Red Meadow Ramble

Long Weekend Gravel Greatness

Emily Kirsch

Price :

$1,099

Surface :

Paved/Dirt

Duration :

Support :

Self Contained

Difficulty :

Level 4

The Red Meadow Ramble tour is sure to be one to remember. Taking place in stunning northwest Montana, this route will have you flanking Glacier National Park’s famed Westside, spending time on and off the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, passing by picturesque mountain vistas, jumping into pristine rivers and lakes, and eating some delicious baked goods along the way.

This self contained long-weekend tour is unique from many of our self contained tours: we’ll gather and share responsibilities for breakfast and lunch, but we’ll enjoy dinners cooked for us, either by our leaders or at restaurants near our campgrounds. This will allow us to travel a little bit lighter and enjoy some great food along the way!

Select Dates

Emily Kirsch | Alejandro Londono | Emily Kirsch

Dates

Price

Dates:

Aug 29 - Sept 1, 2026

Price:

$1,099

Dates:

Sept 3 - Sept 6, 2026

Price:

$1,099

Itinerary

We’ll meet together today for the first time in Whitefish, MT. Together with your leaders, we’ll go over our Tour Philosophy, expectations, and vision for the tour while making sure our gear is all set. We’ll start getting to know each other amidst preparations and get ready for our long-weekend adventure to begin!

Today’s ride will start with a bang as we head north to the stunning northwestern edge of Glacier National Park, riding a mix of dirt and paved roads. You’ll skirt the delightful town of Columbia Falls on low-to-no vehicular trafficked roads then ride up the North Fork Valley for the remainder of the day. Along the way, be sure to stop at the Glaicer Rim or Great Northern Flats fishing access, perfect for a break or lunch (and maybe a dip on a hot day). We’ll camp in the eclectic town of Polebridge, located just outside the quaint North Fork Hostel & Square Peg Ranch. We’ll grab some dinner and talk about how amazing the day was. You’ll have a chance to stock up on Polebridge’s finest baked goods (huckleberry bearclaw, anyone?) and absorb the joyful bustle this little enclave has to offer.

This morning you’ll wake up refreshed from a night of Northfork revelry. After breakfast, our ride will start with a gradual 17-mile climb up and over the Whitefish Divide to Red Meadow Pass at 5,500 feet with an alpine lake to cool off in as a reward. You will then descend into the northern reaches of the Flathead Valley and ride a portion of the Great Divide Route (keep your eyes peeled for Tour Divide Riders!) to camp at Upper Whitefish Lake where we will regale each other with tales from today’s crossing. Soak in those dark starry skies while you can!

Much to everyone’s chagrin, this is the last day of our trip! We recommend starting the day with a crisp morning dip in Upper Whitefish Lake before hopping on your bike to begin cruising back downvalley to Whitefish at your leisure. As is the theme of the last 24 hours, there will be impeccably placed streams and lakes en route to cool off in so you are ready to re-engage with society by the time you re-emerge from the woods at the end of your ride. Take time to explore the town of Whitefish and all the area has to offer before heading back to your respective homes!

Route

Additional Details

Start Location:

Whitefish, MT

End Location:

Whitefish, MT

Airport:

Glacier Park Intl. (FCA)

Total Days:

Riding Days:

Layover Days:

Riders:

Miles:

97.7

Average Daily Mileage:

Accommodations:

Camping

Meals:

Shared Cooking

Difficulty:

Level 4

Technical Difficulty:

Moderate

Terrain:

Very Hilly

Bike Type Not Allowed:

Road/Cyclocross, Trike, eBike, eTrike, Hybrid

Know before you go

New Itinerary:

If you think you’ve seen this tour before, take another look. We’ve updated the itinerary and increased the fun.

This route has been updated and improved since it last ran to keep riders off of some bigger highways in the area we’ve noticed an uptick in traffic on. Your safety is our priority and we prefer the more remote backcountry gravel roads anyways!

Self Contained Reminder

Our Self Contained tours have the vehicle-free simplicity we all crave in a busy world without the hassle of vehicle logistics or hotel check-ins. Please make sure your bike can carry all your belongings (including tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads) plus a bit of group gear. Unsure about how to get started? That’s why our Tour Leaders are here!

Our Philosophy & What You Can Expect From Our Leaders

Adventure Cycling tours are not like other bike tours. We pride ourselves on being travelers not tourists. At our heart, we are a nonprofit committed to empowering and connecting people through the power of bicycle travel.

We believe that everyone joining our tours, including the leaders, are active participants who take joint ownership of group tasks like cooking, shopping, and maintaining group gear. This team mindset helps forge bonds that last for years (and tours) to come. Participants come for our routes but stay for our community.

We call the folks facilitating our tours leaders, not guides. Our leaders are not here to do everything for you; they are here to keep everyone on track and empower members of the group to step into ownership after they’ve adjusted to life on the road.

Our leaders commit to:

Establishing a vision and setting expectations for how our tours run within our unique philosophy.
Creating a safe, welcoming space for all walks of life
Keeping your tour on track while remaining flexible, so group members can shape their own experience
Pedaling alongside you — embracing the spirit and resilience of life on the bike

Your tour fees go directly towards covering the costs of your tour and supporting other programs our nonprofit puts forth into the world. The plus side to supporting us by coming on tour? You get to challenge yourself, have fun, and also do some good each and every time you ride with Adventure Cycling.

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