Montana Gravel – Summer Camp
An authentic Montana experience!
Ride gravel by day, enjoy Seeley Lake post-ride, and sleep in rustic cabins.
Ready for an epic backcountry gravel adventure with fun “summer camp” vibes? Join us in Montana, where we’ll show you our favorite routes based on 20 years of pedaling around Big Sky Country.
Our home base for the week is Camp Paxson in Seeley Lake, just an hour from downtown Missoula. Camp Paxson was originally a Boy Scout camp, and the beautiful property sits on the shores of Seeley Lake.
Guests will enjoy rustic cabins—you can bring your sleeping bag or use a high-quality Big Agnes sleeping bag provided by The Cycling House. A good night’s sleep is important, and we will provide full-sized pillows, sheets, and Big Agnes Captain Comfort deluxe 5″ sleeping pads to ensure the best night’s sleep. Each cabin has two beds or more and can be shared with friends, or we can get you a single cabin. Would you prefer to bring your camper van or sleep in a tent? Ask us about these options.
Bathrooms are a short walk from the cabins. The bathrooms have shower stalls and toilets; men’s and women’s facilities are separate. The bathrooms will be stocked with shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, and sunscreen, and The Cycling House will provide towels.
The best part—in typical Cycling House fashion, our chefs will prepare delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner, all served in the beautiful main lodge at Camp Paxson.
We’ll ride on primarily double-track dirt roads, plunge fun mountain descents, and climb challenging climbs. This camp includes riding sections of The Great Divide, an over-3,000-mile route that stretches from Canada to Mexico. Expect stunning scenery, serene roads, and perfectly excellent riding conditions. After the rides, enjoy beautiful Seeley Lake. The camp has canoes and a beautiful place to relax and swim post-ride.
Read more about the Montana Gravel summer camp experience here.
If you are looking for upscale accommodations, check out the Montana Gravel trips based at The Cliff Ranch.
Highlights
- Five days of guided, supported gravel rides in Montana’s backcountry
- Accommodations in rustic cabins at Camp Paxson
- Chef-prepared daily meals featuring local Montana produce
- Variety of off-pavement routes, including rides on the Great Divide bike route
- Idyllic summer riding conditions on quiet, scenic roads
- Montana summer camp fun vibes
- Swim in a mountain lake.
Food
We prepare delicious meals for endurance athletes, emphasizing lean proteins, leafy greens, root veggies, and plenty of flavorful side dishes. We work directly with the local community to source regional ingredients whenever possible, which our chefs use to create diverse, exciting dishes inspired from around the world. You can count on us to take care of breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We are sure to accommodate all dietary preferences and restrictions.
Accommodations
Our home base for the week is Camp Paxson in Seeley Lake, just an hour from downtown Missoula. The beautiful property was originally a Boy Scout camp.
Guests will enjoy rustic cabins—you can bring your sleeping bag or use a high-quality Big Agnes bag provided by The Cycling House. A good night’s sleep is important, and we will provide full-sized pillows, sheets, and Big Agnes Captain Comfort deluxe 5″ sleeping pads to ensure the best night’s sleep. Each cabin has two beds or more and can be shared with friends, or we can get you a single cabin. Would you prefer to bring your camper van or sleep in a tent? Ask us about these options.
Bathrooms are a short walk from the cabins. The bathrooms have shower stalls and toilets; men’s and women’s facilities are separate. The bathrooms will be stocked with shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, and sunscreen, and The Cycling House will provide towels.
Prefer to bring your camper van? Ask us about this option.
ITINERARIES
Montana Gravel Summer Camp - 5 Nights
Welcome to Montana - Arrival Day
Guests will arrive in Missoula, and our staff will do Missoula Airport (MSO) and hotel pickups. After you register, we will email a list of suggested hotels for guests planning to arrive early. Please email us your arrival/departure plans, including flight numbers.
We will shuttle by van to Seeley Lake. Our mechanics will work on building guest bikes or fitting people to their rentals. We will depart for an afternoon shakeout spin once all the bikes are ready, and all the guests have arrived.
Post ride, everyone will have time to settle into the cabins and enjoy our first chef-prepared meal at Camp Paxson.
Today’s Ride: Arrival Spin
Arrival day ride: Shorter: 22 miles & 1,200′
Swan Crest Loop
Ready for an epic loop? Today, we take on another section of The Great Divide bike route. Gentle grades and beautiful mountain views unfold over the next 20 miles. At mile 23, riders can decide whether they want to ride singletrack. Both options have stunning views of the Swan Mountains and slowly descend back to the valley. The singletrack is challenging, but if you are comfortable on singletrack, it’s a great option. Sections are smooth and fast, and others are steep and true singletrack. If you are looking to challenge your skills, this is your opportunity.
