Glacier receives lots of snow every Winter, so Going-to-the-Sun Road is typically covered in snow until road crews begin plowing in April. Typically, you can bike Going-to-the-Sun Road from late April or early May, until late June or early July. Once plowing completes and cars are allowed, biking Going-to-the-Sun Road is not recommended.
We do not recommend biking Going-to-the-Sun Road with cars. Therefore, if the road opens to cars on or before your reservation date, we will cancel and refund all bike and shuttle reservations. You may also choose a partial refund and do kayak rentals or half-day biking around Apgar or Camas Road instead.
Plan for lots of picture breaks, pack a picnic and plan to make a fun day of it! Full-day rentals allow pickups as early as 7am with returns before 6pm. Allow minimum 4 hours biking plus 30 minutes driving each direction, totaling approximately 6 hours.
Distance varies by season. Late April/mid-May typically allows biking from McDonald Lodge to Avalanche Creek (about 10 miles round trip). There are typically about 2-4 days a year that the road is completely plowed and open only to bikers all the way to Logan Pass. The complete Avalanche to Logan Pass route totals about 32 miles round trip.
Typically you drive to the parking lot for Avalanche Trailhead/Campground and start your bike ride there. However, in early season when the road is just starting to be plowed, it may only be open to cars to Lake McDonald Lodge and you will park there and begin your ride from there. The shop is 10 miles from McDonald Lodge and 15 miles from Avalanche Trailhead.
From Avalanche Creek to Logan Pass, you gain about 3,200 ft in almost 16 miles. Breakdown: Avalanche to The Loop gains ~880 ft in 8 miles; The Loop to Big Bend gains ~1,420 ft in 5 miles; Big Bend to Logan Pass gains ~900 ft in 3 miles.
We don't recommend starting the ride from our shop in Apgar Village. Starting from the shop adds 20-30 extra miles round trip on roads with cars and no bike lanes. Bike racks and shuttle service ($35/person) are available to transport riders to proper starting points.
No. No cars, trucks or shuttles are allowed past the road closure, only hikers and bikers. Riders must bike uphill from Avalanche or Lake McDonald Lodge and turn around at the road closure. A shuttle service is available from West Glacier to Avalanche.
Because of the uncertainty with when Going-to-the-Sun Road will be fully plowed, trying to schedule a time to bike Going-to-the-Sun Road in its full entirety from Avalanche to St Mary and back, is REALLY hard--if not impossible! A 2-4 day window exists annually, making advance planning nearly impossible.
The red lines show roads that are closed to cars (but still open to bikers to certain points). The yellow biker drop pin shows the road crew closure, which is the furthest point bikers can ride to while snow plows and crews are actively working. Additional pins may show the Road Hazard Closure, a safety point with heavy fines for violations.
Electric Bikes may be picked up once we open at 7:00 am. All bikes are due back by 7:00 pm and are charged $1 per minute that they are late. Standard Bikes may be picked up at 7am or the night before, between 5pm and 8pm, based on availability.
Yes, helmets and tire repair kits are included with all reservations. Bike locks are available upon request as well.
Only if you're driving yourself to Avalanche Creek with your bike, after June 13th, 2025. A Timed Entry Vehicle Reservation is required 7 AM to 3 PM past the checkpoint. Exceptions: no reservation needed for West Glacier entry, shop visits, or bike rentals. The park's weekend biker shuttle is free; Glacier Outfitters' shuttle costs $40/person.
Yes! Child bike trailers can be attached to both standard bikes and E-bikes.
Glacier Outfitters offers a bike shuttle during the biker season until Going to the Sun Rd opens to cars. The cost is $40 per person and reservations are required. The shuttle runs, based on availability and demand, up to two times a day at 9am and/or 12pm.
It is important to note that you still have to pedal an E-bike, it is not a throttled bike, so you are still putting in the work. At highest setting, an E-bike provides one "free" pedal for every pedal you make. Those not biking regularly may benefit from an E-bike, though non-E-bike rides are possible.
Our E-bike batteries allow you to explore up to 30-60 miles depending on mode and terrain, but it all depends on the rider and how they are using their E-bike. Battery use varies by mode (Turbo uses more power), rider weight, and terrain. In all of our years in business, we have only had a handful of guests each season come back and say they ran out of battery.
We rent Cannondale Tesoro and Diamondback Union E-bikes, both are equipped with a Bosch battery.
