MONTANA 2021

Elevation Elation

Dates TBD

Take a second to ponder that ride theme. Because it came directly from the feelings we had when we test-rode this route. Drinking in the otherworldly views on the way up, atop and on the way down Beartooth Pass… gazing down on Sunlight Basin from the viewpoint on Chief Joseph Pass… you’ll get such a sense of majesty (and mastery) from spots like this on our Montana 2020 route. It’s elation, brought on by elevation.

Not to oversell, but Beartooth Pass has been called “America’s most beautiful road,” and trust us when we say that’s not a stretch. But it’s not the only highlight of this route; you’ll pedal across an impressively diverse range of terrain, from wide-open prairies to stark badlands, from mighty rollers to river canyons. Oh, and did we mention we’ll be having a layover day pretty much right at the entrance to Yellowstone National Park?

It’s new territory for BRNW, but you’ll enjoy all the hallmarks of our rides: towns with locals who are thrilled we’re coming; chances to learn about the history, geology and wildlife along our route; and the legendary BRNW rider experience, where our only goal is to show you the best time possible.  

It’s kind of an overused term in the adventure world, but in this case there’s no denying it: it’s going to be epic.

“BRNW rides are the gold standard of supported rides.

— 2019 rider

MONTANA 2021 ROUTE DETAILS

Day Description Distance
(miles)
Elevation Gain
(feet)
1 Columbus to Red Lodge 55 3,975
2 Red Lodge to Cooke City 64 7,447
3 Cooke City Layover
4 Cooke City to Cody 78 5,922
5 Cody Layover 59 2,437
6 Cody to Belfry 67 1,358
7 Belfry to Columbus 55 1,615
  TOTAL (with option) 378 22,754

MONTANA 2021 DAILY PROFILES

Note: The elevation profiles below use different scales; make sure to check the scale when judging climbs and comparing days. It’ll make you feel better. 

 

Day 0 – Check-in, Columbus 

Day 0 is the time to hit town, reconnect with old friends and start making some new ones. We’ll all gather in Columbus, hanging out in a nice shady park. Settle in, maybe cruise around town as a leg-stretcher, and start the process of relaxing into your adventure.

Day 1 – Columbus to Red Lodge – 55 miles, 3,975 feet of gain 

Pretty much a perfect first day – a nice easy roll on flat roads out of town to get your rhythm, with a pleasant little side trip to a rest stop in Fishtail, one of those funky little towns you’ll be glad you got to see. Same for Roscoe, where we’ll be snacking in the shadow of the infamous Grizzly Bar (which is how old-timers would pronounce “grizzly bear”). Then it’s time for a wake-up: some stupendous rolling hills, working your way up so you can whoop your way down. We’ll finish with a drop down into Red Lodge, a fantastic and authentic Western town.

Day 2 – Red Lodge to Cooke City – 64 miles, 7,447 feet of gain 

Today you get a full dose of fantastic. The first 10 miles out of Red Lodge rise steadily, the grade increasing a bit every few miles as you pass dramatic rock walls and climb alongside a tumbling stream. Then, about a dozen miles in, you’ll see it on your left: one of the most picturesque passes in the country. And you’re only seeing one side of it. Eight more miles at a reasonable grade will twist you up to a lifetime-memory of a viewpoint. But you’re not done scaling – it’s when you reach the top plateau that it gets wild. Alpine tarns dot the rocky landscape, mountain goats roam free, and the sky gets very large. It’s not a misnomer that there’s a spot on the way down the other side called Top of the World, because that’s exactly what it feels like up top. Oh, and the descent ain’t bad, either…

Day 3 – Cooke City Layover – No supported route 

Yesterday put a lot of miles, actual and otherwise, on your legs. So let’s hang out, recover, and explore the local sights. That includes Yellowstone, of course; you can take a professionally guided tour into the park, customized for BRNW. Or explore many other adventures – horseback riding, fly fishing, hiking, ATV rides – or just  meeting some colorful locals in a Cooke City bar. We’ll find plenty for you to do on a day off from riding, and you’ll be fresh for the next day’s challenge. 

Day 4 – Cooke City to Cody – 78 miles, 5,922 feet of gain 

It’s Bucket List Passes, Day Two. Chief Joseph Highway delivers another, slightly less strenuous but no less stunning, pass for your riding pleasure. But it’s not all about that part – first you get to cruise through Sunlight Basin, where buttes, mesas and massive box canyons spread out in all directions, lakes and rivers abound, and you get to ride over the highest bridge in Wyoming. The climb starts there, and again it’s a nice steady grade with a panoramic payoff at the top. Another thrilling descent awaits, and a finish into the rough-and-tumble cowboy town of Cody.

