22 miles round trip. Moderate.
Updated October 15, 2026. Conditions change: check nps.gov before you ride.
About The Ride: This is a great ride. We did this ride (23 miles) in early 2023 and absolutely loved it. It is on a paved road, and you share this ride with cars and bikes. The road is plenty wide, making this a good biking road. You will enjoy beautiful mountain views along with Lake McDonald, McGee Meadows, and the Huckleberry Lookout trailhead. Absolutely gorgeous! You can ride 22-25 miles, and there are other roads you can take from this road. There is a 900-foot elevation gain, so you have nice climbs followed by fun downhill sections.
Two Options For This Ride: From West Glacier: Go into the West Glacier/Apgar entrance. At the stop sign, turn left (the opposite way of Going To The Sun Road). Head up the road 2.3 miles, and there is parking on the right side just past the Fish Creek Campground turn-off. From there, you will get on your bikes and head west. You will stay on that road for the entire ride. A few miles into the ride, you will leave the park. At around 11 miles, you will cross the river and dead-end at North Fork Road. This is a great place to take a break and enjoy the beautiful scenery. After that, you will head back toward your vehicle. The total ride is around 22 miles.
From The North Fork Rd: This trailhead is 23 miles from Columbia Falls on a mostly dirt road. To get there, you will travel from Whitefish toward Columbia Falls on HWY 40. Once in Columbia Falls, turn left onto Nucleus Avenue. Stay on Nucleus until it hits North Fork Frontage Rd, and then take a right onto this road. This will turn into North Fork Road. Follow this road for 22 miles until you run into Camas Road on the right side. Right past Camas Rd, you will find plenty of parking there on the right side. From there, you will jump on your bikes and head across the bridge toward GNP. You can ride all the way to the Apgar Visitor Center, 12 miles away (or 24 miles round trip). You can also turn around at the turn to Fish Creek, which makes the ride 2 miles shorter. If you turn toward Fish Creek, there is a nice picnic place down on the right side.
One thing to note: There is approximately a 900-foot climb on the road, but it is very manageable on the e-bikes. Be cautious on the downhills, as you can get going super fast.
Very Important: There is a bicycle entry fee to enter the park. E-Bikes are allowed only on paved roads and unpaved roads. E-Bikes are not allowed on any park hiking trails or in any backcountry areas.
Restrooms: Located behind the Apgar Education Center or across from the Lake McDonald boat launch.
What to Bring: - Bear Spray (required to ride in Glacier)
- Breathable Layers
- First Aid Kit, Gloves
- Pack a lunch/snack
- Raincoat/Jacket
- Shoes
- Sunglasses
- Water
- Water Bottle
Bears: Typically, you will see bears emerging from hibernation in April. We require that every party carry a bear spray with them and have it in an accessible location.
When to Ride: Anytime of day
What to Be Aware Of: You will be sharing the road with cars coming and going from the park, so be aware of your surroundings and try to keep in a single file when cars are passing.
Last note: This is a very special ride that we are allowed to do! Have a blast, treat others with respect, be good stewards of our lands, and give space to any animals you see. Here is a link to Glacier National Park Bicycling Page: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/bicycling.htm