Utah, Yellowstone & Deadwood – Guided Motorcycle Tour

Depart the UK on your chosen scheduled flight to Salt Lake City, Utah. Upon arrival, independently make your way to your hotel, where you spend the first night of your adventure.

Welcome to Salt Lake City, an oasis for adventure lovers that is surrounded by some of the most picturesque mountains in the USA. You will have the majority of the day free to get out and explore all this city has to offer. The group will meet at the hotel for a quick orientation and introductions before heading out for your first meal together.

It will be an early start today, as you have some miles to burn, and you’ll need plenty of time for breaks and photos. Like most metropolitan areas, you must run a few miles of interstate to lose the city in your side mirrors, but it doesn’t take long for you to start feeling what riding in Utah is all about once you pick up the local motorcycle favorites, Hwy 189, and Hwy 6, heading south towards Moab. You’ve got a great lunch stop planned, before making the final scenic push into Moab. Depending on your arrival time, there may be time for a short hike to a great viewpoint tonight, early in the morning, or both. Moab is a special place with stunning views.

Early risers will want to take in the sunrise over Moab with a cup of coffee on the patio or a hike to one of the many monuments inside the park. Once you hit the road today, it’s straight on to Scenic Byway 128, which meanders for miles through red rock canyons along the banks of the Colorado River. Lunch today is in the oddly named town of Dinosaur. Well, oddly named until you realize it sits just outside Dinosaur National Monument, home to the Fossil Quarry, where you’ll stand in front of an actual dig site a view more than 1,500 fossilized dinosaur bones from the late Jurassic Period. Your overnight is in the small town of Vernal.

Off you go from dinosaurs to Flaming Gorges! Ok, the gorge isn’t literally on fire, but it takes its name from the vibrant red colors that make up the walls of this deep gorge that has been cut by the Colorado River. Take some time after booking this tour to look at some images of Flaming Gorge and the bridge that spans it, and you’ll be looking forward to Day 4 as one of the highlights. The rest of the day is spent making your way to Jackson via the jaw-dropping scenery of the Grand Tetons. Jackson, also known as Jackson Hole, is a wild mix of ritz, cowboys and ski bums, and is also home to one of the coolest bars in the USA. And to answer your question, of course you are going there tonight!

This is about the time in writing the daily descriptions for tours that we start to sound like a broken record, but it’s for a good reason; each day seems to be more incredible than the one before. Then you are sitting around dinner at night, saying “no way tomorrow can be better,” then it is! Well, today is no exception to that rule, and the ride from Jackson, through Grand Teton National Park and into Yellowstone is something that should be on every bucket list. You will spend two nights in Yellowstone, giving you plenty of time to explore on our own, or with the planned group excursions. There is even a river rafting trip for those looking for some adventure on the water.

Today is free to do whatever you please! You can join an optional river rafting trip, adventure out on your own to enjoy Yellowstone, or join one of the local hiking or photography tours. It’s your day, and you’re in Yellowstone National Park so go wild!

Routes today vary depending on weather and road construction that always happens in Montana during the short summer season. Whichever route you end up on will be spectacular, as you run along rivers, through lush, wild valleys, and almost within arms reach of spectacular mountain peaks. There are ski towns like Big Sky, old railroad towns like Livingston, logging camps like Big Timber, and everything in between. The scenery is spectacular, the people are warm and inviting, and the food is about as western as it gets. You’ve got a couple of fun places to hit in Billings tonight so be ready!

This is one of the longest riding days, but the stretch between Billings and Deadwood is wide open and forgiving. This is Little House on the Prairie meets Wild Hogs, with your group of riders from around world rumbling along vast stretches of open land, through small, inviting towns, and headed towards a few days in one of the most famous cities from the Old West; Deadwood, South Dakota. Deadwood looks a little different than it did during the mining boom of the 1800s and early 1900s, but it still feels very “old west,” and there is a deep connection to the history that made this town famous just around every corner. Deadwood will be your home for a few days while we take in some truly incredible day rides, and even make the short ride over to Sturgis to see what that town looks like when it’s not hosting a million bikes every August.

You’ve got the option of exploring on your own or with the group today. The group ride will be an awesome trip to Mt. Rushmore, Custer, and Crazy Horse. It won’t take long to realize why this area is so popular with riders. Tonight, they’ve got a bit of a pub crawl planned to have some fun together.

Once again, you’ve got the option to explore on your own, relax, or join the group for a short, but fun ride through Spearfish Canyon and Bridal Veil Falls. From there, it’s a quick ride to Downtown Sturgis for lunch and a walk around town, before rolling back to Deadwood for the night.

Your final day in Deadwood is filled with options. As always, you can do your own thing. You’ve also got the option of joining one of the Guides on a ride to Badlands National Park, which is the closest most will ever come to riding on Mars. There is also an opportunity to enjoy an off-road adventure, do some shooting at a nearby range, or just kick back and enjoy the incredible scenery of South Dakota before heading for Cheyenne tomorrow. 

One of the last riding days happens to be the second longest, but much like the ride from Billings to Deadwood, it’s wide open and a very easy cruise. You will hit a few stops along the way, but the real attraction today is the famous western town of Cheyenne, topic of many a country song, and a mecca for rodeo-lovers from around the world. They try to time the tours to ensure the rodeo is running, but even if you miss it, there’s plenty to see, do, eat, and drink in what has become one of the favorite stops on this tour.

You could take the direct route home and make this a 100-mile ride, but how can you be this close to Rocky Mountain National Park, and one of the most spectacular motorcycle roads in the country? The riding altitude will peak at just over 11,000 ft. today, and if you don’t see at least ten deer, elk, or other wildlife today, the first drink is on the Tour Guides tonight! What better finish to this epic journey together than with some high-fives and group photos near the top of the Rockies, and it makes the final push through Denver to return your bike a much easier pill to swallow. You will be surprised how hard it is to say goodbye to your new friends tonight at the farewell dinner, many of whom you will stay in touch with no doubt. 

It’s a short drive to Denver International Airport, where you check in for your flight back to the UK.