Montana Divide Gravel
You’ve always wanted to ride parts of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, but doesn’t carrying only the bare necessities, staying at great indoor establishments, and eating delicious food sound even better? Join us on one of our favorite sections of the Great Divide as we travel down remote backroads and stay along picturesque lakes with stunning views from Whitefish to Missoula.
Departing Whitefish, we’ll ride through farmlands before hitting the mountains, rivers, and lakes, following parts of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route and some paved alternates. We’ll climb passes, ride down stunning descents, and even hit a bit of singletrack on this great adventure. Our tour will end in one of western Montana’s finest cities, Missoula, home to Adventure Cycling’s headquarters.
There are no scheduled departures for this tour.
"The camraderie that developed between the riders over the course of the tour was great. It was good to ride with different people over the course of the tour!"
Day 1. Whitefish, Montana, 0 miles
We'll meet our group today in the winter resort town of Whitefish, which also has a fair amount of activity in the summer months. Situated just a stone's throw away from spectacular Glacier National Park, come early to explore the many recreational opportunities that await, from great hikes and watersports to heading out to the various bike trails in the area.
Day 2. Whitefish to Bigfork, 45 miles
We'll ease into our great adventure, following roads winding through a civilized countryside that will become a rarity on our tour. We'll venture our way to the small artistic community of Bigfork, nestled at the mouth of the Swan River on the northeastern shores of massive Flathead Lake. The mostly paved day will help us get our legs under us as we get ready for the climbing and dirt roads ahead.
Day 3. Bigfork to Swan Lake, 29 miles
Today, we head into the mountains! Since it is a relatively short day, we'll get the opportunity to spend a little more time on the shores of Flathead Lake in the morning before taking off, and when we get to our overnight, there will be plenty of time to get out on Swan Lake.
Day 4. Swan Lake to Condon, 52 miles
Most of our day will be spent on forest service dirt roads full of great climbs and thrilling descents. These rolling and primitive dirt roads are squeezed majestically between the base of the stunning Mission Mountains and State Highway 83, with fantastic views all around. We'll end our day near Condon, and if you're feeling up for it, opportunities to ride or hike to the Holland Lake Falls.
Day 5. Condon to Seeley Lake. 35 miles
Today features some spectacular climbing and a thrilling descent as we work our way to the high point of our tour just over 6,600 feet. We'll also get the opportunity today to ride some fun singletrack, a great change of pace. From that high point, it's almost all downhill to our overnight in Seeley Lake. If you get to town early, take the opportunity to jump in a boat and get out on the water!
Day 6. Seeley Lake to Missoula, 59 miles
On our final day, we'll wind our way to Missoula, home to Adventure Cycling's headquarters. We'll spend nearly 10 miles of our ride following the Blackfoot River until the confluence with the Clark Fork River, which will take us down into the heart of Missoula. We'll stay the night in downtown Missoula and celebrate our great adventure.
Know before you go
Information for eBike riders:
Because every rider, eBike, road condition, and elevation profile is different, it is ultimately up to the participant to judge best whether their battery will last through each tour day. We recommend using pedal assist in its lowest setting or off when not needed to maximize battery range. Bringing a second battery is also recommended. Remember, there is no vehicle support on our inn-to-inn trips, and you would need to carry the extra battery along with all of your other things.
Start/End Location:
This tour is designed as a point-to-point tour, and you'll be able to arrive in Whitefish and depart in Missoula. An optional shuttle will be available the day after the tour ends for those who are interested in returning to Whitefish.
