The Last Best Ride

Welcome. We are so excited that you are planning on joining us for a three-day Montana cycling celebration of community, conservancy and nature.

The Last Best Ride is a gravel race (or ride to some) originated in the Summer of 2021 where local professional cyclists Jess Cerra and Sam Boardman dreamed of creating a local Montana gravel race where the big sky's of Montana were showcased while featuring some of the best gravel riding in the lower 48.  The Last Best Ride is now in its sixth edition and we are excited that it will be lead under the new race director Brian Grubb.  Brian is a cyclist, father, lawyer, local Whitefish community member and enthusiast who is bringing a new vision to TLBR.

Brian and his board are all local to Whitefish and looking to create a weekend filled with friendship, community support, a little bit of suffering and lots of celebration.  In it's sixth year the race will continue to be the only supporter of the Barbara Mansfield Champion Scholar Award which has provided over $130,000 of scholarship money to financially disadvantaged young women seeking secondary education.

The mainstay of the TLBR will be both the Big Horn Sheep (Long Course) and Mountain Goat (Short Course) races held on Sunday, July 26th.  Both courses will start and finish in beautiful downtown Whitefish, MT. Each course will bring you into the rocky mountains of the Flathead Valley where you are guaranteed to witness vast vistas while likely running into a few walruses, wildflowers and maybe a bear or two.  The event is fully stocked and supported with aid stations, medical personnel and cheerleaders to help you conquer your day. 

Event Headquarters:

Great Northern Cycle & Ski

A local cycling shop owned and operated by previous Co-Director Stella Hobbs and her husband Willie Hobbs. 

(www.gncycleski.com)

328 Central Ave. Whitefish, MT 59937

Distance Options:

• 45 ish miles (est. 5000 ft of climbing)
• 90 ish miles (est. 8000 ft of climbing)

Registration Includes:

• Race entry
• Race packet/goodies from sponsors
• Post race catered food, local Sweet Peaks ice cream and beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic options available)
• A special surprise
• A guaranteed sense of accomplishment and pride
• Post race PODIUM party sponsored by ENVE

Friday, July 24th 

Welcome Party and Barbara Mansfield Scholarship presentation

Time: 5pm

Place: To be determined  

An optional early evening event at a community eatery where you can socialize with the organizers, meet and make friends with your fellow cyclists, and indulge in some local grub and grog.

Saturday, July 25th 

Expo: 8am - 5pm at our event headquarters, Great Norther Cycle and Ski

​Packet Pick-Up: 11am - 5pm (time may be adjusted, but don't worry you will get all the deets)

Group shake out rides: Time and info in the works, but don't worry we will fill you in as it gets closer

Join us for a quintessential summer afternoon in the center of downtown Whitefish, hosted by our local bike shop, Great Northern Cycle & Ski and sponsors

328 Central Ave

Whitefish, MT 59937.  

Sunday, July 26th

Race Day!

Start, finish and finish line celebration are all at Depot Park in downtown Whitefish, MT (2 blocks from the site of the Expo)

Depot Park

510 Railway St

Whitefish, MT

• 7:15am Long Course Start
• 7:35am Short Course Start
• 6pm Podium Party sponsored by ENVE!  Grab a drink and a snack.  Cheer our last racers in as we celebrate an incredible day on bikes

Welcome to Whitefish Montana.  Our local community may be biased, but we believe we live in one of the most incredible places on earth and are excited to share it with you!  

While We know that your participation in The Last Best Ride will be the undisputed absolute pinnacle of your time in Whitefish, we hope that you are able to spend a few days before or after the race to explore.

Whitefish is located in the Flathead Valley in northwest, Montana and offers no shortage of activities.  Please check back to TLBR's website for their 2026 Tech Guide for all the details on local activities to turn TLBR into a family vacation.

FLIGHTS

Whitefish is located 15 minutes from Glacier National Airport and about 2 hours from Missoula Airport.

It should be noted that during the Summer of 2026 Glacier National Airport will be under going renovations and flights will be SUSPENDED Monday evening - Friday Morning weekly.  Flights will be available on the weekends (Friday afternoon - Monday afternoon).  Please be aware of this and book flights early or consider flying in and out of Missoula.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Whitefish Mountain Resort: As a sponsor of TLBR you are privileged to discount on WMR accommodations.  Discount code coming soon https://skiwhitefish.com/lodging/

The Good Medicine Lodge
Hidden Moose Lodge
The Garden Wall Inn
The Firebrand Hotel
​

DINING

Breakfast: The Buffalo Cafe, Loula's Cafe, Folklore Cafe
Coffee: Wild Coffee Company, Folklore Cafe, Fleur Baker
Bakery: Fleur Bakery, Uptown Hearth (in Columbia Falls, MT)
Casual/Beer: Bonsai Brewing Project and The Tap House
Dinner: Jalisco Cantina, Tupelo, Ciau Mambos, Abruzzos, Indah Sushi, The Last Chair
​

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Rent paddle boards or kayaks and take a swim at City Beach 
Hiking the Danny-on Trail on Big Mountain
Cycling the Summit Trail on Big Mountain ​
Whitefish Trail System (ride, run, hike from town!).  Over 55 miles of single track trails right from town

Visit Glacier National Park.  Please visit G2024 Glacier National Park website for details on reserved entry tickets and rules.  This will also be in our 2026 Tech Guide.

Cycling Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park - see our tech guide (we made routes!)
Whitefish Farmer's Market Tuesday Evenings
​

- 2026 Long Course - 

THE BIG HORN SHEEP​

Distance: 91 miles

Elevation Gain: 7,660 feet 

Starting Elevation: 3,036 feet

Highest Point: 6,708 feet

Start Time: 7:30am

Aid Stations (5): Miles 9, 26, 52, 58 & 67 

View on Ride With GPS*: Click here

- 2026 short Course -

THE MOUNTAIN GOAT

Distance: 48 miles 

Elevation Gain: 4.480 feet 

Starting Elevation: 3,036 feet

Highest Point: 4,489 feet

Start Time: 7:45am
Aid Stations (3): Miles 9, 26, & 39

View on Ride With GPS*: Click here

The Last Best Bandita is a challenge for those who identify as women and race both The Dusty Bandita and The Last Best Ride (both MT gravel races founded by women!). You must sign up for each race separately (http://www.thedustybandita.com), and must race similar distances of each event (ie. 45-ish mile in The Dusty Bandita and the “short course” in The Last Best Ride); you cannot mix distances (ie. 45-ish in The Dusty Bandita and the “long course” in The Last Best Ride).