Itinerary

Day 1: Ride from downtown Seattle to the “gateway to the American alps”

Start riding near downtown Seattle at Lake Union, just a few minutes from our downtown pick-up location, heading out of the bustling city on the Burke Gilman Trail multi-use path. Beyond the bustle of the city, we veer inland on country roads heading northward to join the Oso Slide Memorial Highway. Snow-capped mountains begin to press in on both sides of the road as we near the tiny town of Marblemount at the base of the Cascade Mountains – otherwise known as the “Gateway to the American Alps.”
Meals Lunch, Dinner, Lodging: Buffalo Run inn.
Distance: 100 miles. Elevation: +3871 ft/-3606 ft

Day 2: Ride the “American Alps”through Cascades National Park.

Today’s route features 5,000 feet of climbing and stunning backdrops as we ride through the heart of North Cascades National Park. See why the region has earned the nickname “The American Alps.” It’s a 50-mile gradual climb on the North Cascades Scenic Highway to Washington Pass. Marvel at the magnificent views before enjoying a 25-mile descent into the Methow Valley, home to the wild-west themed town of Winthrop. Stay tonight amidst the charming setting of the Inn at Mazama.
Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Lodging: Mazama Country Inn.
Distance: 75 miles. Elevation +5420 ft/-3638 ft

Day 3: Ride through the oldest wildlife area in the state into the heartland of Washington.

Today’s route has about half the elevation gain – 2,500 feet – and lands in Omak, nestled just below the Canadian border on the Okanagan River. From Mazama, ride through part of the Okanagan National Forest and skirt the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area, a nearly 19,000-acre park that was originally a mule deer preserve. Cedar and fir give way to scattered pine, sagebrush and wide open prairie.
Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Lodging: Peppertree Inn Omak.
Distance: 60 miles. Elevation: +4041 ft/-5185 ft

Day 4: Omak, Washington to Colville via historic Kettle Falls

As you head toward the Selkirk Mountains, you leave the prairie behind and pedal back up into stands of ponderosa pine and aspen. Watch for white-tailed deer, moose, and blue grouse! The route winds through the Sherman Creek Wildlife Area and across Lake Roosevelt, formed by the Grand Coulee Dam. Ride through Kettle Falls, a former rendezvous point and fishing grounds for the Yakama, Nez Perce, Flathead and Blackfeet tribes (to name a few), whose seasonal salmon catches would net up to 3,000 fish per day! Spend tonight in Colville, a one-time trading center for the Upper Columbia region.
Meals Breakfast, Lunch Dinner. Lodging: Comfort Inn Colville.
Distance: 128 miles (or less) Elevation +8041 ft/-7441 ft

Day 5: Ride from Colville to gorgeous Sand Point, Idaho, on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille

Today’s ride – all 100+ miles of it – takes you through Colville National Forest to a well-earned 2-night stay on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille, the second largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. Dinner is on your own tonight in Sandpoint.
Meals Breakfast, Lunch. Lodging: Edgewater Resort.
Distance: 126 miles (or less) Elevation +5169 ft/-4653 ft (or Less)

Day 6: Enjoy Sand Point: ride, hike, fly-fish, golf, go rock-climbing…you get the idea.

Stay put in Sandpoint – a fun-loving mountain town hugging the shores of sparkling Lake Pend Oreille and surrounded by the Selkirk, Cabinet and Bitterroot mountain ranges, Ride, hike, play golf, go fly-fishing or try some rock-climbing – take your pick. Or, if you can’t stay off the bike and you want a great view, try the 12-mile ride (climb) up to Schweitzer Ski Resort, Idaho’s second largest ski area. Lunch is on your own.
Meals: breakfast, Dinner, Lodging: Edgewater Resort

Day 7: Cross the Idaho panhandle and visit magnificent Kootenai Falls.

Finish crossing the Idaho panhandle en route to the historic mining and timber town of Libby, Montana. Mountains and rivers and forests abound. Visit Kootenai Falls – a must see! This sacred site to the Kootenai Indians is one of the largest remaining free-flowing falls in the northwest.
Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Lodging: Montana Country Inn.
Distance: 98 miles (or less) Elevation: +3349 ft/-3332 ft (or less)

Day 8: Cycle to Whitefish, Montana, gateway to Glacier National Park.

