Big Sky meets six days of big smiles on our epic Glacier National Park/Going to The Sun Road Bike trip.
Basing from Montana’s 1583-sq. mile Glacier National Park, with its 375 historic properties plus six historic landmarks, we cycle into some of North America’s most breathtaking landscapes. At each stop, each slow pass, we understand a little more about “The Crown of the Continent” ecosystem.
Amazingly, nearly all of the plants and animals that existed during the era of European exploration are still present in the park, the adjoining wilderness and tribal homelands. The flora and fauna will hopefully remain undisturbed, thanks to the lack of dense population centers nearby.
We have to note that the time to enjoy this glacier-based park is running out. Of the park’s 150 recorded glaciers, only 25 remain. Park Service divulges that by 2030, accelerated by Climate Change, the park’s namesake glaciers will likely completely vanish.
*ebike available for this tour. Some restrictions apply.
Day 1-2: Our six day epic kicks off with an hour-long shuttle, from the resort town of Whitefish. The day’s first stage commences from 6651-ft Apgar Mountain, on Glacier’s western edge. We route past 6593-ft Huckleberry Mountain, in the Apgar range: thickly forested home to elk, mule and whitetail deer, mountain lion, Grizzly and Black bear. Beneath soaring peaks, sculpted by glacial retreat, we arrive at the humble visitor center. On the next ten-mile stage we sweep up valley, paralleling the shores of Lake McDonald: an alpine stunner, fed by fading glaciers and snowfields. At the Park Inn, a rustic Swiss style resort built in 1913 we close out a fulsome first day. Day 2, a turn of the century engineering feat, Going to The Sun Road consistently places amongst America’s top-ten most scenic roads. No wonder some stretches of this roughhewn, east-west stretching thoroughfare took ten years to complete, given the distinct if not powerful landscapes Going to The Sun traverses: no less than 48-miles of waterfalls, broad alpine valleys, magnificent forests and sharply serrated mountain peaks. Climbing to Logan Pass, we gain 3000-feet on a roadbed so accommodating to our Kevlar skins it seems manicured. At the eastern terminus of The Going to The Sun Road, we roll into a humble village of 50 full-time residents, truly a wide spot on US-89. Nonetheless, at the park’s edge we marvel at the striking presentation that is the Saint Mary’s visitor center. All smart, sharp, modernist lines that conform to the vividly vertical landscape, the Saint Mary’s structure is arguably the most architecturally imaginative welcome mat in the US Park Service.
Day 3-4: Take a 20-mile shuttle from Saint Mary to Many Glacier Inn, which edges Swiftcurrent Lake. No less than the jewels of Glacier National Park, these alpine lakes—at 4878-ft altitude—represent wilderness paradise. Where water, big-charismatic wildlife and even bigger backcountry mountains merge, we indulge in hikes along Cataract Creek. Later, the day’s ride options include the spectacular Chief Mountain Highway, ascending to the Chiefton Overlook. Day 4, view bears rising above close-in meadows, more reclusive Bighorn sheep on hillsides, Golden and Bald eagles riding a thermal—or admiring our kit—on high. Our ride shoots south, plying the eastern border of Glacier. Set against spectacular meadows, we sojourn briefly at Two Medicine Valley, at the park’s southeast: a Matterhorn evoking mountain called Rising Wolf, 9518-ft. lording over Two Medicine Lake. A stunning descent to East Glacier is palpable for its spirit, the quintessence or essence that fills the space between terra firma and the universe above. Not only rich Grizzly habitat, but wolf, coyote, Black bear, moose, elk are routinely seen from the road’s lookouts. Overnight at Glacier Park Lodge: magnificently framed by 40-foot tall Douglas firs.
Day 5-6: Our first stage sweeps from East Glacier to West Glacier, with a shuttle to Whitefish. Our ride parallels the southern border of Glacier, threaded through a stunning canyon carved by the Flathead Wild and Scenic River. Broken by multiple picnic stops, our route courses through the rolling ancestral lands of the Blackfeet tribe. We close just as we opened: with a shuttle back to equally welcoming, if well-adorned Whitefish. Overnight: Grouse Mountain Lodge, downtown Whitefish. Think elegant meals meets come-as-you-are high country pub amidst a modern ski chalet setting. Loosening the legs we indulge in a short, vigorous spin along Whitefish Lake. Next, swapping pedals for paddles, we throttle back to a full immersion in the Flathead River, emerald waters churning beneath dense, riverside forests. Our Crown of the Continent tour wraps in fluid fashion, rafting the Middle Fork of the Flathead River.
Since 1992, we at Escape Adventures have been blessed to shape and lead adventure travel vacations through some of the most awe-inspiring natural destinations in the world. Each successive season, our passion for adventure grows through memorable moments with our guests. Fresh air, faith, fitness and friends are the building blocks for our ventures, the treasured experiences that keep us moving forward. For those of you who have trekked and traveled with us over the past quarter century, Heather and I express our sincerest gratitude. The memories are priceless.
For those who have yet to tour with us, we appreciate the opportunity to introduce you to our family-run company and guiding principles of sustainability and adventure. Our portfolio specializes in Western North America and is rapidly growing internationally. Building on over 100 destinations, we cater to the full spectrum of active traveler, respective to fitness level and activity type. From road cyclist to mountain biker to electric biker, hiker, and multi-sport enthusiast, and from first-timer to friends and family groups of all ability levels, on behalf of our Escape Adventures family, we look forward to many new and exciting adventures with you.
With much gratitude, and happy trails,
Jared and Heather Fisher
Founders and Owner-Operators
Escape Adventures
Look Ma, no hands! Stay connected and safe with this “game-changer” mobile accessory. The Wraptor gives you full screen visibility and holds your phone safe and securely, even over rough terrain. It’s designed to quickly attach and detach from the bar, and the base rotates between landscape and portrait mode with ease. It’s a must-have if you want to spend less time fiddling with your device and more time pedaling your bike.
It’s lit! When it comes to bike safety, illumination is key. Even when you are on the road in the daytime, you need to be seen from all directions. So we’ve teamed up with NiteRider to offer the best daytime lighting for your ride. Each road bike is equipped with a headlight and a taillight with the proper lumen output and run time to keep you safe from every angle.
