Montana Gravel – Luxury Ranch
An off-the-beaten-path mountain adventure
Discover the less-traveled, scenic roads of Big Sky Country.
Ready for an epic backcountry gravel adventure? Join us in Montana, where we’ll show you our favorite routes based on 20-plus years of pedaling around Big Sky Country. Our home base for the week is the Cliff Ranch in Ovando, just 45 minutes from downtown Missoula. We’ll ride on primarily double-track dirt roads, searching for that famous champagne gravel. We’ll plunge down fun mountain descents and muscle up challenging climbs along the way. 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. To top it all off, a Cycling House chef will prepare you a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Looking for a more affordable way to experience Montana Gravel? Check out our Montana Rustic Cabin trips.
Highlights
- Five days of guided, supported gravel rides in Montana’s backcountry
- Accommodations at the charming 3,500 acre Cliff Ranch on the edge of the Blackfoot River.
- Chef-prepared, daily meals featuring local Montana produce
- Variety of off-pavement routes, including rides on the Great Divide bike route
- Idyllic riding conditions on quiet, scenic roads
Food
We prepare delicious meals specifically for endurance athletes, with an emphasis on 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, interesting 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
Nestled in the heart of the Blackfoot River Valley just 1 hour away from Missoula, the historic Cliff Ranch is the home base for our adventure on two wheels. Enjoy waking up to picturesque mountain and forest views as we take off on our daily rides.
As Featured In
ITINERARIES
Montana Gravel Luxury Ranch - 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.
Everyone will have time to settle into the house and enjoy our first chef-prepared meal.
After lunch, 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.
Today’s Ride: Arrival Spin
22 miles & 1,100′
Ovando Loop
We aim to find that perfect champagne gravel, and riding in Ovando is our go-to spot for these adventures. Today, we’ll tackle a loop route to Ovando (population: 50), a remote historical site on the Lewis and Clark Trail. It’s also home to the scenic Blackfoot River, the inspiration for the movie A River Runs Through It.
Today’s Ride: Ovando Loop
36-41 miles & 2,000-3,000′
Ride the Divide
We start the morning with a 45-minute shuttle to Seeley Lake. The ride traverses the Seeley Swan Valley on the Great Divide bike route, offering spectacular views of the Mission and Swan Mountains. Many Great Divide riders call this the most scenic portion of their 2,600-mile journey from Canada to Mexico.
We will have an optional 7 miles of single-track along the Swan Crest Trail. All the options offer spectacular views on some of Montana’s finest backroads.
Today’s Ride: Ride the Divide
28-70 miles & 2,300-5,100′
Big Sky Country Loop
We start our morning with a short 20-minute shuttle to Ovando. The ride will take us into the Blackfoot Valley and meander on beautiful gravel roads with views that make you realize why they call it Big Sky Country.
Today’s Ride: Big Sky Country Loop
42 miles & 1,300′
Nevada Ogden Mountain
Our final day takes us on a beautiful point-to-point ride through the Nevada Ogden Valley towards Helmville. The climb up Nevada Ogden Mountain is well worth it; we are rewarded with a fun and fast final descent. We finish up with a picnic lunch on the Blackfoot River before shuttling home.
Today’s Ride: Nevada Ogden Mountain
41 miles & 2,800′
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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Aug 26 - 31 Gravel - 6 Day$3,995 / Person Fully Booked - Join Waitlist
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Sep 2 - 7 Gravel - 6 Day$3,995 / Person Fully Booked - Join Waitlist
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Sep 9 - 14 Gravel - 6 Day$3,995 / Person Fully Booked - Join Waitlist
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Sep 16 - 21 Gravel - 6 Day (IBAB Private Week)$3,995 / Person Fully Booked - Join Waitlist
- 2025
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May 20 - 25 Gravel - 6 Day (Book it Private)$4,285 / Person Many Spots Available
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May 27 - Jun 1 Gravel - 6 Day$4,285 / Person Limited Spots Available
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Jun 10 - 15 Gravel - 6 Day (Book it Private)$4,285 / Person Many Spots Available
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Sep 1 - 6 Gravel - 6 Day$4,285 / Person Limited Spots Available
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Sep 8 - 13 Gravel - 6 Day$4,285 / Person Many Spots Available
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Sep 15 - 20 Gravel - 6 Day (Book it Private)$4,285 / Person Many Spots Available
DETAILS
What’s Included
- 5 nights/6 days accommodations
- Transfers to/from Missoula, MT
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Bike build and breakdown
- Professional cycling guides
- Vehicle sag support
- Ride nutrition products
- Tools available to use
- High-quality ride photos
What’s Not Included
- Airfare
- Single occupancy rate
- Bike rentals
- Café stops
- Gratuity for guides
- Personal shopping
Optional Activities
- Core/stretching sessions
- Trail runs or hikes
- Fly Fishing +$
- Swimming in the rivers and lakes
- Horseback Riding +$
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.
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