Yellowstone Adventure Trip
RIDING TYPE
Introductory
DURATION
5 Days
SEASON
July - August
Yellowstone and the Gravelly Range Adventure Trip
Yellowstone and the Gravelly Range Adventure Trip: Montana’s Best Kept Secret
This trip begins with a few days in the backcountry near Yellowstone National Park. We head up into the Gravelly Range, a picturesque, rolling ridgeline that looks and feels a lot like it did before Yellowstone became a National Park. The Gravellys are a secret little range that folks in the know call the most scenic road in Montana. We will bike along the ridge top and explore the river valley below before we head into Yellowstone itself to visit some of our favorite lesser-known spots, and of course, Old Faithful and the amazing Old Faithful Lodge. We will do some hiking, biking, and swimming, as well as get a fantastic chance to either learn about fly fishing or perfect your technique in one of the most sought-after fishing rivers in the country.
-DAY-BY-DAY
Itinerary
We leave Bozeman, Montana, and head for the town of Ennis, where we will shuttle up into the Gravelly Range, a place where time seems to slow right down.
At Clover Meadow, we begin our bike ride along the ridge with sweeping views in all directions, and if we are lucky, wildflowers of every description.
Our destination is Black Butte. Here we will hike to the outcropping and begin to learn about the geology of the region. Yellowstone is the center of a continental-scale hotspot, whose massive eruptions created the Yellowstone Caldera over 2 million years ago.
Our camp for the night will be at the base of the Butte, where the guides will use the same type of cast iron Dutch ovens that kept Lewis and Clark alive and happily fed.
Today we will continue biking along the rolling ridgeline, with several stops to check out the view and look around for wildlife and wildflowers.
Around lunchtime, we descend into the trees, where there will be a whole different group of wildflowers as we make our way down to the Madison River.
This river is one of the most celebrated fly fishing rivers in America, with its pristine headwaters in Yellowstone National Park. Once we arrive at our camp on the banks, we will have a chance to practice casting along the river in preparation for our guided float trip tomorrow.
Get ready for one of the best chances you will ever have to hook a beautiful rainbow trout!
After a hearty breakfast, we will head out to meet our professional fishing guides for our float down this amazing river. With two fisher people and one guide in each boat, there will be plenty of individual instruction and support.
Floating down this river is a real treat, as many sections look just like they did when Lewis and Clark first named this river for Secretary of State James Madison on July 25th in 1805.
This morning we leave our camp on the River and head into the heart of Yellowstone National Park itself.
We will utilize our bikes to avoid the crowds and make our way to the Grand Prismatic Spring—the largest hot spring in Yellowstone (330 feet in diameter and 121 feet deep!). The amazing bright oranges and yellows are caused by micro-organisms that love the hot water and put on quite a show for us.
Next stop is Old Faithful, and as we await the next eruption, we can check out the historic Old Faithful Inn, designed by architect Robert C. Reamer and completed in 1904. The curved logs that hold up the indoor balconies were individually chosen by the architect himself.
Here we will have a chance to learn about all the many characters who were instrumental in the creation of this and many other national parks. Our camp tonight will be at Yellowstone Lake.
Today we explore some of our favorite areas in the park. We begin at Artist’s Point with its famous view of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, where once again we have those hydrothermals to thank for the vibrant color of the rock. Hot, mineral-laden water created rhyolite, which—wait for it—is very yellow!
We will hike along the Canyon in the morning before we visit Mud Volcanoes and Mammoth Hot Springs, before we make our way back to Bozeman, concluding a spectacular multi-adventure trip.
-TRIP NOTES
The fine print
Itineraries are subject to change due to weather, road conditions, rider safety and other factors which may affect the logistics of the adventure.
Road Surface
Packed dirt and gravel roads, some sand and some loose rock, pavement.
Overall Rating
Introductory
Technical Difficulty
Easy
Physical Difficulty
Moderate.
Altitude
5,000 - 9,000 feet
Biking Mileage
Hiking Mileage
No hiking mileage
–Travel Logistics
Getting there.
Bozeman, MT, 8:00 AM MST at the Hampton Inn Bozeman, 75 Baxter Lane, 406-522-8000. Ending time: return to Hampton Inn 3:00-4:00 PM last day. Getting there: on I-90, 3 hrs east of Missoula, 2 hrs west of Billings; fly into Bozeman (BZN) or Billings (BIL).
Lodging Before Your Trip
Hampton Inn Bozeman (This is our recommendation and also where the trip starts and finishes. You can leave your car here while on the trip.)
Homewood Suites by Hilton Bozeman
Holiday Inn Bozeman
Comfort Inn of Bozeman
Voss Inn Bed & Breakfast
PACKING
What we provide
- Meals
- Snacks
- Drinks
- Camp mugs & dining ware
- 2 large cycling water bottles
- Camp chairs
- Solar showers
- Sunscreen & bug spray
- Bike stand
- Lube
- First aid kit
Bring or rent
- Bike
- Helmet
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
- Cycling & camp clothing
- Rain gear
- Personal items
- Tipping cash (10-20%)
Bring or rent
Bringing or renting
- Bike (rentals come with flat pedals)
- Helmet (gratis w
- Rental bike)
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
Cycling clothing
- Cycling shoes
- 3-5 pair cycling shorts
- 3-5 cycling shirts
- Long sleeve cycling shirt
- Long sleeve cotton shirt or solar sleeves
- Cycling socks
- Windbreaker
- Tights or leg warmers
- 2 pair cycling gloves
- Rain jacket & rain pants (Gore-Tex or similar)
- Warm layer
- Sunglasses
Camp clothing
- Camp shorts/shirts
- Warm socks
- Long underwear
- 2 pair warm long pants
- Fleece/sweater
- Pile or down jacket
- Warm gloves and hat
- Brimmed hat
- Bathing suit
- Hiking shoes
- Sandals
- Rain gear
Personal
- Toiletries
- Medication
- Towel
- Biodegradable soap
- Wet-wipes
- Flashlight/headlamp
- Sunglasses
- Optional day bag
- Stuff sacks
- Cash for tipping (10-20% of trip price)
Optional
- Camera
- Binoculars
- Favorite beverages
- Books
- Maps
- Portable USB charger
Need more information about our bike trips?
Check out what a bike trip is all about by visiting our camping page, FAQ page, what to bring page or be the first to know about new trips, last minute trip openings and future discounts by subscribing to our newsletter.
Need even more details? Send us a message or call and talk to one of our trip specialists at (435) 259-8732.
Need more information about our bike trips? Check out what a bike trip is all about by visiting our camping page, FAQ page, what to bring page or be the first to know about new trips, last minute trip openings and future discounts by subscribing to our newsletter.
Need even more details? Send us a message or call and talk to one of our trip specialists at (435) 259-8732
Gallery
-A DAY WITH-
Western Spirit
Three chapters to every day on the trail. We sweat the details so you can simply ride, eat well, and look up.
Wake to cowboy coffee on the rim, fresh fruit, pancakes and granola. Unforgettable sunrises over the canyon — every single morning.
Learn More ↗
From the Rainbow Rim Trail to the White Rim Road in Canyonlands, our guides put you on the right line for breathtaking Grand Canyon views.
Learn More ↗
We pick camps for a reason. Rivers, lakes, sunset vistas — and a chef-prepared meal under one of the darkest skies in the lower 48.
Learn More ↗-More Trips Like This
Adventures cut from the same cloth.
View all bike trips
JOIN THE JOURNEY
Ready for your next
adventure?
Ready to explore breathtaking trails and create unforgettable memories? Join our community of passionate cyclists and be the first to discover bike tours across stunning destinations!
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
