Montana: Bicycle, run, hike your way through Glacier National Park

A seven-day bicycle camp in and around Glacier National Park will keep you tuned up for your next triathlon and reveal spectacular places in and around the Montana park you might not ordinarily see.

The Cycling House this year added a Glacier Loop Cycling Tour that travels along Going-to-the-Sun Road, the famed roadway that cuts through the wild heart of the park.

Snowcapped peaks, tight curves and steep drop-offs are all part of its charm. Aside from the road, the loop adds areas just outside the park, such as St. Mary, Many Glacier and East Glacier.

Cycling House is run by serious athletes -- professional cyclists and triathletes -- who started out designing workout camps for friends and family members training for competitions. “Serious” is the operative word here.

Daily rides take three to five hours and cover 30 to 50 miles with up to 3,000 feet of gain. (Translation: not for beginners.) That leaves plenty of time to go trail running and hiking on miles and miles of trails in and outside the park. There’s even a lap pool if you want to keep in shape for your next triathlon.

The tour finishes strong, with an 84-mile ride on the last day. Four guides accompany the group of no more than 15 riders. It begins and ends in Whitefish.

When: Trips run Sept. 2-8 and Sept. 17-23.

Price: $1,995 per person, double occupancy. It includes tour, lodgings (hotels, cabins, lodges), support vehicle, meals, bike assembly/break-down and airport transfers. Bike rentals are available for an extra charge; transportation to and from Montana is extra.

Contact: The Cycling House, (406) 219-1318