Day 5 – Cody Layover Option: Wapiti Out-and-Back – 59 miles, 2,437 feet of gain 

Your day brims with possibilities in Cody. First of all, we’ve discovered a real gem of a layover ride – after you get out past the edge of town, how about a private bike path through a twisting, rugged river canyon? Then it’s past an impressive dam and back onto the road for a gentle out-and-back through the kind of spectacular Wyoming scenery we’ve seen in movies and commercials our whole lives. Back in town you’ve got a live rodeo, a cheesy Wild West shootout on downtown streets, an indoor pool and fitness complex next door to our camp… and much more.

Day 6 – Cody to Belfry – 67 miles, 1,358 feet of gain 

And now for something completely different… sail along on a morning tailwind across agricultural fields to the bucolic burg of Powell, with its lush city park providing a rest stop spot. Then pedal a few more miles before suddenly emerging into – badlands? Yep, it’s a whole new landscape out here as you pass desert rock formations of various colors and the road stretches out to the horizon. After a stop at a leafy riverside oasis, we’ll cruise back into Montana and an overnight stop in Belfry, Home of the (yep) Bats!

Day 7 – Belfry to Columbus – 55 miles, 1,615 feet of gain 

A getaway day just the way you like them – not too long, not too hard, not too boring. The morning starts with a long stretch of gently downhill riding, punctuated by a series of stops in small towns – Bridger, Fromberg and Joliet. Once we turn off the main road in Joliet, it gets interesting and scenic. More rollers, more sweeping skies, more swoops as we head back down into Columbus to celebrate our truly memorable week together.

MONTANA 2021 RIDE LOGISTICS

Start Location

We’ll all gather on Saturday, in Columbus; we’ll be staying in a combination of the high school and city park. The address is 433 E. 3rd St., Columbus MT 59019, for navigation devices.

Check-In

Check-in is on Saturday afternoon. We’ll be setting up camp in the morning, but our registration check-in station doesn’t open until 2 p.m. – it’s best if you don’t try to come in and set up early. Dinner begins serving at 6 p.m., so it works best if you plan to arrive during that four-hour window. We’ll hold check-in open until 7, but if you’ll be later than that, it may be Sunday morning before you get checked in.

Driving to Columbus High School, 433 E. 3rd St., Columbus MT

From Portland (allow 13-15 hours, and add an hour for the time-zone change):

Take I-84 east
Take Exit 179 for I-82W toward Hermiston/Umatilla
Follow I-82 into Washington; take Exit 113 for Hwy 395N toward Kennewick/Pasco
Follow 395; look for signs to Hwy 12/Hwy 395/Spokane/Walla Walla; you’ll merge with I-182

Take exit 14 to stay on Hwy 395 to Spokane; go 74 miles

Merge onto I-90 East; go 558 miles, through Idaho and into Montana, to Columbus

Take Exit 408 for Columbus. Turn right off the ramp, then take the first angled right onto Diamond St. Turn right on E. 4th Ave. to the park/school.

 

From Bend (allow 14-15 hours, and add an hour for the time-zone change): 

Take Hwy 97 north through Redmond and Madras
Follow Hwy 97 approx. 110 miles; merge with I-84 East
From I-84, take Exit 179 for I-82W toward Hermiston/Umatilla
Follow I-82 into Washington; take Exit 113 for Hwy 395N toward Kennewick/Pasco
Follow 395; look for signs to Hwy 12/Hwy 395/Spokane/Walla Walla; you’ll merge with I-182

Take exit 14 to stay on Hwy 395 to Spokane; go 74 miles

Merge onto I-90 East; go 558 miles, through Idaho and into Montana, to Columbus

Take Exit 408 for Columbus. Turn right off the ramp, then take the first angled right onto Diamond St. Turn right on E. 4th Ave. to the park/school.

Parking

Long-term parking will be in school lots; signs and helpful crew members will direct you to the right spot.

Flying In

Billings International Airport (45 miles away) has multiple carriers, including Alaska, American, Delta and United. There is a small private airport in Columbus.

Shuttle Services

We will work to make arrangements for shuttles to run from Billings International Airport to camp and back. Details to come.

Overnight Lodging

Columbus has a limited number of lodging optionsBillings, 45 minutes away, has many options; visit TripAdvisor or another lodging site for a listing of Billings properties.

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Contact

Bicycle Rides Northwest

5725 NE Cleveland Avenue 

Portland, OR 97211 

503.281.1526

info@brnw.org

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  • BRNW Montana 2020, video by Phil Bard