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Big Sky High

Dates: August 12-22
Status: Now accepting reservations

Our newest tour, the Big Sky High Tour, will provide a wonderful mix of experiences that includes the Northern Rockies; the high grasslands of the Great Plains; the unique geologic treasures of regional national parks; dense mountain forests; shimmering lakes; and Old West history. Did we also mention world-class motorcycling roads?

Our Big Sky High tour plan links together areas of the United States that tend to be off the beaten path, yet contains destinations that many of us have heard about since our grade school days. Beginning our trip in the heart of Montana's Big Sky country, we'll motorcycle through the Little Bighorn region, where General Custer made his last stand.

Further east we'll gaze out at the majestic Mount Rushmore. Aiming our bikes westward into Wyoming, we'll meander past Devil's Tower, then twist and turn our way over the crest of the Big Horn Mountain range. Pushing north, we'll conquer the high altitude switchbacks of Bear Tooth Pass, before arriving for an extended stay not far from Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons.

Continuing northwest, we'll eventually shadow the shoreline of the immense Flathead Lake and then enjoy another extended stay at one of the crown jewels of the U.S. National Park system: Glacier. Glacier's Going to the Sun Highway is one of those roads that was seemingly designed for the enjoyment of motorcyclists.

Each day, our motorcycles will follow pavement that tackles a variety of terrain, and we will be treated to some of the most beautiful scenery on earth. By evening, we'll tuck into a few well known towns, as well as some obscure ones, to enjoy comfortable and convenient accommodations and fun-filled group dinners.

One of the best parts about going on any AMA Tour is that the AMA handles most of the details, which frees up our riders to simply experience the tour with a group of like-minded, independent motorcyclists. Our goal and the goal of our professional, AMA Tour Leaders is to allow you to experience the trip on your own, at your own pace, stopping where you want and riding by yourself or with others. It's your vacation; it's your choice. Ride or trailer your own bike from home to our full service hotel in Billings, Montana–our starting and ending point. Or, as an AMA member, take advantage of special transport services to have your bike shipped one way or round-trip while you fly to Montana. Perhaps you'd prefer to rent a bike and leave yours at home. Again, as an AMA member, you can take advantage of special rates on rental motorcycles from well-known sources that we can recommend to you in Billings.

Regardless of how you get there, once you arrive in Billings armed with the tour books, maps and information provided by AMA Tours, the Tour Leaders will meet you at our hotel and advise you of any final details in preparation for our riding adventure.

Each night we'll stay at hotels or lodges, where we will meet as a group for most dinners, and enjoy breakfasts the following mornings. During those times, we'll have the opportunity to socialize and share our riding experiences, and discuss route options and sightseeing opportunities for each day's trip.

Our daily rides will average 6-8 hours, and the majority of that time will be spent on two-lane, paved roads. Some of our routes will be straight and flat, while others will be full of twists and turns. Some sections are considered to be a bit challenging. Your riding time will vary, depending on such things as your riding style, and weather conditions. We don't expect traffic to be a major problem, since the majority of our routes do not pass through large towns. Our daily mileage will range between 200 and 350 miles. Optional mileage on the three ‘free days' on this tour can also vary greatly, depending on your sightseeing preferences.

We pace our tours carefully, and our multiple night stays are planned to occur in desirable or scenic areas, so you can unload your bike upon arrival and have the second (free) day to explore the area by motorcycle or on foot, or else just relax and unwind. On AMA Tours, we do not require our tour members to follow the Tour Leaders and ride in a group. So that means on travel days, those who prefer can leave early, ride briskly and arrive in plenty of time to explore. Others can ride at an easier pace, explore along the way, and arrive in time for supper. Ride by yourself or with some of the new friends you're sure to make on the trip, or with your AMA Tour Leaders. It's up to you.

