E-Biking Going To The Sun Road in Glacier National Park
E-Bike Rentals For Glacier National Park: In our opinion, Going To The Sun Road (GTTSR) in Glacier National Park is the most beautiful bike ride you can do in the lower 48 states. It is an incredibly beautiful ride that you will never forget. We have had people tell us that riding GTTSR was the “best day of their life.” We get it too!
Hiker/ Biker Season
Early in the year, we have a very special season called ‘Hiker/Biker Season’. This normally begins sometime in mid-April and runs through July 1st-ish. During this season, biking and e-biking (with class 1 & 2 e-bikes) are allowed on Going to the Sun Road. You start the ride from wherever the gate is closed - at either Lake McDonald Lodge or the Avalanche area. Then you ride the road up to where they are snow plowing or often to Logan’s Pass. The park service will have the turnaround point clearly marked. Whether you make it to Logan Pass or turn around before the pass, the ride is well worth it!
This Ride is Special
Being on Going to the Sun Road without cars is so special - it really makes the place feel different. But one of the most special things about this ride is the opportunity to see wild animals in their habitat. We had friends last year who saw deer, moose, mountain goats, big horn sheep, and bears all in one ride. There aren’t too many places on earth that can provide this kind of scenery and opportunities to see such amazing animals all in one ride.
Renting E-Bikes For GTTSR
We have 30 e-bikes for rent and most of them go out every day during hiker/biker season, so we encourage you to get reservations early. We make it easy because you can reserve online or by calling the store and we have a reserve now - pay later - cancel anytime policy.
Why Rent Your E-Bikes From Montana E-Bike?
Quality of our bikes: Let me be SUPER HONEST with you here. When you ride GTTSR and see the e-bikes that others are riding, you will be so glad you rented from us. Our 2024 Aventon bikes are the best in the market with powerful motors, long-range batteries, multiple levels of assistance, and more. We get all new e-bikes every year—we really have the highest quality e-bike rentals out there. We have 3 styles that are all great for the Going To The Sun Road. Our bikes are powerful and our batteries are long range making them perfect for this ride.
Reserve Now - Pay Later - Cancel Anytime: Our goal is to treat people as we want to be treated, so we make reservations flexible.
Getting Your E-Bikes to GTTSR: We are located in the heart of Whitefish and we give you many ways to carry your bikes to Glacier National Park. We have hitch racks for cars, bike pads for trucks, and a foldable bike option so we can fold and load the bikes in your car.
Long-Day Rentals: You can pick your bikes up as early as 8AM and don’t need to be returned until 6PM for same-day rentals. This gives you plenty of time to enjoy the park and GTTSR. If you would like an early pick-up or late drop-off, just let us know and we will work with you to make that happen.
Team: We are a family-owned business with a super passionate team that is committed to helping you have a fun and safe time in the outdoors.
Reviews: We invite you to go to Google or Facebook and read our reviews so can see the experience we are providing for other guests!
Going To The Sun Road (GTTSR) E-Bike Ride Info
Probably one of the most spectacular rides you can do in the lower US is the famous Going-To-The-Sun Road. This unbelievably beautiful ride is one that you will never forget and one that we highly recommend. This ride is up to 32-42 miles long round trip depending on where you start and how far up the National Park Service allows you to go (see info below).
Very Important: This ride can only be done early season while most of the road is closed to cars. This is normally from May 1st to July 1st. Springtime biking is allowed on the main road while the National Park Service is working on snow removal. You can ride from where the gate is closed all the way up to where they are snow plowing or often all the way to Logan Pass depending on what the park service allows at the time. You can get all the information here: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/directions.htm. Also check out the GTTSR biking page: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/bicycling.htm
Second Important Note: you will need to pay the entrance fee into the park or use your park pass for entry.
Third Important Note- Vehicle Reservations: You will need a vehicle reservation May 24, 2024 - Sept 8, 2024 between 6AM-3PM. If you enter before 6AM or after 3PM a vehicle pass is not needed. You can get the pass here: https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10087086 . Also, you can learn more about the pass here: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/vehicle-reservations.htm . A portion of vehicle reservations for each area were released 4-months in advance. The remaining reservations will be released 24 hours in advance. 24-hour advance reservations become available on a rolling basis starting May 23, 2024.
Getting There: Enter Glacier National Park West Entrance (Apgar). Once in the park you will follow the signs to Going-To-The-Sun Road and take it as far as they allow. Where the gate is closed is where you will start your ride. The road closure starts at Lake McDonald Lodge (early spring) and then opens to Avalanche Trailhead (6 miles up the road from Lake McDonald).
Where To Park: You will find parking areas not too far from the road is closed (within .25 miles or so). Head through the various lots until you find a place to park. Be patient as finding parking can be challenging and will probably take you a few minutes. It is worth the hassle - trust us!
When to ride: Overall, it takes a reasonably fit person about 4 hours to bike from Lake McDonald Lodge to Logan Pass. Coming down is faster, but it’s still at least half a day’s adventure to bike the entirety of the ride. This does not include the time off the bike to take photos, eat, and enjoy the views. If you get there before 9:30 AM there is less traffic, and you'll increase your chances of seeing wildlife. If you get there later in the day, you will often enjoy a warmer ride.
What to be aware of: Although you are on a powerful e-bike, the ride to the top still takes moderate effort and you will be required to pedal (with help) all the way up. There are no services along between Lake McDonald and Logan Pass so make sure to bring enough water and snacks for your day's adventures. Check out the weather beforehand as Glacier can be unpredictable. Temperatures are usually at least ten degrees cooler up at Logan Pass than those at lower elevations, so it is good to wear layers. Allow extra time for stops so you can rest and enjoy the beautiful views.
Restrooms: Located behind the Apgar Education Center or across from the Lake McDonald boat launch. There are also restrooms available at the “The Loop" and then again at Logan Pass.
What to Bring: Bear Spray (required to ride in Glacier), Breathable Layers, First Aid Kit, Flat tire repair kit, Gloves, Pack a lunch/snacks, Raincoat/Jacket, Shoes, Sunglasses, Water, Water Bottle.
Bears: In April, you will typically see bears emerging from hibernation. We require that every party carries a bear spray with them and have it in an accessible location.
The Ride: Going-To-The-Sun Road ride is (up to) either 42 42-mile round trip from Lake McDonald Lodge or 32 32-mile round trip from Avalanche Trailhead. Starting at Lake McDonald (Mile 11) with a relatively flat start or Avalanche Trailhead (Mile 16) slowly increases to a steady climb after Avalanche Creek. Here are some key mile marker points of interest.
· Mile 11 – Lake McDonald Lodge
· Mile 12 – McDonald Falls, McDonald Creek
· Mile 16 – Avalanche Trailhead/Trail of the Cedars
· Mile 17 – Red Rock Point
· Mile 23 – West Side Tunnel
· Mile 24 – The Loop
· Mile 27 – Bird Woman Falls Overlook
· Mile 28 – Haystack Falls
· Mile 29 – Weeping Wall
· Mile 30 – Big Bend
· Mile 31 – Triple Arches
· Mile 32 – Logan Pass (6,646′ elevation)
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 outdoors 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