Glacier & Waterton Lakes Bike Tour
Epic National Park Grandeur in Montana & Alberta
Couples, Friends & Solos
6 days 5 nights
Activity Level: 2-5
Casual Hotels
From: $3,899 - $4,049 pp dbl occ
($750 - $900 for sgl occ)
It's called Big Sky. Yet, you're still amazed by how "big" it is. Listen to the sound of your wheels spinning while you enjoy miles of scenic roads and vistas beyond compare. You'll question why you don't live closer to the mountains. You'll be transformed while biking through two magnificent national parks. After it all, you'll never be the same.
Montana & Alberta
Start/End Whitefish
Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Highlights
- Bike the famed Going-to-the-Sun Road—superlative riding and vistas, complete with waterfalls, forests and towering peaks!
- Admire the astonishing alpine scenery, sculpted valleys and glaciated mountain vistas that just won’t quit
- Pedal past rolling ranchland and extraordinary glacier-carved valleys on the way to Canada’s Waterton Lakes National Park
- Raft down the Middle Fork of the Flathead River with experienced river runners—a splashing good time for all!
Itinerary
6 Days Casual Hotels
Bike a picturesque route along the shore of Lake McDonald, formed by retreating glaciers 10,000 years ago | See new life taking root where wildfires recently altered the landscape | Take an invigorating dip in the chilly lake waters, if you dare!
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with a large stone fireplace in the lobby and a terrace overlooking the lake.
Cycle on Going-to-the-Sun Road—a 50-mile stretch with unbelievable views | Enjoy a landscape of sparkling waterfalls, expansive virgin forests, sculpted valleys and majestic peaks | An exhilarating downhill ride between glaciated mountains and emerald lakes brings you to the shore of St. Mary Lake | Bike through aspen forests to Many Glacier Valley.
An early-1900s Swiss chalet-style hotel set on the shore of Swiftcurrent Lake amid the peaks of Many Glacier Valley.
Welcome to Canada! Pedal north through rolling ranchland and glacier-carved valleys | Take in views of Chief Mountain, one of the most sacred areas of the park to the Blackfeet tribe | Enjoy a thrilling ascent to Waterton Lakes National Park, a designated Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage site along with neighboring Glacier National Park | Get in one more uphill to our hotel, which stands alone on a bluff above Waterton Lake, surrounded by dramatic peaks | Spot bighorn sheep, pikas and white-crowned sparrows.
This historic green-gabled hotel offers vistas of the mountains reflected in glacier-fed lakes.
Options abound: hiking, biking, horseback riding and boating are just a few ways to explore this incredible landscape | Ride along the eastern perimeter of Glacier against a spectacular backdrop of meadows and mountains | A side trip into the Two Medicine Valley adds breathtaking views—and a few miles—to our biggest ride of the trip | Raft down the Middle Fork of the Flathead River with expert guides who provide a unique perspective on the flora and fauna along the way.
Located on the park's eastern edge in Blackfeet country; immense timbers hold aloft its expansive lobby ceiling.
Dates & Prices
The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. View cancellation policy.
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy in USD.
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Activity Level:
2-5
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Several routes and a range of levels are offered each day so you can choose how much or how little activity you want to do. Learn more about how we determine activity levels.
Route notes
While Backroads strives to find roadways that are quiet and off the beaten track, some routes on this trip follow heavily trafficked roads. Of course, you're always welcome to jump in the shuttle to avoid the busier sections of the route. Authorized Permittee of the National Park Service.
Daily Route Options
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Several routes and a range of levels are offered each day so you can choose how much or how little activity you want to do. Learn more about how we determine activity levels.
Route notes
While Backroads strives to find roadways that are quiet and off the beaten track, some routes on this trip follow heavily trafficked roads. Of course, you're always welcome to jump in the shuttle to avoid the busier sections of the route. Authorized Permittee of the National Park Service.
What's Included
Available Bike Options
The key to a stellar day's ride is a bike that's perfectly in tune with your cycling style… Backroads has you covered with the best bike fleet in the world! Please note that bike requests are subject to availability and prioritized based on the date they're submitted.
Click the arrow to see all bike options.
