17.4
PDI
10.8 mi
DISTANCE
3,148 ft
GAINED
5.4 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Bruce Hamilton, La Quinta, CA, USA; Stacy Topping, Tacoma, WA, USA.
INTRO
"One of the most difficult climbs in the state of Montana, the west side of Logan Pass is located within spectacular Glacier National Park in the far northern part of the state near the border with Canada. The route, also called the Going to the Sun Road, clings to the side of the rugged mountain range over much of its route as it heads up to the obvious summit. Never particularly steep, the grade is however fairly solid overall and a bit steeper over the 2nd half of the ascent. Near the very top the slope eases a bit as you approach the scenic pass. Spend some time in the high country here if at all possible. Going to the Sun Road receives multiple feet of snow each winder..." (This quote is presented with the approval of John Summerson, from his book, The Complete Guide to Climbing (by Bike), 2nd Edition, pg. 188.)
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. This climb is about beauty, not grade. The average grade is 5.4% (6% with descent removed). The bulk of the climb is in the 0-10% range: 38% (4.1 miles) is at 0-5%, 44% (4.8 miles) is at 5-10%, 9% (1 mile) is at 10-15%, and a fraction at ≥10%. The steepest quarter-mile is 9.4%, and steepest continuous mile 7%.
See more details and tools regarding this climb's grade via the “Profile Tool” button.
Roadway; Excellent condition. You can check roadway conditions at nps.gov - road conditions.
Traffic: Lighter in the morning but can be heavy as early as 8 a.m. in the peak months.
Traffic Restrictions: Bicycles are prohibited on certain parts of the road from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 15 through Labor Day (See Full Summary for more details).
Fee: There will be a fee to enter the park on a bike - $15 as of 2020. Here is a link to up to date fee information.
Parking: If you are staying at the Lake McDonald Lodge (Map; Street View) you can ride 10 miles to the start. Otherwise, there are parking areas along the road before the start of the climb where you can park. Here is one close to climb start - Map; Street View.
Provisions: None along the way. There may be water at the Visitor Center at the finish but probably no food.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Consider riding Logan Pass West as an out-and-back with Logan Pass East - this is a 35 mile 5,000' ride (map). There are options to stay in West Glacier, MT which is close to this climb. There are many wonderful cabin rentals near the park too!
ROUTE MAP
MEMBER RATING
CURRENT WEATHER
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NEARBY CLIMBS (0) RADIAL PROXIMITY
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MEMBER REVIEWS & COMMENTS
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SeaRobin
Smooth road, some ruts here and there with grates scattered about.
Traffic all depends on when you go. Regardless there isn't too much if you start early. Afternoon into evening I can't really say.
The scenery though, wow! Breathtaking!
Mschaar41
I spent many days in Glacier Park as a kid; camping, hiking, and running around. This was also my first climb back in 2016. I was a mess after several hardships and personal struggles, but I went "home" and climbed this route as a reset to life. Through laughter, tears, rain, sleet, and heavy fog...I started my ascent into a new life. I've been crossing off the Top 50 ever since. Thank you.