Big Sky Tour Itinerary

Tuesday, August 12
We'll gather up at our modern hotel in Billings for our first group dinner and meeting, and get settled in to kick off the beginning of our ride on the next morning. During our first dinner meeting, we'll provide a complete overview of the tour, give everyone a chance to ask any questions, and then spend some time getting acquainted with each other. Tour members who have chosen to trailer their bikes to Billings will be able to leave their cars/trucks/trailers at our lodge during the tour.

Wednesday, August 13
After breakfast, we'll load up the bikes and head east toward our two night stay in the Black Hills region. During the first leg of the ride, we'll have the wind at our backs along mostly straight grassland routes. On the way we'll have a chance to visit the Little Bighorn National Monument. Continuing east, we'll spend much of the day in the northern plains country and traverse the Custer National forest before entering the very northeast corner of Wyoming and reaching the Black Hills of western South Dakota.

Thursday, August 14
Day 2 is a free day, because we'll be spending two nights at the same hotel. This gives the group a chance to explore the Black Hills and Sturgis areas just south of Rapid City. Our group will be riding through this region after the conclusion of the Sturgis Black Hills Rally, which will have ended four days earlier. We purposely chose to avoid the dates of the Sturgis Rally due to the dense traffic and bigger crowds that descend upon this area during that time. However, we still expect to see a large number of fellow riders in this part of South Dakota. The free day ride options will include the chance to visit Sturgis and check out its downtown district, along with a few of the well-known outlying towns. One of the highlights of this day, besides the great riding roads, will be an opportunity to see Mount Rushmore National Monument, along with the still unfinished Crazy Horse Memorial. Folks looking for additional riding miles may wish to head further east and explore Badlands National Park. This is a free night, and no group dinner will be planned.

Friday, August 15
This will be a longer, yet scenic day that takes us along the northern tier of Wyoming. First on tap is a loop past Devil's Tower National Monument in northeastern Wyoming. Devil's Tower, a remnant from a long-extinct volcano, was a prominent landmark used by the wagon trains of the 1800s. It became famous again in the 1970s after the release of the now-classic UFO movie, "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." We'll continue westbound and pick up a few sections of freeway here and there until we pass through Sheridan. After that, the road becomes gorgeous as it leads us through the Bighorn Mountains. We'll particularly enjoy the section that drops us down the western slope of these mountains. From there, we push west into our destination town for a one-night layover.

Saturday, August 16
What this day lacks in quantity, it will make up with quality. That's because although it's not a particularly high-mileage ride, we will tackle some of the best motorcycling routes to be found in North America. First up is the Chief Joseph Highway, which runs us north and connects us to the famous Bear Tooth Pass Highway. The plan is to hit the 10,947- foot pass from the south, aiming for a turnaround point on the downhill side. Although the roadway should be clear, there will undoubtedly be the remnants of last winter's snow pack at the higher elevations off the road. We will travel the Beartooth in both directions, so turning back southward and then westward, we will soon reach the eastern entrance to Yellowstone National Park. We'll roll through the park and end up back in Montana at our lodge just outside the park where we'll stay for two nights.

Sunday, August 17
This free day will give you the option to go back and explore all of the unique geological features found nowhere else on earth except within the borders of Yellowstone National Park. Along with the geology, you're also very likely to see wildlife, including elk, deer, buffalo, moose and bear. And a trip to see Old Faithful Geyser is a must. When exiting the south side of the park, an option is to continue into the Grand Teton region for a lunch break, and then loop back north through northeastern Idaho and return to our lodge. No group dinner will be scheduled for this evening.

Monday, August 18
This will be the longest scheduled riding day of the tour, but a couple of options will allow for a shorter, less extensive ride on a mix of back roads and interstates. The longer, more labor-intensive route will use all secondary roads and will tackle several passes. It also traverses forest lands, including the Beaverhead and Bitterroot National Forests. Both routes cross the Continental Divide before bringing us into Missoula for a one night stay.

