We planed to be rolling from the Salt Lake City area at 5:30 a.m. on day one in order to have the entire day to make our way to Kalispell, Montana. After a quick fuel stop we were jetting northbound on the Superslab towards Idaho. It’s always a joy to start any motorcycle tour by hitting the road before the sun rises. There is certain euphoria that comes along with low level flying along the Interstate as the glorious morning sun first begins to light the eastern sky. Even in the middle of summer it is nearly always cold in the wee hours of the morning as you approach and cross the Utah/Idaho border. This cool late September morning was no different, we blew right through Malad, Idaho with Pocatello slated as the first fuel stop on our flight plan. With about 150 chilly miles behind us we had earned our first hot chocolate.
With our tanks and bellies full, and happy thoughts of the whole trip in front of us we taxied up the on ramp and were back in flight formation headed straight for our next touch and go planned for Lima, Montana. After another quick fill up and warm up in Lima, we eagerly set out to blaze straight through Dillon, Montana then at Interstate 90 bank west and into Anaconda, Montana for a well deserved lunch and butt rest. As with any motorcycle adventure tour, the serious fun begins when we arrive to the truly scenic roads and vistas. Anaconda marks the beginning of nothing but beauty as we pick up the Pintler Scenic Loop. After cursing through the cool and historic downtown Anaconda, this loop winds through great country, past the beautiful Georgetown Lake, through Phillipsburg, Maxville and into Drummond back on I-90. From here, we head north on the short but highly scenic and entertaining Highway 271. Once we buzzed through Helmville and Ovando the stage was set for the final 100 mile approach into the Flathead Valley and Kalispell, Montana.
This last leg of day one is the best of the day! If you ever have the opportunity to drive Montana Highway 83, DO IT!! On this road you will pass Seeley Lake, Condon Lake, Swan Lake and finally to Flathead Lake. This stretch is just beautiful and sure to please anyone. These recreational lakes have shores lined with beautiful homes that have the boat garage and docs in the back yard on the water. You will pass huge ranches, a nice golf course, a couple of private grass airstrips and great little shops and cabins.
Day one is wrapped up with a quick visit to the town of Lakeside right on Flathead Lake. What a nice lake community this is with great lodging options, a nice marina and some cool little shops and restaurants. We then made our final approach into Kalispell and greased in a smooth landing at the Mountain “Hi” R.V. Park and Campground. We rent a tent site with room for two tents and it also has power to charge cameras and phones, as well as running water. Adventure motorcycle touring is such a rewarding way travel. We logged about 660 miles which may be a bit much for many in one day, but we saw and experienced fantastic places throughout parts of three western states and landed at the gateway to Glacier National Park.
Day two is where the serious fun kicks in with a vengeance! We brake camp early and head out to explore the awesome town of Whitefish, Montana and City Beach at Whitefish Reservoir. While having a small breakfast break on the shore at City Beach we see a cool old wooden speed boat just pulling out of the lake. The boat owner said he had a great morning out on the water and told us he was the only boat on the lake this morning. Nearly every time while motorcycle adventure touring, we have the pleasure of meeting and visiting with a host of different people from all over. It’s fun to have those memories and pictures at the end of each of our motorcycle tours. By midmorning, we finally begin to make our way to West Glacier. We ride through Columbia Falls and other way cool little towns including Hungry Horse and Coram. As we enter West Glacier I notice how empty the place looks. I’ve never been here so late in the season and am thrilled at the prospects of having Glacier National Park to ourselves so to speak. Well, oops…. The Going to the Sun Highway is CLOSED! CRAP!! We have no choice but to ride around the park to the east entrance. Luckily, this ride along Highway 2 and 89 is also rather scenic and we get to see some great country we had not planned on. After making it around to St. Mary Lake we’re able to ride up the back side of the Going to the Sun Highway and finally to the top of Logan Pass. A ride back down to St. Mary Lake provides a second chance to see all that beauty again from the other direction.
From here we aim straight for Babb, Montana and then up into Many Glacier. Google it! The Many Glacier Hotel is a historic and huge old lodge that is a working hotel set under grand snow capped mountains and on a fantastic lake. This place is so beautiful it almost hurts! A quick survey of this worthy site and we roll towards the Chief Mountain Border Crossing to take us to Alberta, Canada and into Waterton Lakes National Park.(Google this one too.) What a place, you just need to take my word for it, go there. From our great little Condo with a loft we look out over Waterton Lake and to the Prince of Whales Hotel. We eat dinner at Trip Advisors’ number one rated restaurant in ALL of Alberta, it’s called Wieners of Waterton. I have become good friends of the family who owns this place and always relish the chance to get a tasty dog (pun intended) and sweet potato fries every time I visit. A relaxing stroll around town and along the lakeshore finishes day two and leaves me wondering “what did I do to deserve this?”
There’s the first two days of another killer ride to the Canadian Rockies. Check back in a few days to continue UP the road with us as we start day three early to ride Kananaskis Country all the way into Banff National Park. You still need to read about Banff, Lake Louise, the Icefields Parkway and Jasper. It’s wicked cool!!