Pedal 50 miles of shoreline along Lake Koocanusa (can you figure out how it got its name?) in Kootenai National Forest. From Eureka, MT, shuttle the last miles of busy highway to Whitefish – gateway to world famous Glacier National Park!
Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Lodging: Grouse Mountain Lodge
Distance: 76 miles Elevation: +5484 ft/-5001 ft

Day 9: An epic finale on Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Ride up and over the Continental Divide on the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road to Logan Pass and descend to East Glacier. If you haven’t ridden “GTSR”, the signature route through Glacier National Park, you’re in for a treat. From fjord-like Lake McDonald, the road climbs gently. As you get higher and higher, the views unfold: alpine meadows and azure lakes, snow covered peaks skirted by fields of wildflowers and washed by waterfalls, the occasional bighorn sheep or mountain goat. Utterly spectacular. You’ve got a 6:00 pm train to catch, though, so sorry… no dawdling!
Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Lodging: Empire Builder Amtrak (Train)
Distance: 70 miles. Elevation: +7176 ft/-5570 ft

Day 10: Wake up on the train. Watch the scenery spin past as you head back to Seattle.

Having caught the train on Sunday evening, you’ll have spent the evening in the dining car, reminiscing and relaxing, and retire to your private sleeper car. Wake up on Monday morning, have breakfast (still on the train) and arrive in Seattle at about 10:30 am for your return trip home.

* This is a general itinerary. Tour itineraries are subject to change based on the group, available accommodations and other unforeseen circumstances such as the weather, local conditions, government intervention, that may affect the quality of the trip and/or safety of the participants. Please view this itinerary as an outline as to what to expect on this tour.

Lodging

Lodging

Buffalo Run Inn
Inn at Mazama
Peppertree Inn Omak,
Comfort Inn colville,
Edgewater Resort,
Montana Country Inn,
Grouse Mountain Lodge
Empire Builder(Amtrak)

The hotels, Inns, and B&B’s we use are always among the finest the area has to offer. Our smaller group sizes(max. 13) allow us to stay at some award-winning places that can’t handle groups of 25 or more. We work closely with the innkeepers to make sure they understand your needs and ours, whether that is having a place to store your bike, an early morning breakfast or a convenient place to park the van, they are as committed to your vacation experience as we are.

Lodging is based upon two people to a room with a private bath. If you’re traveling solo on any of our trips, we’ll assign you a roommate of the same gender and often of the same age bracket. There is no extra charge if we can’t find you a roommate, even if you sign up the day before the trip starts. You can guarantee yourself a private room and bath if you pay the Single Room Fee. Occasionally a room with two beds consists of one bed plus a rollaway bed or sofa bed.

Included:

• Comfortable Lodging
• All meals included except one lunch and one dinner.
• Road /hybrid bike
• Luggage transfer and regional expertise.
• Entrance Glacier NP

Not included:

• Night before and after the tour.
• Flights to and from the tour
• Gratuities guides

Note: Sleeping car is purchased at the time of reservation, so for this tour there is an additional $100 train fee if you transfer or cancel at any time.

Pricing / Tour dates

Tour price 2023: $ 4715.- pp single fee $ 1273.-
You can avoid a single supplement by sharing a room with another rider.
Extra option rental E-bike $200.-pp
Tour dates 2024:

Conditions

Deposit 25%
The deposit payment for a tour must be paid within two weeks after the booking is confirmed.
The remaining payment is due 90 days before the start of the tour.
For tours that are booked within 90 days before the start of the tour you will pay 100% of the tour price

Note: Sleeping car is purchased at the time of reservation, so for this tour there is an additional $100 train fee if you transfer or cancel at any time.

Information

Meals and dining:
We know how important breakfast is to make sure your day starts off right. Most breakfasts are served at the inn where we spend the night and are either a set menu or a continental breakfast buffet. But if there is a local restaurant with a reputation for a great breakfast, we can guarantee we will find it and you will be treated to a nutritious meal to start the day.
Lunchis provided at a state park or similar scenic setting midway during the day’s ride. Guests are always surprised at the variety and quality of lunches we prepare. Besides sandwich fixings and cold drinks, we offer fresh fruits and vegetables and hot lunches such as tortellini with pesto or veggie burritos. If you prefer a certain item of food or drink, just let your tour guide know and we will be sure to prepare just the right lunch to keep your energy up for the rest of the day.
During the day water, fruit juices, soft drinks, energy bars, fruit, and snacks are available from the van. A cold beer from our cooler waits at the end of the day, and you can relive the day’s highlights at our wine and cheese party before dinner.
Dinner is eaten together at the best restaurant in the area. At most restaurants, you order what you want from the menu. Except for alcohol, everything is included, even appetizers, salad, soup, and dessert. If we have to shuttle everyone a short distance to get to that special place, we do it. We like to eat well.

If you have any special dietary requests, please let us know in advance. We regularly accommodate vegetarians and other restricted diets. All of our meals are carefully selected to provide you with the unusually high nutritional and caloric needs of your body on an outdoor adventure.