Today’s Ride: Rice Ridge/Swan Crest Loop
Swan Crest: 48 miles & 3,900-4,400′
Big Sky Country
Today, we shuttle by van (45 minutes) South before pedaling into the mountains, and we will soon realize why they call it Big Sky Country.
The route passes Browns Lake and offers expansive views of the Nevada Ogden Valley. Thirteen miles in, we ride through Ovando, Montana, a classic refuel spot on the Great Divide mountain bike route. From Ovando, we follow the Great Divide back to Seeley Lake.
We will finish at Casa Caro Mexican in Seeley Lake and have lunch before shuttling or pedaling home to Camp Paxson.
Today’s Ride: Great Divide South
Big Sky Country: 44-48 miles & 2,200 – 3,200′
Recovery Loop
After two big days, riders might be ready for a more mellow ride, and we have a nice ride planned! The Loop includes beautiful mountain views, fun descents, and gradual climbs. Today, we will have plenty of time to enjoy Seeley Lake.
Save up your strength, in the afternoon we have a Not Fast But Furious Relay planned, don’t worry it’s all about having fun!
Today’s Ride: Recovery Loop
Recovery Loop: 30-41 miles, 1,800′
Great Divide North
Today, we shuttle by van (45 minutes) North before we pedal into the mountains.
The first has lots of short climbs and descents. A short 1-mile section of a single track opens up to a beautiful double track with wildflowers everywhere!
The views of the Swan Mountains are stunning! We pass Holland Lake, and then we start to climb. Over the next 20 miles, we will climb 2,800′, topping at the top of the Swan Crest; this point might look familiar to those who rode the singletrack section. Over the next 20 miles, we descend 3,000′. Don’t be fooled; this section has a few climbs, gaining 1,000′.
Tonight we will celebrate an epic week of Montana Gravel!
Today’s Ride: Great Divide
Great Divide: 52 miles & 4,000′
Adiós - Departure Day
Shuttles will run to the Missoula airport all morning, with the last shuttle leaving at 11 a.m. Please email us your departure times.
For those who don’t depart early, you are welcome to go on an optional self-guided ride on a nearby route.
Today’s Plan: Departure Day
Checkout by 11 a.m.
DATES & PRICES
- 2024
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Jul 29 - Aug 3 Gravel - 6 Day$2,750 / Person Limited Spots AvailableCALL US
This trip is just around the corner!
There is still availability on this trip, but because it starts inside of ten days (Mon, 07/29/2024) we require a phone call in order to create a reservation at this point.
Please call (406) 219-1318 as soon as possible!
Thank you!
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Aug 25 - 30 Gravel - 6 Day$2,750 / Person Almost Full!
- 2025
-
Jul 13 - 18 Gravel - 6 Day$2,850 / Person Many Spots Available
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Aug 10 - 15 Gravel - 6 Day$2,848 / Person Limited Spots Available
DETAILS
What's included
- 5 nights/6 days accommodations
- Big Agnes sleeping bags and Big Agnes Captain Comfort deluxe 5″ sleeping pads
- Pillows
- Towels
- Transfers to/from Missoula, MT (MSO)
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Bike build and breakdown
- Professional cycling guides
- Vehicle SAG support
- Ride nutrition products
- Tools available to use
- High-quality ride photos
What's not included
- Airfare (Book travel to Missoula – MSO)
- Bike rentals
- Gratuity for guides
Optional Activities
- Core/stretching sessions
- Trail runs or hikes
- Swimming in Seeley Lake
- Canoeing
- Paddleboarding
Questions?
BIKE OPTIONS
Rent A Bike
Traveling through the airport with a bike—and paying for it to fly—is not everyone’s idea of a fun way to start a vacation. Fortunately, we offer high-quality, full carbon bikes on all of our trips across the United States and Europe. Want to just show up and ride? Just bring your shoes, pedals, helmet, and saddle (if you want), and rent one of ours.
Bring Your Own
Your bike is yours—we get it. Bringing your own bike has obvious advantages in terms of individual comfort. Before your trip, we suggest getting a tune-up at your local bike shop so it’s ready to roll for your week of riding. Once you arrive, we’ll be sure to have our mechanics build it and help with any necessary tweaks. Check out some helpful resources here:
Skip The Bike
If you or your travel partner want to enjoy the trip and explore a new destination without a bike, drop us a line and we’ll discuss options. Some trips are better suited for non-rider participants than others.
TRIP TEAM
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