It's called Big Sky. Yet you're still amazed by how big it is. You enjoy miles of scenic roads and the sound of your wheels spinning. You ride and talk. You ride and don't talk. You're awestruck by a waterfall's force. You question why you don't live closer to the mountains. You're in two magnificent national parks. And you'll never be the same.
Day
1 Get ready for astonishing alpine scenery that just won't quit 
Pedal a picturesque route along the shore of Lake McDonald, formed by retreating glaciers 10,000 years ago Cool off with a dip in the chilly lake—if you're feeling brave!
Day
2 Bike the renowned Going-to-the-Sun Road —a 50-mile stretch with superlative riding and unbelievable views No camera can capture the magnificence of this landscape—replete with sparkling waterfalls, expansive virgin forests, sculpted valleys and towering peaks glazed with ice—but it's worth a try! An exhilarating downhill ride between glaciated mountains and emerald lakes brings you to the shores of Upper and Lower St. Mary Lakes Continue riding through aspen forests to Many Glacier Valley.
Day
3 Pedal north into Canada, through rolling ranchland and extraordinary glacier-carved valleys Pause to take in the views of Chief Mountain, one of the holiest areas of the park to the Blackfeet tribe Enjoy a thrilling ascent to Waterton Lakes National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with dramatic mountains and a chain of dazzling lakes Challenge yourself to one more uphill to the Prince of Wales hotel, which stands alone on a bluff above Waterton Lake surrounded by glacier-carved peaks.
Days
4-5 Now's your chance to spot bighorn sheep, pikas, white-crowned sparrows and more What are you up for today? Hiking, biking, horseback riding and boating are some of the options Spin the roller-coaster route along the eastern perimeter of Glacier against a spectacular backdrop of meadows, forests and mountains.
Day 6 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.
Amazing riding, and wonderful guides.- Canmore, Alberta
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. Read the 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.
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A Summer in Glacier
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Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with a large stone fireplace in the lobby and a terrace overlooking the lake.
An early-1900s Swiss chalet-style hotel set on the shore of Swiftcurrent Lake amid the peaks of Many Glacier Valley.
This historic green-gabled hotel offers vistas of the mountains reflected in glacier-fed lakes.
Located on the park's eastern edge in Blackfeet country; immense timbers hold aloft its expansive lobby ceiling. (pool, spa)
There's no better way to find out about Backroads than by hearing it from the people who have traveled with us. For more about the Backroads Experience, read our Guest Testimonials.
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REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 11 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Reviewed by 11 customers
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Comments about Glacier & Waterton Lakes Bike Tour:
Amazing riding, and wonderful guides.
Comments about Glacier & Waterton Lakes Bike Tour:
This was an incredible trip and a gorgeous week in the mountains. The support on the route provided options for all riding abilities and the leaders went out of their way to make sure we were extremely well taken care of along the way. I truly believe this is the best way to experience Glacier and Waterton!! I also really loved the layover day in Waterton with a la carte options to choose your own adventure and explore on your own. We did the full day hike on the other side of the lake, and it was the perfect change of pace between several big days of riding. Accomodations on this trip are 'national park lodges' and although they are the best in the area - they are very casual. With that said, the scenery, mountain air, amazing leaders, great biking and overall incredilbe travel experience more than made up for the lack of premiere accommodations in the area.
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Images shared by Pura Velo Vida
Images shared by Pura Velo Vida
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Comments about Glacier & Waterton Lakes Bike Tour:
This is truly a trip of a lifetime, the scenery is absolutely stunning and the experience of being able to bike ride through it exhilarating.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Comments about Glacier & Waterton Lakes Bike Tour:
We didn't know what to expect, and I want to tell you right now, you need to rest assured this will be awesome, fun, and wonderful. The park and landscape are beautiful and unparalleled. The support team and leaders are friendly, knowledgable, funny, professional, and helpful. We felt like we could do any ride, cross any barrier, confront any mountain, and we would have fun, and survive. Do it.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Comments about Glacier & Waterton Lakes Bike Tour:
I had high expectations based upon the pre-trip support communication and documentation, and the team on the ground far exceeded those expectations. The leaders willingness to adjust schedules and ride options to accommodate everyone was truly above and beyond.
