This is a tour of Glacier & Waterton Lakes National Parks via bicycle at your own pace.  Tour Montana and Western Canada and enjoy the lovely inn’s of North America.

You know they call it Big Sky. But somehow you’re still amazed by how “big” it is.

You question why you don’t live closer to the mountains. You enjoy hours of scenic roads and the sound of your wheels spinning. You finally understand what the Continental Divide is all about. You race someone to the next crystal blue lake. You ride and talk. You ride and not talk. You’re awestruck by a waterfall’s force. You swear you’ll never book an all-inclusive beach resort vacation again. You’re in two of North America’s greatest national parks. And you’ll never be the same.

Trip Overview

• Bike the famed Going-to-the-Sun Road: superlative cycling and unbelievable views!
• Astonishing alpine scenery that just won't quit
• Pedal Waterton's rolling ranchland and extraordinary glacier-carved valleys
• Chances to spot mountain goats, pikas, white-crowned sparrows and more
• Raft down the Middle Fork of the Flathead River
• All meals included except for one dinner
• Priced from $2,798 

Location: Whitefish, MT

2012 Dates: July 2nd-7th, July 16th-21st, July 30th-Aug 4, Aug 13th-18, Aug 27th-Sept 1, Sept 3-8th

2011 Pricing:

$2,798 – 2,898 per person
All meals included except for 1 dinner
Single Supplement : $600

Day 1: Lake McDonald

Day 2: Many Glacier Route

Day 3: Waterton Lakes National Park

Day 4: Optional Activities in Waterton Lakes National Park

Day 5: East Glacier

Day 6: White-Water Rafting 3 Hours

Day 1

Lake McDonald

Meet your trip leaders at 10:30 a.m. at Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish, Montana. Please arrive dressed in your biking clothes with a daypack containing your rain gear, sunglasses, camera, etc. See “Arriving & Departing” for additional logistics information.

After meeting in Whitefish we shuttle to Apgar Village at the south end of Lake McDonald, where we get acquainted over a signature picnic lunch. Afterward your Trip Leaders fit your bike and give a brief talk on biking techniques and safety. Then head out on a rolling route to McGee Meadow Overlook for stunning views of the lake and surrounding valley. On your way back, stop in Apgar Village to check out regional crafts in the village’s shops and galleries or spend some time in the visitor center, which showcases the flora and wildlife of Glacier National Park. The last part of today’s ride is an easy route along the shore of Lake McDonald to Lake McDonald Lodge, a hunting lodge built in 1913 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
After settling in, feel free to visit the gift shop or relax in the lobby—the famous western artist Charles M. Russell is rumored to have scrawled the pictographs you see on the fireplace. Later we toast to our upcoming adventures with a wine reception followed by dinner in the hotel dining room.

Lodging: Lake McDonald Lodge

Day 2

Many Glacier Route

Beginning our ride at sunrise, we say goodbye to Lake McDonald and bike into the heart of Glacier National Park. Follow the path of McDonald Creek through old-growth forest before climbing aptly named Going-to-the-Sun Road, a renowned stretch offering some of the most stunning mountain scenery in the world.
When you reach Logan Pass (6,646 feet), the summit of Going-to-the-Sun, give your cycling muscles a rest and browse the visitor center. The center straddles the Continental Divide—from here, a raindrop that falls on the western slope will roll on to the Pacific Ocean and one that falls to the east will end up feeding the Atlantic. You can also stretch your legs on a hiking trail for a close-up look at the area’s spectacular wildflowers. En route you may just spot mountain goats, bighorn sheep, pikas (also known as rock rabbits or whistling hares) or even grizzly bears. Back on your bike, an exhilarating downhill ride between glaciated peaks and emerald lakes brings you to the shores of Upper and Lower St. Mary Lakes. Continue pedaling through aspen forests to Many Glacier Valley and tonight’s lodge, the Many Glacier Hotel, which offers panoramic views of Grinnell Point and Altyn Peak.

Lodging: Many Glacier Hotel

Day 3

Waterton Lakes National Park

Today we head north to Canada’s stunning Waterton Lakes National Park, which combines with Glacier to make up the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, commemorating the long friendship of the United States and Canada. Follow the route over undulating ranch land and on a five-mile ascent to the Chief Mountain Overlook. Then tackle a challenging section of hills, crossing several small rivers before embarking on the two-mile climb over the border into Canada.

After refueling with lunch near the Belly River, bike the final stretch (including another uphill!) to the Prince of Wales Hotel, which stands alone on a bluff above Waterton Lake against an extraordinary backdrop of glacier-carved peaks. This historic inn is one of the most photographed hotels in North America, thanks to its supremely picturesque setting “where the mountains meet the prairie.”

Lodging: Prince of Wales Hotel

Day 4

Optional Activities in Waterton Lakes National Park

The day is yours to choose from several activities or to simply relax. You can explore the nearby trails on foot or horseback; go biking, fishing or canoeing; or take a scenic and informative boat cruise on Waterton Lake. (Please note that horseback riding, fishing, canoeing and the boat cruise are not included in the trip price.) The boat ride stops at Goat Haunt, the northern gateway to Glacier National Park. From here you can walk to Rainbow Falls or Kootenai Lake, where you might see moose, or take a longer walk to Lake Francis. Keep an eye out for birds, including kingfishers, spotted sandpipers, red-naped sapsuckers and white-crowned sparrows. There’s also time to shop for souvenirs in Waterton Townsite. Regardless of the activity, you’ll be surrounded by a spellbinding tableau of peaks, broad lakes and rugged glacial valleys.

You’re on your own for dinner tonight to try one of the inviting restaurants in Waterton Townsite.

Lodging: Prince of Wales Hotel

Day 5

East Glacier

Rise early this morning to indulge in a hearty breakfast and get started on a big day of riding. Warm up with a steep four-mile incline to Waterton Lakes Overlook, followed by a long descent to Belly River and then another uphill to the U.S. border. After several more rollers, you’ll be rewarded with an inspiring panorama of alpine meadows and forests, and views of mountains to the west and vast Montana plains to the east. Then link up with the Old North Trail, a route used for centuries by the Blackfeet Indians to move from their northern hunting grounds to their southern winter encampments. Cross Looking Glass Pass and take in the views of the Two Medicine Valley as you head downhill toward East Glacier. 

Our home for the night is the historic Glacier Park Lodge, nestled at the foot of Squaw Peak Mountain. It features a lobby supported by 60 immense pillars of Douglas fir. We celebrate our last evening together with a memorable dinner at Serrano’s Restaurant, a local favorite in town.

Lodging: Glacier Park Lodge

Day 6

White-Water Rafting 3 Hours

What better way to cap off the trip than with an exhilarating white-water rafting adventure! Don’t worry if you’re new to rafting; our Montana Raft Company expert guides will get you geared up and teach you the basic skills for a safe and fun outing. We journey into the heart of six million acres of wilderness bordering Glacier National Park and Flathead National Forest. Paddle through Class II and III rapids of the Middle Fork of the Flathead River, enjoying the splashes of chilly mountain water and the gorgeous alpine scenery. A delicious picnic lunch awaits us at our West Glacier landing spot—filling enough to satisfy even the appetites of paddlers. Afterward we shuttle to Glacier International Airport and Whitefish hotels. Please see “Arriving & Departing” for end-of-trip logistics.