Grinding their way along the trails and gravel roads around Whitefish, 550 cyclists are set to descend here for The Last Best Ride on Sunday.

In its first year, the ride is the project of Whitefish native and cyclist Jess Cerra, and her partner, Sam Boardman. The pair have organized the ride that is set to draw riders from around Montana and the country, those that are looking for the fastest time but also those wanting to enjoy the ride and the views.

“Gravel is inclusive in its nature in that you can compete or complete,” Cerra says. “And both of those are a victory.”

Both professional cyclists themselves, the pair launched the ride with the goal of creating a race that would capture the essence of Whitefish, but also give back through a scholarship program. Registration filled quickly after it opened in November 2020.

Two courses are part of the ride, both beginning and ending at Depot Park downtown offer riders awesome views and riding through a variety of terrain. Both routes start with a loop around Cedar Flats before splitting in Haskill Basin.

The short course — the Mountain Goat — is 47 miles in length and features 4,230 feet of elevation gain. The course includes a loop through the Flathead National Forest that drops riders off in the back roads just east of Whitefish Mountain Resort. Riders climb to the Whitefish Mountain Resort village taking forested double-track and gravel roads. Riders descend back down from Big Mountain taking in vistas of Whitefish Lake before returning to town.

The long course — the Bighorn Sheep — is 90 miles in length with an elevation gain of 8,270 feet. On this route, riders will tackle the Werner Peak climb, a chunky and technical ascent of about 5 miles that sees gradients up to 32%. After this riders will mostly have to hike their bike up sections of the route only to be rewarded with a picturesque view from the Summit House on Big Mountain. Riders then descend down Taylor Creek Road and along the lake all the way back to town.

Cerra and Boardman say that the ride showcases the beautiful views around the area.

“What’s nice is that most people in gravel races will make the race themselves,” Boardman adds. “What our event touts alongside a diverse array of terrain that people can traverse, but our even throughout the entirety of the course offers really fantastic views of vistas in Glacier and the Flathead Valley as a whole and Whitefish Lake within the valley.”

“There’s a wow factor that comes with our ride that living here we often take for granted,” Cerra adds.

The long course begins at 7:30 a.m. and short course ride begins at 7:45 a.m. both at Depot Park.

Spectators are encouraged at Depot Park, along Wisconsin Avenue, and at the Base Lodge and at the Summit House at the resort. For the safety of riders, spectators are asked not to drive out on the course.

In preparing for race day, Cerra and Boardman recently got the chance to ride both courses. Even though both have ridden all over the country, they say they were reminded how special The Last Best Ride routes really are.

“This is going to be even for locals just a really cool experience to get to ride on these roads in a supported professional race environment, but also for people who don’t live here and don’t normally bet to see these views of mountains and lakes it’s going to be incredibly special.”

The Last Best Ride is designating 20% of the race proceeds for scholarships. Even before the inaugural event Sunday, organizers awarded $10,000 in scholarships under the Barbara Mansfield Champion Scholar Award this spring for women pursuing post-secondary education who are from Whitefish or surrounding communities.

For more information, visit https://www.thelastbestridemt.com/