s Pass is spectacular, and it is worth stopping to take in the scenery.  From the pass, it’s almost all downhill to St Mary’s Lake. We will have lunch at mile 45, and there is an optional hike along the shores of St Mary’s Lake. Everyone will ride the final miles to St Mary’s Lodge after lunch and/or hike.  Going to the Sun Road is an excellent opportunity to see some wildlife, including; mountain goats, marmots, black bears, grizzlies, and plenty of other wildlife.   

Today’s ride:

Going-to-the-Sun
Route: 51 miles, 4,100′

We start the morning with breakfast at St Mary’s Lodge; after breakfast, we will make a quick shuttle to Babb, approximately 15 minutes. Riders will head North towards the Canadian Border and Chief Mountain on a beautiful stretch of road. Over the following fourteen miles, riders will gain 1,800’, and the return trip is quick! The twenty-eight mile out and back is nothing short of spectacular. After returning to Chief Mountain, we will head back to Glacier National Park via Many Glacier. The ride finishes on the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake. Here we will have a picnic lunch and an optional hike. 

We can make it a short day on the bike, 16 miles from the start in Babb to Many Glacier. 

Ultimately everyone will shuttle by van to East Glacier and Jacobson Cottages; it’s a one-hour drive from Many Glacier. 

Today’s ride:

Chief Mountain and Many Glacier
Route: 16-43 miles, 1,000 – 3,400′

After a big day in the saddle, nobody will complain about having another day to explore the wonders of Glacier National Park. No need to re-pack your bag this morning; we get to enjoy another night in East Glacier at Jacobson Cottages.

After a relaxing morning and breakfast, we will head North up Looking Glass pass. Looking Glass is a staff favorite and one of the best rides in Montana! Even if you did it the day before, it’s worth doing it again. After Looking Glass, we will turn towards Two Medicine, a beautiful part of Glacier National Park that sees less traffic. We will have the option to hike, or guests can head back to Jacobson Cottages. 

If you want additional miles, you could continue past the summit of Looking Glass pass to Kiowa junction and turn around to ride the other side of Looking Glass Pass. The extension would make it a 36-mile ride with 3,200’.

Today’s ride:

Dickey Lake to Graves Creek
Route: 30-36 miles, 2,400-3,200′

Checkout is at 11 a.m., and we’ll be running shuttles to Glacier International Airport.

Today’s plan:

Departure day shuttles.