Glacier / Waterton International Peace Park Loop

The Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park, is one of the classic road climbs in the country. It is a segment of the Glacier / Waterton International Peace Park Loop. The scenery in Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada is stunning as well. Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Park were designated Wateron-Glacier International Peace Park in 1932. Waterton Lakes National Park is lightly used compared to Glacier N.P. and is very pleasant. Both parks have lots of hiking and biking options.

Distance: Big Fork, MT - Glacier National Park - Waterton Lakes National Park, AB - Big Fork, MT: 450 Miles, 18,100 ft. Elevation Gain.

Roadways: Most of the roadways have light to moderate traffic. The Canadian roadways are excellent with some shoulders and light, exceptionally courteous traffic. Some of the Montana roads in the area such as MT35 and MT82 have heavy traffic. The speed limits in the park are pretty low but watch out for tourists. The traffic in Glacier NP is almost absent early in the morning and becomes heavier by mid-day.There are restrictions on cyclists in on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, so get a real early start. The large parking area at Logan Pass fills up by noon in August. There is traffic congestion around popular trailheads and view points. The pavement on the east side of Logan Pass is generally in better condition than the west so the descent east is great. There are no shoulders for the most part on the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Options:

• There are several books on the two parks.
• There is some great mountain biking in the area, see Adventure Cycling.
• The loop can start or end at Big Fork, Whitefish, W. Glacier, or others.

Notes:

• Cycle America and Adventure Cycling do rides through this area. There is lots of mountain biking outside the park and some on dirt roads.
• Bikes are not allowed on national park trails.
• Be prepared for rainy (maybe snowy) weather at any time.
• The US border crossing wants more ID than in the past and now want a US passport or birth certificate, for sure have a picture ID like a driver's license to get back in. Check. Have proof-of-ownership, e.g., a birth certificate, for minors. There is also a proof of liability insurance card from your insurance company you can get for your car if someone is driving/support.
• Use your Visa card in Canada to get a decent exchange rate unless you change some currency somewhere.
• There are campgrounds in W. Glacier, St. Mary, in addition to the National Parks. Waterton townsite has a large commercial campground that fills up.
• Glacier National Park.
• Waterton Lakes National Park.

Glacier / Waterton Loop Summary Route Distance Elevation Gain (ft) Big Fork, Montana - West Glacier, MT From Big Fork ride north on MT35 to MT2 to Hungry Horse. Take a right to view the Hungry Horse Dam, it's definitely worth the side trip climb and then a nice ride up into the mountains to the end of pavement overlooking the reservoir. Back to MT2 to West Glacier. The ride may also start and end at Whitefish or Kalispell. 71 (with dam)  2,260 (with dam) West Glacier - St. Mary, MT via Going-to-the-Sun Road and Logan Pass From West Glacier, enter Glacier National Park, pay the entry fee, then stay on the highway. It can be cold and nasty even in the middle of summer, so be prepared. The Going -to-the-Sun Road is one of the classic climbs in the country with awesome views and vistas. Words or pictures cannot describe the climb up to Logan Pass (6,680'). There are lots of terrific overlooks over lakes and glaciated valleys and water falls on the way up. McDonald Lake has breathtaking views early in the morning. There are places for food at Apgar and McDonald Lodge. Check out the historic McDonald Lodge. Take your hiking shoes to hike up the Hidden Lake Trail at the Logan Pass visitors' center and you might get up close and personal with mountain sheep or goats. On the ascent or descent you might see some bears. In the national park there are restrictions on cyclists so get a real early start. The descent to the east is grand, it is almost all downhill from Logan Pass. There are campgrounds in St. Mary, MT outside or inside the park. Keep your entry receipt for Many Glacier. There is a grocery store in St. Mary. 53 4,040 St. Mary - Waterton Lakes National Park, AB, Canada Ride north on US89 to Babb and ride west 12 miles to Many Glacier in Glacier National Park. This is not to be missed. You may easily see bear and moose. The views from Many Glacier alone are well worth the effort. The historic Many Glacier hotel there is a real treat too. Then back to US89 and east on US17. THere is a great view of Chief Mountain. Plenty of climbing. Have your paperwork in order for the Canada border, it doesn't take much. Ride left to Waterton National park and pay the entry fee. Pass the Prince of Wales Hotel which has awesome views up Waterton Lake. There is a good information center at this intersection. Then ride into the townsite. There are motels and campgrounds but they are busy in the summer so have reservations. There are lots of hiking trails and side rides from the townsite so spend some time here too. You might see bears or moose on some of the rides out of town. The Many Glacier side trip makes this a tough day. 72 (with Many Glacier side trip) 4320 (with Many Glacier side trip) Waterton Lakes NP - Coleman/Sparwood, BC This ride begins pretty bland with rolling hills and ranchland but have faith, you will get to really scenic stretches of classic Rocky Mountain views. From Waterton ride north on AB6 to Pincher Creek, 507 to AB3. Once over Crowsnest Pass it's mainly downhill to Coleman, BC or Sparwood. There are motels and campgrounds along the way in Coleman or Sparwood. A really scenic stretch. Canada has nice highways and courteous drivers for the most part. Look at the Frank Slide exhibits along the way and the "world's largest truck" in Sparwood. 92 3,800 Sparwood - Eureka, MT This leg is almost all downhill. Fernie is a great place for a morning stop. "Back in the, Back in the, Back in the U-S-S-A..." and Montana traffic. Have your paperwork ready, the US is more stringent to get back in. Eureka, MT has several motels and a historic area in the center of town. 70  1,000 Eureka - Big Fork (or Whitefish / W. Glacier) Take US93 south to Whitefish. Then MT40 east then south on Whitefish Stage Rd. to avoid MT35. You'll have to wander around a lot to avoid the heavy traffic on MT35 but it's possible. After a piece on MT82 cross the Flathead River into Big Fork. 92  2,680 Totals (Daily Averages) 450 (75) 18,100 (3,017)

Glacier / Waterton National Park Route - One route of many.