Glacier National Park

MEETING TIME AND PLACE

This trip meets at 9:00 am MST at Best Western Rocky Mountain Lodge 6510 Hwy 93 South, Whitefish, Montana, 406-862-2569. You will need to spend the night before in Whitefish.

ENDING TIME AND PLACE

We will return to Whitefish between 2:00-3:00 pm on the last day.
ITINERARY
TRIP DAY 1

We begin with a half hour shuttle out of the Whitefish Valley towards the peaks looming to the north. We start in the village of Apgar and begin with a great warm up ride on the Camas Creek Road. The fire of 2006 covered much of this area, and the resulting views give us a peek at what is in store for us the rest of the week---majestic peaks towering above glacial cirques in almost every direction! We will do a short hike to learn more about fire and its role in forest life before having lunch on the western edge of the park. We then return to Apgar, where we will have a moment to explore the visitor center and enjoy Lake McDonald. The red and green pebbles of Apgar Beach were carried by the glaciers from sedimentary rocks 40 miles up the valley. In the afternoon we finish with a short ten mile cruise along the shores of this magical lake to the Lake McDonald Lodge and Motor Inn the first of the historic park lodges we will enjoy this week. We will have appetizers on the porch before dinner at the lodge. TOTAL MILEAGE - 32 miles
TRIP DAY 2

Today is big! We must begin our ascent of the Going to the Sun Road early in the morning, as the road on the west side of Logan Pass closes to cyclists at 11 am. Our early start in warm clothes gives us the advantage of significantly less traffic and much better potential for wildlife sightings. The views today are so awe inspiring; you will hardly notice you are climbing 3000 feet to the pass! From a distance, the road is a faint cut right into the Garden Wall. The giant arête was formed 1 million years ago by ancient glaciers. We will ride right by the Weeping Wall as we make our way to the Continental Divide at the top of the pass. Once arriving at Logan Pass, we will check out the visitor center, before heading down, down, down to our lunch at Sun Point. A short hike here gives us a great view of St Mary Lake and its ring of spectacular peaks. From here we will shuttle up to the Many Glacier Lodge in time for cocktails on the veranda before dinner at the Lodge. TOTAL MILEAGE – 40 miles
TRIP DAY 3

We deserve a hearty breakfast today because we are riding all the way to Canada! We begin our journey with a cruise along the shores of Lake Sherburne. We leave the park itself and go north through the Blackfeet Indian Reservation on our way to Chief Mountain International Highway. The views continue to amaze as we make our way to the Canadian Border. We cross the Belly River Valley and one last climb gives us incredible views of the Waterton Valley. After lunch in a spectacular spot we begin the descent to the fantastically situated Prince of Wales Hotel with its incredible views of Waterton Lake and Mount Alderson. The sunset from the lobby of the Prince of Wales is quite impossible to forget! TOTAL MILEAGE - 51 miles
TRIP DAY 4

After a wonderful breakfast at the hotel, we will shuttle back to the west and begin our ride at the tiny town of Babb. We begin riding south along the eastern border of the park. Our warm up brings us along the shores of Lower Saint Mary Lake. We go up and over the shoulder of Divide Mountain and every corner brings another spectacular view. After a delicious picnic lunch, we begin the rolling descent to East Glacier, where yet another beautiful historic hotel awaits us. The lobby at the East Glacier Lodge is lined with 40 foot tall Douglas Fir pillars and is quite dramatic. TOTAL MILEAGE - 42 miles
TRIP DAY 5

Our last day begins with a short backtrack up to the Two Medicine turn off. This lovely valley was a home for the native Blackfeet. After visiting the lake, we will stop for a quick hike to Running Eagle Falls. This unique waterfall changes its course as the water level drops and is named for a Blackfoot woman who was a warrior and led raids on the enemy. Our cruise back into East Glacier is a great way to finish our voyage. After a picnic on the beautiful grounds of the hotel, we will shuttle back to Whitefish. TOTAL MILEAGE - 26 miles
TERRAIN

Physical Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced.
Altitude: 4,500 - 6,800 feet

Please Note: Accommodations may be changed due to availability.

TRAVEL LOGISTICS

GETTING THERE

-Driving
Whitefish is 14 miles north of Kalispell on Hwy 13.

-Flying
Airport Code: FCA
To get to Whitefish, MT you actually fly into Kalispell, MT and either take Flathead-Glacier Trasport or use the airport shuttle if you are staying at the Best Western Rocky Mountain Lodge (you need to call them in advance to have them meet your flight).

Kalispell Taxis
Flathead-Glacier Transport 406-892-3390. Call at least one day in advance to make a reservation. The cost is $20 each way for one person with an additional $3 per person.

LODGING

It is a good idea to book your rooms ahead. Below are a few recommendations. Rates are approximate.

Best Western Rocky Mountain Lodge
$105-178
406-862-2569
This is where the trip meets. They have an airport shuttle, just call them in advance to set this up.

Holiday Inn Express
$155-180
406-862-4020

Cheap Sleep Motel
$60-75
406-862-5515

WEATHER

There are really just two kinds of weather: weather you like and weather you do not like. Come prepared for both and you won't care what the weather does.

If you have questions about temperatures for your specific trip please feel free to give us a call 800-845-2453 or email us at biking@westernspirit.com. We will be happy to give you packing suggestions and help you with ideas for things to do before and after your bike trip.

PACKING FOR YOUR TRIP
You will receive a tour packing list with your tour confirmation package. Be sure to bring everything on this list. Weather in the mountains can be unpredictable so be sure to bring all the warm clothing and rain gear listed! When you arrive for your tour, we will give you a dry bag in which to pack your gear. If you have any questions about anything on the list, please call us.

SHIPPING YOUR BIKE

You are welcome to ship your bike to us in advance of your trip. For a moderate fee we will unpack it, build it, and ship it back home to you afterwards. Bikes can be insured to $4,000. Domestic shipping only. If you decide you want to go this route, you must call us in advance of your trip so we can inform the shop that your bike is on its way.

To ship your bike UPS, please contact us for name of the shop. It is critical that you include your name, "Western Spirit Cycling" and tour date on the outside of the box. Check with your local UPS people for the number of days needed for it to arrive in time. There is no Saturday delivery to Whitefish. It is imperative to have your bike finely tuned and cleaned before your tour so you know it is in top running condition.

If you have any other questions about trip logistics, please feel free to send us an email or, better yet, to call us at 800-845-2453. We will be happy to try to help you answer any other questions you might have about our bike trips.