We have height ranges listed on the booking buttons for each bike. For hybrid bikes, they are quiet flexible between the sizing, so follow those guidelines. For e-bikes, they can ride a bit larger than a standard bike, if you are between sizes, we recommend sizing DOWN.
Our bikes are not cruiser style, you will be slightly leaned over to reach the handle bars. Bike seats are never comfortable, even e-bike seats. Users should expect some soreness after riding if not accustomed to bike seats.
Every child is different, but typically children have much more stamina and energy than adults! We require that all E-bike riders be 16 or older. Child bike trailers can be attached to both standard bikes and E-bikes. Children's bikes in 20" and 24" sizes are also available.
You'll want to be sure to have a backpack that you are comfortable wearing while you bike, as our bikes do not have baskets or anyplace to strap down items. Essential items include: layers, water, snacks/lunch, sunglasses, gloves, camera/phone, sunblock, face covering/balaclava, first aid kit, and necessary medications.
We recommend that you wear pants that are easy to bike/hike in, not jeans. Wool socks are preferred over cotton. Our bikes have flat pedals, so any tennis shoe or hiking boot will work on your feet, we don't recommend open toed shoes. Bring multiple layers, rain jacket, gloves, balaclava, and sunglasses for variable mountain weather.
Glacier National Park is home to 71 species of mammals, and sometimes it may be easier for them to walk the clearly plowed roads than trudge through snow in the woods. Bear spray is encouraged for accessibility. Keep 100 yards away from bears or wolves, and 25 yards from any other animals.
There are some bike racks at Avalanche Trailhead parking for you to lock your bikes and go for a walk on The Trail of the Cedars, or all the way to Avalanche Lake. Bikes can be grouped to trees if racks are full. Bike locks are available to borrow from Glacier Outfitters.
Biking Going-to-the-Sun Road isn't a cakewalk. But, if you take your time and have patience with yourself, you can likely succeed at it. It is also not unusual (or shameful) to walk your bike up a hill if you need to. Consult your doctor before riding if you have concerns.
No, you can bike 7 days a week usually. How far you can bike varies daily throughout the season, though. Monday-Thursday you can bike to the Road Crew Closure where plows work. Friday-Sunday you can bike to the Avalanche Closure, determined by an Avalanche Expert each Thursday evening.
We recommend booking your bikes about two months in advance, at minimum. The general rule is to reserve bikes as soon as dates are known. Reservations typically open at the start of each new year.
We offer two daily departures: 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM. We recommend arriving at our Paddle Ridge shop at least 15 minutes before your scheduled departure to check in and get your bike ready.
The drop-off location depends on current road conditions. Early season, we shuttle to Lake McDonald Lodge. Once the road is plowed further, we drop off at Avalanche Creek — giving you the best downhill ride back to Paddle Ridge. Our team will let you know the current drop-off when you book.
Yes! Reservations are required for the shuttle — we cannot accommodate walk-ins for this service. Spots fill up fast, especially on weekends, so we recommend booking as early as possible.
The shuttle is $40 per person. This includes transport for you and your bike to the drop-off point. Bike rental is separate — you can bundle both when you book online for the best experience.
Yes! The shuttle accommodates both our rental bikes and personal bikes. No fat tire bikes. Just let us know when you book so we can ensure space on the trailer.
The shuttle ride to Avalanche Creek takes approximately 20-30 minutes depending on road conditions. The ride to Lake McDonald Lodge (early season) is shorter at about 10-15 minutes.
No! Going-to-the-Sun Road does not require a vehicle reservation this year. Just bring your park pass and you're good to go.
Safety is our top priority. If conditions are unsafe, we will cancel the shuttle and offer rescheduling or a full refund. Light rain typically doesn't affect departures — dress in layers and embrace the adventure! Mountain weather changes fast! Stay safe by dressing in layers—base, warm mid, and outer rain shell—and avoiding cotton. Pack a hat, gloves, food, and water to prevent hypothermia, which is a risk year-round.
We highly recommend it! You'll be biking through prime bear habitat. We rent bear spray in our shuttle — add it to your booking or pick one up before you depart.
Pack layers, gloves, bear spray, water, snacks, sunblock, camera, and your park pass. Mountain weather changes in an instant, so avoid cotton—which stays wet and increases the risk of hypothermia. Be sure to prioritize warm gloves for the freezing downhill descent and carry bear spray for safety while riding through the corridor.
