For destination gravel cyclists, Whitefish serves as an ideal hub to enjoy scenic day rides or even multi-day bikepacking adventures. While options are endless, Explore Whitefish talked to local rider Pete Thomas about his favorite rides. Pete’s the guy behind the iconic vintage-inspired posters of Whitefish and Glacier National Park that celebrate the history and heritage of our area. Pete has been exploring the gravel rides here for over 20 years.

**What kind of rides are you looking forward to this year?** Well, just look at the map! The Whitefish area is criss-crossed with so many amazing gravel roads, you can just make up your own adventure. I usually jump on the Strava or RideWithGPS apps and create a fun route. I decide on a climb profile, do some planning beforehand, know where the streams are, and where I can get water. **What about first-timers to the Whitefish area? Can you give them some advice?** Yeah, there can definitely be an adventure factor if you create your own route, especially ones with little ‘beta,’… so I’ll tell you a few of my favorites along the more beaten path. I love riding to Upper Whitefish Lake. It’s a straightforward, “there-and-back” ride. A gentle incline on the way to the lake that you don't realize the pitch until you roll back to Whitefish. Then you are cruising! It’s a ride that any ability can handle. It’s all along the face of the Whitefish Range. **What else is cool about it?** You can stop at a creek on the way up, cool your feet off, or stick your head in it! When you get there, be sure to jump into upper Whitefish Lake and look for huckleberries. If you have the energy and time, you could even tack on the steep section to Red Meadow Pass. It’s a little over 5.5 miles and 1,200 feet of climbing to the pass where you can enjoy an even more impressive view and a clear mountain lake. I've caught Arctic Grayling in this lake, which is pretty cool! **Would this be a good bikepacking overnight?** Absolutely! There is camping both at Upper Whitefish and Red Meadow. If you are looking for an even longer ride, you could cruise from the pass through rolling hills all the way to Polebridge. Nothing is better than a bear claw pastry at the Mercantile there! Doing an overnight is way more fun, but with the long days, you can also do it in a single ride. ![Red Meadow Lake // Photo: Pete Thomas](https://cdn.elebase.io/7dd4f748-a5bf-4d04-b851-d367f4d396e5/a04623eb-c5fa-4a60-b6b5-5dd35b7099a9-pthomas_img_2764.jpg) ![The huckleberry bear claws at the Polebridge Mercantile are the perfect riding snack! // Photo: Jordan Haggard](https://cdn.elebase.io/7dd4f748-a5bf-4d04-b851-d367f4d396e5/ecd13039-ba19-49d9-bf1c-38b6226a88ef-200622_peloton_whitefish-1609.jpg) **Tell us about the Glacier National Park Gravel Loop.** This is a big one! Three days bikepacking over a 115-mile loop. What’s cool about this is that you get to see so many perspectives of Glacier National Park. Riding across the Whitefish Divide is spectacular and you travel through a lot of different environments with big views. You also get to connect the dots of creature comforts. Eat some ice cream in Apgar at the foot of Lake McDonald! **What is the Inside Road like in Glacier?** The Inside North Fork Road is blocked to vehicles about 6 miles up from where it starts at Fish Creek Campground, so it’s pretty wild and you always see bear scat. It definitely feels exposed and we make noise and carry bear spray. There are tons of ponderosa pines in little secret groves. Riding through these massive trees is amazing. Recent maintenance on the inside road has also made it a lot smoother. ![Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park // Photo: Pete Thomas](https://cdn.elebase.io/7dd4f748-a5bf-4d04-b851-d367f4d396e5/1c6546ea-2241-4508-9c82-b461b544d6aa-pthomas_img_4504-3.jpg) **What else?** I always like to tell people to keep it safe. Bear awareness, hydration, and of course, being prepared for a flat tire or other mechanicals. Also, the weather can change in a flash. Pop into our bike shops and talk to the locals. Like anything, proper planning is key. And of course, take care of the land. It’s a fragile environment out there and we want our kids to be able to enjoy it too. ---

You can order Pete’s iconic posters at
petethomascreative.com

--- ![Photo: Jordan Haggard](https://cdn.elebase.io/7dd4f748-a5bf-4d04-b851-d367f4d396e5/6ff968b5-3f1e-4b97-9e92-7e5277ffad5c-200622_peloton_whitefish-1346.jpg) ![Riding the North Fork Road looking into Glacier National Park // Photo: Jordan Haggard](https://cdn.elebase.io/7dd4f748-a5bf-4d04-b851-d367f4d396e5/bbf44629-1118-418e-acd0-c58582aff84b-200622_peloton_whitefish-dji_0005-4.jpg) ---

