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Just about everybody who rides a motorcycle that's been to this part of America (and those who are still waiting for their FIRST visit) has thought to themselves "this is GREAT, but it would be even BETTER on a bike!"

Well, this is your chance to see some of the "Best of the West" from the two-wheel perspective. We'll show you the best Northern Utah, Wyoming, Southern Montana and Eastern Idaho. Of course the emphasis is on Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, but there's some incredible scenery outside the boundaries of Uncle Sam's "back 40".

Imagine waking up early on a bright August morning in a classic hotel with all the conveniences of the 21st century, looking forward to a week of touring some of the most incredible scenery in all of North America. Soon we’re heading east through Park City, home of the 2002 Winter Olympics, and then up the road to Kamas. The route climbs and twist as we climb to nearly 11,000 feet near Mirror Lake. Soon we’re entering Wyoming and a scenic ride through foothills and small western towns. We'll follow the Snake River into Jackson, where the mighty Tetons loom in the distance. Jackson is one of those “unexpected” kind of towns. It’s fairly small (about 8,000) but it seems as cosmopolitan as Beverly Hills.

The “official distance” on our second day is short, but we’ll be entering another world! Leaving Jackson, we enter Grand Teton National Park almost immediately. If anyone wants to get a REAL early start the sight of the rising sun hitting those peaks is breathtaking! There’s much to see and do along the way, including short hikes, side roads to explore, and even boat rides on Jenny Lake and Jackson Lake. The lodge at Jackson Lake is worth a stop just to see the lobby.

Continuing north, one National Park flows seamlessly into another. On the border between Yellowstone and Grand Teton is Flagg Ranch - land donated to the US government by John D. Rockefeller. It’s now a resort property. As we enter Yellowstone at the south gate, signs of the 1988 fires that burned about 30% of the park are evident all around us. Some areas have recovered significantly, but other regions look as if the fire had been much more recent.

The roads in Yellowstone form a stylized “figure 8” and the next two days are yours to explore, either with the group or on your own. Wildlife is everywhere, and it’s possible we’ll see deer, elk, buffalo, coyote, wolves, moose, and bear, plus the usual small stuff. Keep in mind these animals are wild, and keep a safe distance.

It’s amazing how big a moose is! On one Yellowstone trip, I had to stop in the middle of the road because one walked right out in front of me and was just standing there about 15 feet away. Of course I was hesitant to try it, but I’m sure I could have actually rode my bike UNDER HIS BELLY if I ducked my head just slightly! The landscape of the park’s regions varies tremendously, from a desert like moonscape to thick forests and lush pastures. Yellowstone is also BIG! From Silver Gate (the northeast entrance) to the South entrance is over 100 miles. It’s truly a place like nowhere else.

Leaving Yellowstone from the East gate, it’s about 50 scenic miles to Cody, WY. There’s lots to see and do in Cody; it was the home of Buffalo Bill and the world famous museum that bears his name can easily take a day or more to see. Take some time in Cody to look around and visit some of the attractions if you like.

You won’t want to miss the next leg of our route. Just outside of Cody, Chief Joseph Highway winds its way up and down toward Montana, and what some say is the grandaddy of Great American motorcycle roads – US 212 over Beartooth Pass to Red Lodge. We climb from 7,000 feet to 11,000 feet, then back down to 7,000, all within about 45 miles. Temperature can be about 40 degrees cooler at the top – so have some extra layers handy! There is an alternate route to Red Lodge - more flat, but still quite scenic, just in case anyone would like to spend extra time in Cody doing shopping or museum stuff. (YEAH, RIGHT, we came all this way to shop?)

Earlier in the week we saw the morning sun on the eastern face of the Tetons. On our final day before our return to Salt Lake we see the afternoon light on the Western side. Our route takes us through the Targhee and Gallatin National Forests. We’ll pass many picturesque lakes and streams, Idaho State Parks and do a few mountain passes for good measure, including a spectacular crossing back to the East side of the Tetons as our day draws to a close. Our adventure concludes with a fairly long (but not demanding) ride south. As we enter the Salt Lake City, we smell the brine of the Great Salt Lake instead of mountain air and pines, but it really doesn’t seem so bad after all. It’s been a great week!