Tuesday, August 19
This will be a riding day that rates as one of a motorcyclist's ‘Top Ten.' The routes selected have long been favorites of touring riders, with our first segment being a trip along the western shoreline of the seemingly endless Flathead Lake. From there, we'll run through Kalispell, another popular motorcycle rally destination town through the years. We'll enter Glacier National Park and follow the eastern shore of Lake McDonald before climbing the amazing Going to the Sun Highway to its climax at Logan Pass on the Continental Divide. As you near the pass, you'll cruise past large ice walls along the road's lefthand cliff, which trickle melt water down along the shoulder and across the pavement in places. Herds of Big Horn sheep are not uncommon sights on the flanks of the nearby peaks. Running down the east side of Logan pass, we'll allow some time for a break and photos at St. Mary's Lake, one of the prettiest lakes you'll ever see. We'll enter a section of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation before reaching our accommodations for the next two nights, which will be located just outside of the eastern park boundary.

Wednesday, August 20
Maybe you'll use this day to relax at our lodge, or stretch your legs with a hike. Or perhaps you'll have the urge to get on your bike and explore the area. There's certainly plenty to explore. You can ride back through Logan Pass and enjoy more time on the Going to the Sun Highway. Or maybe head north and cross the Canadian border into Alberta and visit Canada's version of Glacier called Waterton Lakes National Park. It may seem hard to believe, but many folks consider Waterton Lakes even more beautiful than what we have on the U.S. side of the border. One important note is that if you intend to enter Canada, you'll need to have a valid passport with you.

Thursday, August 21
We'll saddle up and depart from Glacier heading west back over the Continental Divide. We'll then turn southbound and follow a series of river valleys through the Flathead and Lolo National Forests. We'll have one last traverse of the Continental Divide, ending up back on its eastern side, before arriving in Helena for a one night layover.

Friday, August 22
Our last riding day brings us back into the high grasslands and endless prairies of central Montana as we enjoy a relaxing ride back to what was our tour's starting point in Billings. Upon arrival, we'll kick off our group's farewell dinner, and say good-bye to our newest bunch of riding friends. We fully expect each tour member to slip off to sleep that night with a smile and the afterglow of their Big Sky High Tour adventure.

A few important notes about the Sky High Tour

Riding Ability and Conditions:
Riding the mountain roads on this tour requires very special skills. Many of the roads are twisty and challenging, and the visibility around some curves is limited. You should be an extremely proficient, experienced motorcyclist in good health, and be capable of handling some challenging road and weather conditions. Some of the routes available to you are also shared with other large vehicles, such as logging trucks, tractor trailers, and motor homes. We will also be crossing through areas of open range cattle grazing. You should expect to encounter livestock on the road, and become accustomed to riding over the steel cattle guards that are imbedded in some of the roadways. You should also be prepared for some of the higher elevations of this tour, which can range from approximately 5,000 to more than 10,000 feet above sea level. You need to be aware that the oxygen content of the air we breathe at higher elevations will be less than what those of us who live at lower elevations and at sea level are used to. For the most part, healthy individuals may not notice any effects of the higher elevations unless they strenuously exert themselves. Anyone who has health concerns about traveling at higher elevations should consult a physician before taking this tour.

This part of North America in mid-August experiences a variety of weather conditions. Expect the daytime temperatures in most places to be quite comfortable, with highs in the 70s and 80s. The areas in eastern Montana and in parts of South Dakota can experience much higher daytime temperatures, sometimes reaching well above 90. At the higher elevations within the Northern Rockies, including the Beartooth and Glacier regions, the daytime highs may only reach the upper 50s and 60s. And throughout the areas visited by
this tour, severe thunderstorms and rain showers are likely in the summer months. If you book this trip, we'll provide you with more information concerning weather, clothing and packing suggestions in an upcoming newsletter.

The bottom line is that if you are mostly a fair-weather rider who rarely takes long motorcycle trips that include a wide variety of weather and challenging road conditions, you should seriously consider taking another tour. Additionally, although this is not a requirement for our tours, we strongly recommend that you carry motorcycle towing coverage. Because our North American tours do not employ a chase vehicle, it is your responsibility to make sure that you and your motorcycle have access to emergency transportation services in the event of a mechanical problem.