Comments about Glacier & Waterton Lakes Bike Tour:
The whole Backroads experience was exceptional. Your company prides itself on offering different levels of riding and I was not sure how that was possible. It all worked beautifully and I was so pleased that I could get a lift up a hill (if I wanted to) while my husband kept riding at his own pace. The leaders (Katie, Alex and Reika) were very happy to accommodate all riders and kept emphasising that it was "our" holiday. They were always available on the road with snacks and encouraging words. The hotels in the National Parks were wonderful - rustic and full of character with incredible views. I would highly recommend the Backroads Glacier trip for anyone interested in a unique cycling holiday.
Comments about Glacier & Waterton Lakes Bike Tour:
Superb would not be adequate for this adventure. Great leaders, incredible route and stop locations. Food was well done, logistical support was seemless. My hat goes off to Casey, Anderson and Jimmy for pushing me up the Sun Road!! Flying home I was trying to think what I would change and could not come up with anything. I really enjoyed my bike and all of the experience. Looking at the ride of Death Valley with you, or just a return to this ride next summer. My sincere thanks for a job well done. Thanks to all
Comments about Glacier & Waterton Lakes Bike Tour:
One of the best all-time trips I've ever been on. Glacier is amazing and the support made the environment and experience very accessible. The way the leaders anticipated the group's needs made them seem almost telepathic.
Comments about Glacier & Waterton Lakes Bike Tour:
This trip was a blast. Between challenging rides, jaw-dropping scenery & wonderful leaders offering incredible support, I had an incredible week. Riding between these parks would not be possible for me without the unfailing support of the lively, friendly, funny Backroads crew. Crossing into Canada and selecting an invigorating hike on our "rest day" was one of the most memorable parts of the trip for my friend and I.
Comments about Glacier & Waterton Lakes Bike Tour:
IMHO the best way to see GNP is on a bike. However one of these days I'd like to see the park interior on foot.
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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.
Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
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AVAILABLE TO BOOKi GOING FASTi CONTACT USi PRIVATE TRIP - RESERVEDi
Interested in a Private Trip? Check out the Make It Private tab for private dates available, or call us at 800-462-2848.
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next—and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
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| Daily Route Options | ||||||||||
| Day | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | ||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | |
| 1 | 13* | 1100 | 32 | 2200 | ||||||
| 23* | 1600 | |||||||||
| 2 | 40* | 4200 | 60 | 5500 | ||||||
| 3 | 33* | 1500 | 51 | 3500 | 63 | 4500 | ||||
| 4 | 20 | 2000 | ||||||||
| 21 | 1600 | |||||||||
| Optional Hiking, Biking, Horseback Riding, Fishing, Kayaking or Boat Cruise | ||||||||||
| 5 | 45* | 4200 | 63* | 5200 | ||||||
| 92 | 8000 | |||||||||
| 6 | Rafting on the Flathead River (3 Hours) | |||||||||
Note:
* Includes shuttle.
Learn more about how we determine our activity levels and fully support a range of abilities and interests.
Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources (such as Map My Ride and Garmin devices) may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies. Readings from a Garmin or a smart phone are influenced by other factors such as air pressure.
Beyond the obvious opportunity to explore some spectacular landscapes, the idea behind this trip is simple: why settle for just one renowned national park when you can explore two – and cross an international boundary in the bargain? Biking through Glacier National Park on the Montana side of the Rockies, then crossing the U.S.-Canada border into Waterton Lakes, you enjoy stunning rides and stay at historic park lodges that are typically booked-up far in advance.
On our Glacier and Waterton Lakes trips we have an extra leader supporting you along the road—for a total of three, compared to the industry standard two. So we can be in more places at once, giving personal attention to guests traveling at their own pace. Here's more on our Trip Leaders.
