• I (Dennis) have always wanted to stay at a National Park Lodge, since I was a kid. Our family did a lot of National Park and National Forest camping visits but our family could not afford staying at lodges when we were kids. Later, when I was a Boy Scout (eventually to Eagle) we made an effort as Scouts but we learned that, in most cases, reservations had to be made about a year in advance and it was a little pricy but sometimes they had deals for Scouts. There were just too many logistical issues for us senior teens (parents moving, planning around other family plans or issues, people's health at go time ...), so it never happened.
• On our Honeymoon, back in May of 1974, Teresa and I tried to visit and drive through Glacier National Park but Logan Pass was closed due to too much snow.
• In June of 1984 we tried to visit Glacier National Park but Logan Pass was closed (too much snow).
• In June of 1994 we tried to visit Glacier National Park but Logan Pass was closed (too much snow).
• In June of 2004 we tried to visit Glacier National Park but Logan Pass was closed (too much snow).


• Along came Backroads [Bicycle Tours] who offered a Glacier and Waterton National Park touring package for July & August of 2018 that included riding up and over Logan Pass on the infamous 'Going to the Sun Road' and each night of stay was to be in an old wooden National Park Lodge or Cabin. We were going to be staying in the same place a Premiers and Presidents (like Theodore Roosevelt).


Now, married all of these years, we took this Bucket List Opportunity and we both have to say that
the bike tour was flawlessly executed; we had a memorial and grand time on the tour.
We performed the tour on our tandem bicycle, the Bee.

- Arrive (Driving) at Whitefish, Montana, USA (Pickup Location)
- Bike Tour in Glacier National Park 6 Days
- Climb and Summit the Going to the Sun Road
- Passports Required for Each Port of Entry
- Cycle North to Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, Canada
- Terry Hiked to Coffin Lake while Dennis had a Photography Walk
- Cycle back into the USA to the SE Corner of Glacier NP
- One Day of Rafting on the Flathead River near Columbia Falls, MT - Dropoff at Whitefish, Montana, 2 Day Drive Home

Day 1
'Backroads' Pickup from Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish, MT; Setup and Lunch at an Apgar Campground Site, Glacier NP;
Bike Ride North on Camas Road to the Glacier NP Boundary at the Flathead River, Return to near the SW Park Entrance
and Then Ride East on Going to the Sun Road to Lake McDonald Lodge.

Tour & Map Overview: Glacier National Park and Waterton Lakes National Park

Above: Our very used Map of Glacier National Park (Montana, USA) and Waterton Lakes National Park (Alberta, Canada) as issued by Backroads Travel Co. This is a photograph of the Backroad's Map that we carried in a map case on the top of our handlebar bag.

Above Left: We spent the night at the Grouse Mountain Inn, it was one of three pickup locations. It turned out that everyone either stayed there or met there on the day of pick-up by the Backroads bike touring staff.

Above Right: Loading the Bee. One other person had a personal bike and the remaining cyclists were renting regular bikes or e-bikes from Backroads. We would soon discover that we were the slowest riding team but all of us would meet timeline requirements (i.e., everyone was fit for long rides).

Above Left: After about a 2-hour ride, we had entered Glacier NP and reached an open campsite at the Apgar Campground on the west end of Lake McDonald.

Above Right: These are Blueberry Bushes (picked clean) with rain sprinkles on them (Hint: a noted weather observation).

Above Left: Here, Hendrik was giving the day's ride itinerary and safety briefing.

Our Guides are Hendrik, Jimmy, and Celeste (all fantastic, in fact, the best that we've ever had and that has a lot to do with Backroads training and process management).

Above Right: Lunch.

Above: Lunch.

Our Day 1 Route (on the map):
From Apgar, North on Camas Road to the Boundary Bridge Crossing Flathead River,
then Back on the Same Route bypassing Apgar for Lake McDonald Lodge

Above Left: The Bee is Ready.

Above Right: Riding out of the Apgar Campground area, then a right-turn, north on Camas Road.

Above: Crossing McDonald Creek.

Above: Riding through Sticks (remnants of an old forest fire).

Above Left: A fellow rider.

Above Right: Looking southeast at McDonald Lake.

Above: Northbound on Camas Road, Glacier NP.

Above Left: Fellow riders.

Above Right: Indian Paintbrush.

Above Left: A tandem selfie. A bush is growing out of Terry's helmet!

Above Right: A Fen, the first of two Fens.

Above Left: A Backroad's support van was positioned for any type of help, this is an in-motion drive-by photo.

Above Right: Another in-motion photo, passing the second Fen (we looked for animals, none).

Above Left: Returning Cyclists, it means that we're close to the Flathead River.

Above Right: A weather question, will we get wet? We have rain gear.

Above Left: Over the shoulder photo, we're leaving Glacier NP.

Above Right: Flathead River, looking downstream.

Above: Flathead River, looking upstream and glacial runoff (the blue-green color).

Above: Dennis and Terry Struck at the northwest entrance to Glacier National Park (with the Bee).

Above: Now heading south on Camas Road toward 'Going to the Sun Road'.

Above Left: Still heading south on Camas Road, we just bypassed Apgar.

Above Right: We're turning left (east) onto Going to the Sun Road, now heading for Lake McDonald Lodge.

Above: Lake McDonald on the left (south), on Going to the Sun Road.

Above: Lake McDonald, looking south (into the sun).

Above: Motion photos with telephoto zoomed ahead, eastbound on Going to the Sun Road.

Lake McDonald Lodge

Above: Lake McDonald Lodge, Glacier National Park.

Above Left: Lake McDonald Lodge, Glacier National Park.

Above Right: Lake McDonald Cabin (where we stayed).

Above: We stayed in a cabin on this night. We already knew that old lodges, cabins, and hotels typically only had a wash basin, running water, an electrical outlet or two, a simple shower, and a flush toilet. Our room, as expected, would be called Rustic (which was fine for us well practiced tent campers).

Typically present in an old lodge, cabin, or hotel room is a wash basin, running water, an electrical outlet or two, a simple shower stall, and a flush toilet.

Commonly missing in an old lodge, cabin, or hotel room is a place to put luggage (it lays out on the floor), a place to put toiletries (it us usually placed on the room's only chair), a place to hang clothing or jackets (laid on the back of a chair), and a place for soap and/or bathing supplies (typically placed on a window sill, top of a toilet bowl, or on the top of the shower stall [which is how things get lost of forgotten]).

More: I forgot to take more pictures - We had a grand meet-up for appetizers and beverages and introductions on the outdoor patio followed-up by nice dinner of anything on the menu. Man was I impressed by the Backroads Staff and underlying philosophy of the organization (it only got better).

That Evening, on the Patio

Above: The Reading Room, next to Lake McDonald Lodge.

Above Left: Looking up the adjacent creek.

Above Right: Looking down the adjacent creek into Lake McDonald.

We were impressed by the Backroads Staff's organization and actions. Their system operated flawlessly (to us) and our bike operated flawlessly, so we had a grand day of riding and a fine evening of dining and comradery.