Montana’s Bitterroot Bike Tour
I loved this tour and would definitely consider doing it again in the future. Our guide did a great job of making adjustments to the plan in order to accommodate our pace and abilities. What a great trip!
Enjoy the views that earned Montana its “Big Sky” nickname as well as its state flower, the bitterroot. Pedal through the foothills of Bitterroot Range and the Bitterroot Valley. Follow the historic Lewis & Clark and Nez Pierce trails as you make your way past the Big Hole National Battlefield to the Pioneer Mountains. Relax, recreate and recharge in a high-country lodge immersed in genuine Montana scenery in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Your adventure culminates on the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway – a region filled with hot springs, picturesque rivers, ghost towns and abandoned mines.
PEDAL HAPPY! – We’ve rated this tour Intermediate in difficulty, but an e-bike can make it friendly for energetic Beginners, and there’s plenty of cycling for Advanced riders looking for more miles as well. While we may not be grinding up steep mountain roads at high elevation on this tour, it is in the Rocky Mountains, so a substantial amount of the cycling is between 5000-7000 feet elevation.
Itinerary
Day 1
Cycle on a paved bike path following the Bitterroot River to Hamilton.
Meals
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Bitterroot River Inn
Distance
34 miles (or more)
Elevation
+1555 ft / -574 ft (or more)
After a brief shuttle and a bike fitting, we hop onto the Bitterroot Trail (paved bike path). Enjoy your first views of the Bitterroot Range to the west and the Sapphire Mountains to the east. Watch for evidence of the ancient shoreline of the prehistoric Lake Missoula which existed here during the most recent ice age as you pedal past modern ranches and farmlands. Nestle in – for the next two nights – and enjoy a park-like setting along the river at the Bitterroot River Inn in Hamilton.
Day 2
Pedal to Painted Rocks Lake to swim and relax, or … ride some more!
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
Lodging
Bitterroot River Inn
Distance
26-50 miles (or more)
Elevation
+1,501 ft / -722 ft for the 26 mi. route (or more)
It’s a short (~15-min) shuttle to where we begin today’s ride at a tranquil fishing access site along the river. Cycle up a gentle climb on a lonely road through lodgepole pine forest to Painted Rocks Lake – named for the rainbow-hued lichens adorning the granite and rhyolite walls surrounding the lake. After lunch at the lake, the rest of the day is up to you. Relax and go for a swim and enjoy the park… or keep cycling. The riding is good in either direction from here! Return to the Bitterroot River Inn in Hamilton at the end of the day. Dinner is on your own tonight.
Day 3
Finding “Wisdom” along the Lewis & Clark and the Nez Pierce historic trails.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Montana High Country Guest Lodge
Distance
44 miles (regular route), up to 70 miles (long route)
Elevation
+1,201 ft / -1,746 ft (regular route) up to +2918 ft / -3457 ft (long route)
After a shuttle (one hour) from Hamilton to the Montana Idaho border, our day continues along the Nez Pierce historic route. We start at the base of Lost Trail Ski Area (6800’) and head up the Chief Joseph Pass (7250’) before descending into the Big Hole Valley. For those preferring flatter riding, you can choose to start in the valley. On our way to Wisdom, we will stop at the Big Hole National Battlefield to learn about the events which took place here in 1877. The Big Hole River cuts through the valley with views of the Pioneer Mountains to the east. The unincorporated town of Jackson awaits: Here you have the option to jump in the van or continue cycling for the remaining 25 miles all the way to the Montana High Country Guest Lodge, our lodging for the next three nights.
Day 4
Rest and recharge as you choose your own adventure today.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Dinner
Lodging
Montana High Country Guest Lodge
By popular demand, we added a day to simply enjoy the setting at the lodge. If your legs are restless, you can take a hike to nearby Sawtooth Lake (6.6mi. 1500’ gain). Otherwise, contemplate the skies, breathe the mountain air, take a dip in the local hot springs and just unplug, relax and absorb the expansive views surrounding Grasshopper Valley. Lunch is on your own today, but all the fixings will be available at the Lodge to make a sandwich to eat there or take on an adventure.
Day 5
Chasing “Wild West” history on a ride to a ghost town and back.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Montana High Country Guest Lodge
Distance
39 miles (~8 mi. on good gravel road)
Elevation
+1,577 ft / -1,572 ft
Today we saddle up our trusty steeds and point them toward Montana’s first territorial capital in Bannack – now a National Historic Landmark as well as the best-preserved ghost town in the state. Amble deserted streets where 150-year-old historic log and frame structures recall Montana’s early years when the lure of gold in the 1860’s brought thousands of hopefuls to seek their fortunes at this remote outpost. When the gold ran out, they moved on. Have lunch and explore the town and the park before cycling back to the lodge for a last-night celebration.
Day 6
Follow blue-ribbon trout streams through high-country scenery in the Pioneer Mountains.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
Distance
48 miles
Elevation
+2,306 ft / -3,438 ft
Cycle a Scenic Byway the length of the Pioneer Mountains. Granite Mountain Peak reaches 10,000 feet on one side, while the gentler forested hills and mountain meadows of the Anaconda Wilderness Area spread out below on the other. Begin with a gentle ascent to the 7,800-foot divide between the Wise River to the north and Grasshopper Creek to the south. Ghost towns, abandoned silver mines, and blue-ribbon trout streams are the hallmarks of this area. Cap it off with a fun descent into the town Wise River followed by a nice pedal along the Big Hole River to where we pick you up for the (~2hr) return drive to Missoula.