Book Your Stay

##### **Related Links:** **Whitefish Bike Shops:** [Glacier Cyclery & Nordic](https://www.glaciercyclery.com/) [Whitefish Bike Retreat](http://www.whitefishbikeretreat.com/) [Whitefish Tours and Shuttle](https://whitefishshuttle.com/) --- DIG DEEPER - THE NITTY GRITTY
Pete Thomas’s Guide Book
##### **Upper Whitefish Lake** **(Day trip, 50-mile out-and-back, Approx. season: June – October)** As one of the more accessible rides from town, the 50-mile out-and-back (25 miles each way) traverses the western valley floor along the Whitefish Range from downtown Whitefish to the gorgeous alpine setting of Upper Whitefish Lake. The route heads north over the Wisconsin Avenue viaduct, continuing past Big Mountain Road, where it turns into East Lakeshore Drive. The smooth section of pavement follows the hilly contours above Whitefish Lake for over six miles until it veers slightly right onto Upper Whitefish Road, where it transitions to gravel. The route continues north for over 11 miles of gradual climbing, weaving through picturesque forests on smooth dirt until it reaches a T-intersection, heading right onto Red Meadow Road. Spectacular mountain views dominate the landscape as the road follows Swift Creek for another 5 miles to its source at Upper Whitefish Lake. Cradled by mountains on all sides, this is a true alpine oasis to take in the scenery, soak the feet, take a dip, or even catch a fish. Don’t be surprised to hear the call of a common loon echoing across water. As a designated Forest Service campground, the ride also provides an opportunity to camp overnight, using established sites along the shore. --- ##### **Red Meadow Pass Loop** **(Overnight, 100-mile loop, Approx. season: June – October)** For cyclists wanting to expand their gravel ride out of Whitefish to include an overnight, the Red Meadow Pass Loop to Polebridge is a perfect option, logging in 50 miles each day. Simply follow the same route to Upper Whitefish Lake and continue climbing up and over Red Meadow Pass, then descend to the Outside North Fork Road and ride south to historic Polebridge for the evening with outstanding views into Glacier National Park. Start off day two with a Huckleberry ‘Bear Claw’ from the Mercantile, hop back on the Outside North Fork Road and continue south, enjoying the mountainous views on a mix of gravel and asphalt for more than 30 miles, tracing the river downstream. About 4.5 miles past Blankenship Road, turn right on Cedar Ridge Road, linking quickly to NF Road 1690, which weaves through the forest. Go about 4.7 miles from the turn off the North Fork Road, to the 4-way intersection, then head left (south) on Trumbull Canyon Road until it ends at Tamarack Lane (another 3 miles), bang a right where it quickly hits East Edgewood, turn right and follow it 6 miles all the way to town. --- ##### **Glacier National Park Gravel Loop - Whitefish Start** Want to tackle even more mileage, more climbing, and camp two nights within Glacier National Park? Then the [Glacier National Park Gravel Loop - Whitefish Start](https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45829236) is the ride for you. [![Glacier National Park Gravel Loop // Get the route here on ridewithgps.com](https://cdn.elebase.io/7dd4f748-a5bf-4d04-b851-d367f4d396e5/d93e8590-86e0-47d7-bd7d-696606fdd41f-glacier-national-park-gravel-loop.jpg)](https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45829236) **Day 1 (Whitefish to Apgar, 30 miles)** Leave Whitefish on East Edgewood Drive, up Haskill Basin Road and connect to the Outer North Fork Road via mostly primitive gravel. Continue north a bit and go right at Blankenship Road and traverse over to West Glacier, via Belton Stage Road, Sloan Lane and River Bend Drive. Enter the official park entrance, grab ice cream at Eddie’s in Apgar Village, take in the mountainous sunset views across Lake McDonald and camp in Apgar campground (or Fish Creek, if it’s full). **Day 2 (Apgar to Bowman Lake, 30 miles)** Day two goes up the famed Inside North Fork Road, linking Fish Creek campground to the park entrance, just outside of Polebridge. It’s a wild area and off limits to motor traffic, so look out for rutted, washed-out sections, and bear and wolf scat. 25 miles in, go right at the “T” and ride five hilly miles to the mind-blowing views of Bowman Lake and camp. **Day 3 (Bowman Lake to Whitefish, 55 miles)** Coffee up, retrace the road back down, exit the park, cross the river and grab a breakfast burrito at the Polebridge Mercantile. Ride north on the Outside North Fork Road six miles, turn left at Red Meadow Road and climb up to the pass at beautiful Red Meadow Lake. Soak your feet, then enjoy the long descent to Upper Whitefish Lake. Continue on and turn left at Upper Whitefish Road, which heads all the way to Whitefish Lake as the route heads left onto pavement at East Lakeshore Drive, where an 8-mile spin completes the 115-mile loop back to Whitefish. --- ![Bowman Lake, Glacier National Park // Photo: Pete Thomas](https://cdn.elebase.io/7dd4f748-a5bf-4d04-b851-d367f4d396e5/a566360b-bc20-4d5c-8a61-25538f6d9d2f-pete-gravel-bowman-lake.jpg) ![Along with steep grades, come the rewards of amazing views // Photo: Brad Lamson](https://cdn.elebase.io/7dd4f748-a5bf-4d04-b851-d367f4d396e5/b16261e7-1f0d-4fea-af0c-735d35001450-b-lamson-img_0676.jpg) ![Pete Thomas enjoying the down. - Photo: Brad Lamson](https://cdn.elebase.io/7dd4f748-a5bf-4d04-b851-d367f4d396e5/9cd93161-64ee-4908-952b-656540afc08a-b-lamson-img_3703.jpg) ![What goes up, must come down! - Photo: Brad Lamson](https://cdn.elebase.io/7dd4f748-a5bf-4d04-b851-d367f4d396e5/2dac1e36-61cb-4b33-8d7d-6f05cb63e819-b-lamson-img_0678.jpg) ![Beargrass blossoms are abundant in the high country - Photo: Brad Lamson](https://cdn.elebase.io/7dd4f748-a5bf-4d04-b851-d367f4d396e5/48a7a01f-ccdc-4965-8a71-3a2d492a590b-b-lamson-img_3724.jpg) ![Riding the North Fork Road looking into Glacier National Park // Photo: Jordan Haggard](https://cdn.elebase.io/7dd4f748-a5bf-4d04-b851-d367f4d396e5/22fd8df5-027f-4fbe-90f3-e9369ab85c60-200622_peloton_whitefish-dji_0017-2.jpg) ![Whitefish is the perfect home base for gravel adventures. // Photo: Jordan Haggard](https://cdn.elebase.io/7dd4f748-a5bf-4d04-b851-d367f4d396e5/c8295214-574e-4237-91e3-d74ce1721d7c-200622_peloton_whitefish-1309.jpg)

Local’s Favorite: What Lies Beyond the Pavement