Backroads is the only active travel company providing two support vans in Glacier and Waterton Lakes—because we know it's essential to ensure a truly great travel experience. It doubles our ability to be there when you need us to offer hydration, lighten your load or give you a lift if it's time to take a break. Read more on why two vans make all the difference.
Backroads has the best-qualified people to lead your trip in Glacier and Waterton Lakes, and our guests back that up, rating our Trip Leaders an average of 9.75 out of 10 for all-around quality of performance. Get the facts (and no fluff) on how we recruit and develop the very best people for your trip.
We design and support our Glacier and Waterton Lakes trips to suit mixed abilities and varied interests—so you can set your own pace, then change things up as the day unfolds. And all guests are free to do the same, traveling together or apart, with no one cramping anyone else's style. Which sounds easy in theory, but it's hard to pull off. Here's more on how we do it.
Choose a Backroads Custom Titanium or Custom Electric Assist bike—both are included in your trip price. Maybe a Specialized carbon-fiber pro model is more your speed or go for double fun on a tandem. Our fleet is the best in active travel, so you don't have to roll the dice on this vital trip component. Learn why our titanium bikes are ideal for most riders. See the bike options for this trip.
Your ride comes equipped with a Garmin Edge Explore 1000, the best bike-touring GPS device on the market. This is a Backroads exclusive, and it's included with your bike in Glacier and Waterton Lakes. If you prefer to bring your own device, we also have downloadable GPS files and of course, our good old paper directions are always available. Read more on why our navigation options are the best.
In addition to the ideal balance of comfort and hospitality in our choice of lodgings, this Casual Inns trip includes nearly all of your meals, plus everything from cocktail receptions to the best snacks along the road. So there's rarely a need to reach for your wallet – we've got you covered.
For nearly four decades we've worked to earn and maintain our right to call Backroads the world's #1 active travel company. In pursuing that vision on behalf of our guests, we believe we've set the standard for our industry—captured in the Backroads Quality Guide, which clearly sets out the benchmarks of excellence, choice and support that we live by
Guests rave about our picnic spreads. Enjoy a welcome break in a scenic spot, or a quick refuel stop if you don't want to lose momentum. And because we have two vans, one can host lunch while the other is out providing support along the route.
With Backroads you won't end up with kids on what you thought was an adult trip; we have exclusive departures for families, so they're off having their own adventures. As you browse our unrivaled selection of trips and dates, you can count on finding a trip in Glacier and Waterton Lakes that's geared exclusively to your choice of traveling companions.
Under our Book with Confidence policy, your Backroads trip will run even for one or two people (or a family of three or four), subject to a nominal extra fee. Or transfer to another trip, and we'll give you a credit. It's all part of our trademark commitment to treating guests with integrity, transparency and total accountability. Read all the details.
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Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities. You can pick from the selection of dates below for your group; some dates are only available for 16 or more guests while other dates are available for 8 or more guests. If your party has fewer than 8 guests, or your preferred date is not available, we'll create a departure just for you. Call or email us to reserve your date.
Click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
8 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 8 OR MORE GUESTS 16 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 16 OR MORE GUESTS RESERVED
Don't see your ideal travel date? Make a Date! i
Invite your family and friends on an adventure that's entirely your own - for your group of 8 or more. Find out more
I simply can't imagine a better way to immerse yourself in the life of a region, to explore hidden corners and appreciate nuances while enjoying the benefits and enormous satisfaction of traveling under your own power. These are experiences you cannot have behind the wheel of a car, or on a train or a tour bus. Active travel is, at its heart, a way of connecting more authentically with the world. Sure, Backroads provides amazing leaders, superb accommodations and meals, and opportunities you could never arrange on your own. But all of our comprehensive planning and support is aimed at something far simpler: bringing you the immediate, highly personal satisfaction of discovering a new world on your own terms.
— Tom Hale, Founder & President
