2022 Montana Big Sky & National Parks Tour

June 3 - 14 (YNP Option June 3-10 - $3809)

• Description
• Itinerary
• Phone Reservations
• Bikes

• Welcome to Big Sky country and Rocky Mountain Northwest hospitality! Our 12-day or 8-day cycling adventure in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming will cover 459 miles of some of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring cycling in the Rocky Mountain Northwest. The route begins in the Garden City known as Missoula, Montana. We begin by snaking our way down the Bitterroot Valley on a well-established bike trail. We’ll soon leave the path and join the rural, scenic country roads as we conquer a few mountain passes over 7,000’ before dropping down, down into the Big Hole valley; a vast, sparse open valley that will bring to mind memories of the old west. Every day will be filled with majestic mountain views and open valleys as we pedal our way toward the old mining towns of Nevada and Virginia City, followed by a steep climb and an exhilarating descent into Ennis; the fly-fishing capital of the world.
  
  From Ennis we turn steeds toward Yellowstone National Park and a welcomed rest day so that you can explore the park and share stories of your journeys so far. Yellowstone will be crowded in the summer months so we will journey west and south into Idaho making our way down the western escarpment of Grand Teton National Park. A hefty climb up and over Teton Pass will drop us into Jackson Hole, Wyoming near Grand Tetons National Park and the end of our awesome journey together.
  If you would rather do an 8-day adventure ending in West Yellowstone, Montana. We will shuttle you to Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport the morning after we arrive in West Yellowstone. Be sure to choose the YNP options if you desire this shorter itinerary.
  
  
  
  This tour has been created to support Stroke Across America – a 4,400-mile ride across America to raise awareness about stroke, aphasia and the need to support the emotional journey in recovery. We are asking all participants to contribute to the campaign. Learn more...

  The tour itinerary is offered to support Stroke Across America – a 4400-mile journey across America led by stroke survivor Debra Meyerson and her husband Steve Zuckerman. They are riding to raise awareness about stroke, aphasia and the need to more fully support the emotional journey in recovery from traumas like stroke. Each participant on this tour is asked to contribute at least $250 to the Stroke Onward Stroke Across America campaign. You can make your donation here, or by going to: https://strokeonward.org/donate. If you join our tour we will share your contact information with Stroke Onward, and they will share more information about Stroke Across America and ways you can get more involved if you would like. (Sharing participant information is contrary to our standard policy, but we are doing so as this tour was designed in support of their work.)

   

  What to Expect:

  This is a fully supported tour with indoor hotel accommodations, meals in local establishments, on-route SAG, and luggage transportation. The weather will be warm and the scenery spectacular. We will traverse smooth pavement, bike paths and low traffic paved roads. Daily mileages range from 25-70 miles. Temperatures will range from mid 30s at night to the mid to upper 60s during the day. Rain is possible, but not likely; always be prepared.

  Remember: You are coming to a high elevation area, where you require more water intake than you typically would at lower elevations. We recommend making an effort to drink more water than you usually would, the week before you travel to help prevent dehydration and altitude sickness. If you have health conditions, please consult you doctor before coming.

  BIKEternity, LLC is an authorized permittee of Grand Teton National Park.

  Highlights:

  • Cycling over Lost Trail Pass, Chief Joseph Pass and Teton Pass
  • Historic mining towns of Nevada City and Virginia City
  • Big Hole National Battlefield
  • Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Parks
  • Earthquake Lake
    

   

  What’s Included:

  • Welcome reception and orientation
  • 11 nights in hotels (fewer for YNP option)
  • All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
  • 11 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 11 dinners.  (fewer for YNP option)
  • Snacks and beverages between meals
  • Full van and baggage support
    
  • 2 BIKEternity trip leaders
    
  • Daily route directions via GPX files for your GPS or phone app
  • Airport shuttles (by host hotels)

   

  Not Included

  • Insurance of any kind
    
  • Guide gratuities
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Bike Rentals (if available,BIKEternity will facilitate)
  • Personal Bicycle Shipments (BIKEternity will facilitate)
  • We blocked an additional room night in Jackson, WY after the trip. Let us know if you desire to use the extra night at your cost.

   

  Bicycle Rental and Shipping Information

  You may bring your own bike to this tour or you can rent a bicycle if it is available. Learn more about bikes on this tour HERE.

  Airport Information

  Start: Missoula Montana Airport (MSO) Missoula, Montana
  

  YNP End: Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) - Shuttle included on June 10, 9 AM.
  

  End Option 1: Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) - shuttle/transfer NOT included.

  End Option 2: Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA) - Transfer included on June 14, 9 AM.

  Note: Visitors to the Jackson Hole area should be aware that the Jackson Hole Airport will be closed for renovations and runway reconstruction from April 11 to June 28, 2022.
  

• Day 1: Arrival, Meet-up in Missoula, Montana

  Arrive on your own at our starting location in Missoula, Montana by 3pm for the start of your adventure. Your host hotel will provide a shuttle from the airport. We will meet you at our host hotel in Missoula near the trailhead for your tour. We meet near the hotel for a bike fitting and orientation in the late afternoon, followed by dinner at a local restaurant. Dinner included.