A great family friendly bike path. About a 7 mile loop, paved and little to no traffic, aside from one or two bike crossings. Bike through Apgar Village and along McDonald Creek. Stop at Oxbow Bend to look for beavers, bike to the original bridge into the park-Belton Bridge-which is now a bike and pedestrian bridge. This ride also connects to the Gateway to Glacier Trail and West Glacier, so you can add in a stop in West Glacier for ice cream or a round of mini-golf. You could also bike out to the Gateway to Glacier Trail to bike to zip-line, grab cocktails at Glacier Distilling or other mini-golf spots.
24 Miles RT. Ride from our shop on Camas road, which is a wide road with a nice shoulder. Enjoy beautiful mountain views and wildflowers. It is a previous burn area, so start early in the morning to avoid the summer afternoon heat. Stop at McGee Meadow to learn what a Fen is. At 12 Miles, you will hit the Northfork River and Northfork Road. Lock up your bike and hike up Demer's Ridge (7.2 miles) for beautiful views of Glacier's Livingston Range and the Northfork River. You don't need to hike very far to get these views! Want to learn more about Glacier on your ride? Add a 1 mile hike with the Forest and Fire Nature Trail, which can be found right after the Camas Road Entrance on the south side of the road.
14 Miles RT. Take a beautiful ride and stop for lunch at our local distillery in Coram, MT. On the way home, stop at Halfmoon Lake for a swim (right off the bike path, easy to miss dirt road). Then enjoy the view of Southern Glacier Park on the way back into West Glacier. Bike to Belton Bridge, by going through West Glacier and taking a right at "Old Bridge Road". Bike over the bridge and put your bikes off to the side and go down to the river and enjoy the beauty! Take the gravel path back and go straight. The road will turn into the bike path to Apgar Village and will end in Apgar Village. Drop off your bike and walk down to the shoreline, for one last view or swim in Lake McDonald.
Technically, yes. Be aware that you will be biking in heavy traffic with steep drop offs, regardless of the time of day you choose to go. Going-to-the-Sun Road is very narrow and has no bike lanes or shoulders. You will be biking in the road, with cars at all times. We generally do not recommend biking the road once it is open to cars unless you are an avid cyclist and used to biking in the road with cars. Additionally, please be aware of limits to when you can be on the road on a bike during peak season. More information is available on the Glacier National Park website.
See our handy guide to bikeable routes in the park for more information! (We recommend the Apgar Bike Path or Camas Road, usually)
See our handy guide for choosing your bike--but typically if you are just doing the Apgar Bike Loop a hybrid bike is more than sufficient. If biking Camas Rd, an E-bike may be nice to have for the first few miles that are uphill.
Hybrid bikes may be picked up the evening before your rental begins by request. Please text our reservations desk to set this up. We cannot guarantee that bikes will be ready for pick-up prior to your reservation start time. If you do not need to make special arrangements for an early pick-up, late season bike rentals start at 8 AM.
No experience necessary! We provide basic instruction before you head out. Our staff will show you proper paddling technique and safety guidelines before you head to the water.
We strongly recommend morning bookings starting at 9:30 AM when the lake is usually the calmest. Afternoon winds can make paddling more difficult, especially for SUPs. Early and late season afternoons tend to be calmer.
Online bookings require a minimum 24-hour advance notice. For next-day reservations, text us at (406) 219-7466 - it's the fastest way to check availability and book.
Yes! Coast Guard-approved life jackets (PFDs) are included with all rentals and are required to be worn while on the water.
We offer Ocean Brand kayaks in single, tandem (2-person), and triple (2 adults + 1 child up to 120 lbs) configurations. All are stable, easy-to-paddle recreational kayaks perfect for Lake McDonald.
We use Glide paddleboards - stable, durable boards that are great for beginners and experienced paddlers alike.
Yes! Children can ride in tandem or triple kayaks with adults. Our triple kayak fits 2 adults plus 1 child up to 120 lbs. For SUPs, children should be comfortable swimmers and accompanied by an adult on a separate board.
Safety is our priority. If conditions are unsafe (high winds, lightning, etc.), we will cancel rentals and offer rescheduling or a full refund. Light rain typically doesn't affect rentals - you're going to get wet anyway!
Wear clothes that can get wet (quick-dry materials recommended), water shoes or sandals with straps, sunscreen, sunglasses with a strap, and a hat. Bring water and snacks for longer rentals. We have dry bags available upon request.
Yes, but at your own risk! We recommend a waterproof case or dry bag. Lake McDonald offers incredible photo opportunities, but electronics can get splashed or dropped.
