Logistics for GDMBR

[savagemountain]

Hi All,

I am new on here, and have just stumbled across the forum whilst searching for information for our trip.

We have planned to do the first few weeks of the GDMBR for our honeymoon in July/Aug (unfortunately we can't get enough time off work for the whole thing!). We have booked return flights to Calgary and plan on cycling Banff to Helena or Butte.

I have searched the internet for how we could get us and our bikes back to Calgary but it seems that either it is a super expensive private shuttle or greyhound bus that goes via Vancouver. Ideally we would hire a car but it seems that most hire car companies won't let you pick up in US and drop off in Canada. Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations on how to get from Helena/Butte to Calgary?

Thank you!

[CMajernik]

Have you called anyone on the shuttle sheet that is available online on our Great Divide page? Go to this link and under the Logistics tab there is a link to a shuttle pdf.

http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/adventure-cycling-route-network/great-divide-mountain-bike-route/

Also, try calling the listed bike shops in Helena or Butte to see if they have any ideas.

[savagemountain]

Thank you for the reply. I will try contacting some of the local bike shops for advice!

[Iowagriz]

I rode some of the Montana section this past summer and was going to originally suggest that you loop back from Lincoln or Helena to ride towards Glacier and catch a ride back into Canada (Calgary).  But then I found this link from a google search of "bus from Calgary to Helena Montana"  Seems like a few options might exist for you.
http://airportshuttleexpress.com/waterton.htm#moose

BTW - if you have never been into Glacier National Park, I'd highly suggest it.  Maybe ride from Banff to Columbia Falls and then detour into Glacier Park and tour that by bike.  They also have a decent bus service to get you and the bikes around as needed.  Then it would be easier to get transport back north.

Enjoy your trip!

[savagemountain]

Thanks for the suggestion - the photos on google maps look amazing! We are from the UK and have never been so it all looks incredible! That detour sounds like it would be a good idea.

Do you know if you can get good trail maps of Glacier National Park?

[CMajernik]

For a map of hiking trails in Glacier here are several sites. I think that the visitor centers would also sell hiking maps of Glacier.

http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/hikingthetrails.htm
http://www.hikinginglacier.com/
http://www.natgeomaps.com/trailsillustrated

[Iowagriz]

Coming from the UK, then you definitely need to visit Glacier Park. One of the gems in our National Park system.

A few notes:

• No bikes allowed on the singletrack/hiking trails in our National Parks.
  There is a bike path from West Glacier into Apgar
  There are restrictions on riding times up the Going to the Sun Highway, do your research on that
  But, you can take your bike on the shuttle bus and do the downhill, which is a fantastic way to see the park

So a good trip would be from Banff on the GDMBR to Whitefish and detour into Glacier, seeing the sights and riding out the east side of the park and working your way to Waterton Park (Canadian side). I'd bet you could get easy transfer to Calgary or Banff from Waterton.  If you need more days, go from Whitefish on the GDMBR to Seeley Lake and just backtrack to hit Glacier.  That part of the trail is so nice, you won't mind riding it in both directions (that is what we did).

[indyfabz]

Not cheap, but:

http://www.airportshuttleexpress.com/

[savagemountain]

Thank you for all the info.

I think we have a plan. Glacier Park looks amazing so I think we will loop back through there and then cycle to Waterton National Park as it looks easier/cheaper to cycle over the border. Then we can get airportshuttleexpress to get us to the nearest town (Lethbridge) and hire a car to drive north. Perfect!

Thanks all!

[indyfabz]

Waterton Village has a nice, albeit very windy, towne campsite along the shore of the lake:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davez2007/3675812975/in/set-72157620763740044

You might inquire about reservations as I imagine it can get busy. I stayed there twice in mid-June, before the real crowds arrived, and there were still a decent number of people there. If you have an extra day or so, there is a boat ride/day hike combination trip you can take from town. Never got the chance to do it, but I hear it's nice.

You could even ride to Lethbridge via Magrath. Crossing the country the portion between Waterton and Magrath was probably the fastest 60 miles I ever did on a loaded bike thanks to a killer tailwind.