  Day 2: Missoula to Darby

  Miles: 64 miles · Elevation: +1,537’ / -870'
  Terrain: Paved road & bike path

  Perhaps the flattest riding day of the entire tour, we will ride along the Bitterroot Trail from our hotel to Hamilton, MT for 50+ miles. We finish the day with a short jaunt on rural Montana roads to overnight in Darby, MT. Our route will be bracketed by National Forests, designated wilderness areas and the Bitterroot Mountains. All meals included.

  Day 3: Darby to Wisdom

  Miles: 57 miles · Elevation: +4,145’ / -1,982'
  Terrain: Paved road

  After an early breakfast we hit the road to take on two mountain passes today on our way to Wisdom, MT.; Lost Trail Pass (7,014') and Chief Joseph Pass (7,251'). It is not all uphill as we will drop into the Big Hole Valley and will visit the Big Hole National Battlefield along the way. All meals included.

  Day 4: Wisdom to Dillon

  Miles: 66 miles · Elevation: +2,779’ / -3,736’
  Terrain: Paved road.
  

  We will continue heading south and east in the Big Hole Valley passing through the town of Jackson as the road meanders through the Montana mountains. Our cycling will be mostly downhill as we drop nearly 3,500' in elevation for the day. All meals included.

  Day 5: Dillon to Sheridan

  Miles: 49 miles · Elevation: +1,062’ / -1,032’
  Terrain: Paved road

  We have earned an easier riding day today, so perhaps a later departure from our overnight hotel is in order. Our shortest day of our trip thus far will see us riding to the small, western town of the Sheridan, MT. along the TransAmerica Bike Route which we have been following since the start of our trip. All meals included.

  Day 6: Sheridan to Ennis

  Miles: 23 miles · Elevation: +1,822’ / -1,985’
  Terrain: Paved road

  Another super-short day is in store today although there is some significant climbing and an awesome descent into the Madison Valley today. Highlights for day will include visiting historic mining towns of Nevada City and Virginia City, the latter being the territorial capital of Montana in 1865. Today, it is a well-reserved National Historic Site. We will spend a good deal of time here before we make a final climb and an intoxicating descent into the fly fishing capital of the world, Ennis, Montana. All meals included.

  Day 7: Ennis to West Yellowstone

  Miles: 71 miles · Elevation: +3,314’ / -1,694’
  Terrain: Paved road

  We are in the Madison Valley today heading toward Yellowstone National Park. We spend the day climbing 1600' feet ascending to Earthquake Lake, formed in 1959 when a 7.5 earthquake blocked the Madison River to form the lake. We will drop down to Hebgen Lake and turn south to West Yellowstone; our home for 2 nights. All meals included.

  Day 8: Rest day in West Yellowstone (end of YNP Option)

  A welcome rest day to recover is in store for us today. If you are on the YNP Option, your tour will end with a pre-arranged shuttle you at 9AM to the airport in Bozeman, MT. Everyone else, will all be on your own today until the dinner hour. West Yellowstone is the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park and is very tourist centered. Our guides will have a planned activity in Yellowstone National Park for today for you to enjoy. Activity and National Park fees are not included in the tour fee and the activity is optional. Dinner included.

  Day 9: West Yellowstone to Ashton, Idaho

  Miles: 58 miles · Elevation: +1,282’ / -2,615’
  Terrain: Paved road

  We are opting to not ride through the park which will be full of vehicles but instead will riding along the western edges of Yellowstone National Park and Grand Tetons National Park over the next few days, enjoying the spectacular scenery from Idaho. Today we are definitely heading downhill as we head south. All meals included.

  Day 10: Ashton to Victor

  Miles: 50 miles · Elevation: +2,164’ / -1,233’
  Terrain: Paved road

  We continue heading toward the Grand Tetons today; actually look left and there they will always be. We begin a slow ascent as we enter the small rural Idaho town of Victor. All meals included.

  Day 11: Victor to Jackson, Wyoming

  Miles: 25 miles · Elevation: +2,398’ / -2,424’
  Terrain: Paved road

  The last few days all lead up to today; the ascent of Teton Pass (8,432') and the culmination of the past 11 days. We will be sharing the road as we make the 13 mile, 2,200' climb out of Idaho to the summit. Once in Wyoming, we start the 12 mile downhill into Jackson on a bike path, away from vehicle traffic. The turnouts along the way are spectacular, worth all the energy expended today. We will enjoy a celebratory meal, reminiscing of our journey together. All meals included.

  Day 12: Pack-up and Departure

  After breakfast, we will end our 12 day journey together with a morning transfer to Idaho Falls since the Jackson Hole Airport will be closed. We will assist in getting your bike on its journey home.
  
  We have blocked rooms for a 2nd night in Jackson if you desire to stay longer. The cost is not included in the tour fee and travel arrangements will be on your own. Let us know if you would like to extend your stay.

• Call 860-428-9301 to reserve this trip over the phone

  Monday-Friday, 9 AM to 3 PM Mountain Standard Time