While unlikely to encounter bears on the water, if you plan to beach your kayak and explore the shoreline, we recommend having bear spray. We rent bear spray at our shop.
Bear spray rental is $9.25/day. If you discharge (use) or damage the bear spray, the replacement cost is $49.99. A suggested damage waiver of $3.00 is available at checkout. This optional waiver covers accidental discharge or damage — if the bear spray is used or damaged during your rental, you won't be charged the $49.99 replacement fee.
Yes! Glacier National Park is a premier bear sanctuary, home to both grizzly and black bears with one of the highest densities of bears in the lower 48 states. Field studies have proven that bear spray is more effective than firearms at deterring a bear and preventing human injury during an encounter. For your safety, we strongly recommend carrying bear spray on every hike and outing in the park.
We purchase new canisters every year and track the weight of each canister. If a canister has been discharged even slightly, we can tell by the weight difference and it is removed from inventory. You can be confident you're getting a full, unused canister every time.
The rental process takes about 10 minutes. This includes a quick safety training video that covers proper carry, deployment, and what to do during a bear encounter. We want to make sure you're prepared before you hit the trail!
Pickup at our two locations: Apgar Village (inside the park) and Glacier Park International Airport (during business hours, or via after-hours locker with an advance reservation). Returns accepted at all four drop box locations 24/7: Apgar Village, Glacier Park International Airport, Huckleberry Hut (West Glacier), and St. Mary Village Lodge (East Glacier).
Yes! We have a drop box at St. Mary Village Lodge (East Glacier) on the east side of the park. You can return your bear spray there 24/7 — no need to drive back to the west side.
No problem! You can return your bear spray to any of our four 24/7 drop box locations — you don't need to go back to where you picked up. Drop boxes are located at Apgar Village, Glacier Park International Airport, Huckleberry Hut (West Glacier), and St. Mary Village Lodge (East Glacier).
Always on your hip or chest where you can reach it in 2 seconds. NEVER in your backpack — you won't have time to dig it out during an encounter.
Yes, but you must be prepared. Always carry bear spray, make noise while walking to your fishing spot, and clean your fish properly. If you need bear spray, you can rent it directly from our shop before you head out!
No! Fish license-free within Glacier National Park boundaries with a valid National Park pass. Our staff can help you understand the boundary lines.
No. Live bait is prohibited within Glacier National Park. All rod rentals include artificial lures that comply with park regulations. No lead can be used in Glacier National Park.
Recommended! You can reserve your gear online ahead of time, shoot us a text to hold a rod. But we love a last-minute idea, so just walk right into our Apgar Village Yurt and we will get you fitted with a reel.
We rent spinning rods - perfect for beginners and experienced anglers alike. Each comes with 2-3 basic lures so you're ready to fish right away.
Lake McDonald is just steps away and is great for catching Lake Trout! If you prefer moving water, Lower McDonald Creek is easily accessible, though please note that the section from Quarter Circle Bridge down to the lake is Catch & Release only.
Lake McDonald is home to native species like Westslope Cutthroat Trout and Mountain Whitefish, as well as non-native species like Lake Trout and Rainbow Trout.
The park encourages the harvest of non-native species (like Lake Trout). However, if you catch a native Bull Trout (which is federally protected), it must be released immediately. Our rule of thumb: If you don't know, let it go.
Snags happen! We charge a small replacement fee of $5 per lost lure, or $20 if the entire lure case is lost.
Yes! While our standard rentals are great for the afternoon, we also offer 24-hour rentals ($20) and multi-day options so you can take your gear up the Going-to-the-Sun Road or into the backcountry.
No, but highly recommended! Walk-ins are welcome at both locations. Reservations guarantee availability.
We carry trusted outdoor brands including Osprey (backpacks, baby carriers), MSR (stoves, mess kits, snowshoes), Grizzly (coolers), Jetboil (backpacking stoves), and Black Diamond (trekking poles).
For day hikes, our 18L daypack is perfect. For overnight backcountry trips, our 75L Osprey packs are ideal, in which we have SM/MD and LG/XL sizes to fit different torso lengths.
Our Grizzly coolers feature a bear-resistant design with locking bolts (upon request).
Yes! Fuel canisters for Jetboil and camping stoves are available for purchase at our locations.
Normal wear and tear is expected. For significant damage, you may be charged a repair or replacement fee. Please let us know about any issues when you return.