Included in your trip price
This custom-designed titanium bike is lightweight and responsive, featuring Shimano Ultegra Di2 electronic shifting, 11-speed compact gearing, a premium Mavic Ksyrium Pro wheelset and a full carbon fork.
Included in your trip price
A proven classic, this custom-designed titanium bike is suited for a wide range of cyclists. It features a comfortable ergonomic seat and a long wheel base that add to the bike’s control and stability.
Included in your trip price
Keep pace or zip ahead, pedaling with an electric boost. This bike provides plenty of power to flatten the hills and more than enough battery range to cover the distance.
Min. age to ride e-bike: 16+
Ride like a pro with the top-of-the-line carbon Canyon Endurace CF SLX 9 Di2. A performance-first flagship endurance bike engineered for comfort and race-level riding.
$650 rental fee; subject to availability
This hand-built frame features Co-Motion's custom-designed cro-moly steel tubeset, powerful Avid disc brakes, Shimano Ultegra drive train, and a custom, upgraded wheelset. For experienced tandem riders.
$400 rental fee
Also Included
- All breakfasts, 6 lunches, 4 dinners
- Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
- Snacks and beverages between meals
- Additional guides and experts from the region on many trips
- Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
- Comprehensive Travel Planner with detailed pre-trip information
- Private guided tours at museums, historic sites, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the Travel Planner
- All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
- Special events, including wine tastings and other select attractions as mentioned in the Travel Planner
- On biking and multi-adventure trips, use of fully equipped Backroads titanium bike plus helmet and accessories
- Trailercycles, carriers, and kid-sized helmets for Family Trips
- Equipment and experienced guides for kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing as described
- Park and other entry fees
- Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Travel Planner
- Select coach transfers
- Baggage transfers and porterage
Straight talk
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Accommodations & Service Standards
While the accommodations on this trip reflect the natural surroundings of the national parks and provide unparalleled access to the best activities in the area, they are much simpler than is typical of Backroads lodging. Many buildings date back to the turn of the century and have only been minimally renovated, in accordance with park regulations. These historic hotels have basic guest rooms that are not equipped with televisions or air-conditioning. Overall, the service standards can seem slow and casual when compared with the hospitality found on other Backroads trips. Please note that internet and cell phone service are extremely limited throughout the parks.
Meals in National Parks
The National Park lodges we use on this trip are chosen for their character and ideal location—they are not known for their food. Meals at park lodges and the surrounding local restaurants can be simple and menu options tend to lack variety. Please be aware that options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and low-carb meals will be especially limited and substitutions are rarely available.
Weather & Itineraries in Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks
Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks are special places where four seasons can occur in one day. For that reason, our itinerary may change based upon road and trail status due to weather (including snow) or animal activity. The opening of Going-to-the-Sun Road is determined by snow levels and weather. The road often opens by the third week of June, but some years it does not open until early July. If the entire road is not open, we will shuttle 2¼ hours and you will still be able to ride the east side of Logan Pass, which typically opens earlier than the west side. Status of Going-to-the-Sun Road can be checked on Glacier National Park’s website: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/gtsrinfo.htm.
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
While the accommodations on this trip reflect the natural surroundings of the national parks and provide unparalleled access to the best activities in the area, they are much simpler than is typical of Backroads lodging. Many buildings date back to the turn of the century and have only been minimally renovated, in accordance with park regulations. These historic hotels have basic guest rooms that are not equipped with televisions or air-conditioning. Overall, the service standards can seem slow and casual when compared with the hospitality found on other Backroads trips. Please note that internet and cell phone service are extremely limited throughout the parks.
The National Park lodges we use on this trip are chosen for their character and ideal location—they are not known for their food. Meals at park lodges and the surrounding local restaurants can be simple and menu options tend to lack variety. Please be aware that options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and low-carb meals will be especially limited and substitutions are rarely available.
Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks are special places where four seasons can occur in one day. For that reason, our itinerary may change based upon road and trail status due to weather (including snow) or animal activity. The opening of Going-to-the-Sun Road is determined by snow levels and weather. The road often opens by the third week of June, but some years it does not open until early July. If the entire road is not open, we will shuttle 2¼ hours and you will still be able to ride the east side of Logan Pass, which typically opens earlier than the west side. Status of Going-to-the-Sun Road can be checked on Glacier National Park’s website: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/gtsrinfo.htm.
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