Routes and Daily Mileage:
Please keep in mind that this tour allows you to cover long distances using mostly secondary routes in a little over one week's time. Daily riding distances of between 200 and 350 miles should be expected, although the daily distances can often be modified to be higher or lower, depending on optional routes on certain days. While a 200 or even a 350-mile day may not sound like a long ride, it is important to remember that on the majority of our routes, your riding speed may be reduced below the posted speed limit, and dictated by the design and condition of the roadways. Naturally, some of the most scenic routes are also the most time consuming. Regardless of the route, it will be important for you to get on the road at a reasonable time each morning, and choose a pace that will provide you with the most enjoyment while on the tour–and, of course, get you to each destination in time for a hearty dinner!

Accommodations:
The Big Sky High Tour cost includes all accommodations during the tour for a total of eleven nights. To make your trip as pleasurable and relaxing as possible, we have made every effort to obtain comfortable hotels and lodges at locations that are convenient for the tour route. We will travel to a different location during each day of the tour, except when we arrive in the Black Hills region, Yellowstone and Glacier, where we will stay for two nights.

Meals:
The tour cost also includes welcoming and closing receptions, cooked or continental breakfasts each morning, and dinners every night except on the second nights of the locations (mentioned above) where we are spending two nights. You are free to choose your own dining options for the free night evenings. Lunch each day is on your own. In most cases, our meals will be provided at the location (or within a short walk or cab ride) of our hotels.

Travel Information:
The tour price also includes the Official AMA Tours Big Sky High Tour Book with daily maps and routing, as well as state road maps and a series of AMA Tours newsletters that will provide you with a variety of information on what and how to pack, sights to see en route, etc. Our price does not include bike rental, bike shipping, or any airfare. If you choose to fly one or both ways to join the tour, you should not purchase nonrefundable airline tickets before first contacting AMA Tours in the unlikely event the tour is canceled after the final payment due date because of lack of participation. AMA Tours will contact you on that date with any relevant information, if necessary. Note: Although we do not expect any major changes in our tour dates, itinerary, tour plan or pricing, these items are all subject to change. All participants will be notified if any changes are anticipated.

Tour Costs:
One Tour Member in a Single Room: $3,395
Two Tour Members in a Shared Room: $2,425 per person

Bike Rentals:
The AMA endorses Eaglerider, which has a location in Billings, Montana. Their main headquarters in Los Angeles can be reached at: (888) 972-4537. Or you may visit their website at: www.eaglerider.com. Eaglerider offers discounts to AMA members. Note: You may choose any motorcycle provider that you wish. However, regardless of which motorcycle provider you choose, AMA Tours has no direct affiliation with any motorcycle provider. If you choose to utilize their services, your contract will be with their company and not AMA Tours. AMA Tours assumes no responsibility for rental motorcycles with this tour.

Bike Shipping:
The AMA endorses the Federal Motorcycle Transport company for domestic motorcycle shipping. Federal is a subsidiary of Allied Van Lines. Contact Federal at: (800) 747-4100 and request to speak with Jackie Taylor (a fellow rider). Or you may visit their website at: www.funtransport.com. AMA members will receive a discount on their bike shipment. Additionally, discounts are also given when shipping multiple bikes to and from the same destinations. Prices for shipping will vary with shipping destinations. You should plan to arrive at least a day or two before the tour starts to give yourself adequate time to retrieve your motorcycle from the shipper. Federal ships bikes on special pallets; the bikes do not require crating. You can ship your own bike one-way or round-trip, depending on your needs. You can pack hard saddlebags and tour trunks ahead of time and ship them attached to the bike if you prefer. Note: AMA Tours and Federal have no direct affiliation. If you choose to utilize their services, your contract will be with their company and not AMA Tours. AMA Tours assumes no responsibility for any shipping services used with this tour.